SEA LIONS IN THE PARKING LOT

When Covid-19 kept humans home, animal behaviors changed.

The author of the “Sidewalk Naturalist” column for the digital magazine Catapult offers a dozen examples of changes observed in animal behavior around the world in 2020. Kangaroos ventured onto city streets in Australia; sika deer clattered down subway steps in Japan; sea lions sunned themselves at a resort in Argentina; lions napped on roads where safari jeeps usually take tourists. Urban animals like coyotes and wild boars became bolder; pandas in zoos mated and gave birth. Clean waters allowed Venetians to see undersea creatures. Far more spring peepers than usual survived road crossings in the eastern United States; more flamingos nested in Indian wetlands; and more hatchling turtles made their way from beaches to the ocean. In one case, Todaro highlights changed human behavior: To avoid infecting mountain gorillas, rangers used face masks and hand sanitizers. Each example receives two spreads, with a short, illustrated story followed by an appealing, gently humorous double-page illustration. These interesting, explanatory stories always include a word for the species as a group. They’re appropriate for reading aloud to a young audience, though the places and even the species may require some adult introduction. There’s extensive backmatter for older readers, including the idea of the “anthropause,” a note on habitats, and suggestions for actions to help create more safe spaces for wildlife.

Curiously miscellaneous but likely to appeal to animal lovers.