Exclusive | NYC squirrels saved from ‘certain death’ inside barren construction site as locals step in to rescue creatures

Life in the city can certainly be chaotic.

Last month, a group of squirrels in Manhattan found themselves in a fight for survival as the city removed trees from an East Village park—leaving the animals desperate and hungry, according to concerned locals who raised alarms about their dire situation.

The squirrels lost their homes at John V. Lindsay East River Park when trees were cut down in September as part of the ongoing shoreline resiliency project, leaving them trapped in a concrete construction zone without access to food, water, or shelter—vulnerable to the predation of hawks, activists reported to The Post.

“They face certain death without intervention from the city,” stated Michelle Ashkin, founder and president of Voices for Urban Wildlife, who organized a meeting with concerned community members, activists, and representatives from the mayor’s office earlier this week.

“They could die from starvation or heat exhaustion; there’s simply no place for them to shelter or hide,” Ashkin continued. “These squirrels are part of our New York community, and we don’t want to witness wildlife suffering due to human oversight and lack of planning.”

A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Design and Construction confirmed that they have begun humane trapping of the squirrels following the community outcry, with over a dozen captured since Tuesday.

The traps will remain operational until all remaining squirrels are either caught or have left the area, as reported by the department. So far, 14 squirrels have been relocated to a wildlife rehabilitator at the Wildlife Freedom Foundation.

According to the city representative, “DDC is elevating East River Park to combat flood risks as part of the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project, which aims to protect over 100,000 residents from rising sea levels and potential coastal flooding.”

Ultimately, more than 1,800 new trees will be planted in the revitalized East River Park along with over 1,000 in nearby neighborhoods once the project is finished, the representative added.

Ashkin characterized the outcome of the situation as the “best-case scenario” for the squirrels, yet expressed concern that it only materialized due to public outrage—including support from the Urban Wildlife Alliance.

Longtime resident Anthony Donovan reported that he had lodged two 311 complaints last month regarding the squirrels at the park—both of which were closed without any action, as reviewed by The Post’s records. He also reached out to both Parks and the NYPD about what he termed “animal abuse.”

“They stripped away the only refuge that these squirrels had left. That’s the real crime,” said Donovan, a 73-year-old hospice nurse.

“For these squirrels, this has been like a war zone: piles of concrete everywhere, scurrying from one tree to another up north, and now they’re boxed in this small place.”

Other city residents also voiced their concerns regarding the plight of the squirrels.

“They should definitely take measures to protect the animals that inhabit this area, whether it’s squirrels, chipmunks, or even ducks that you might spot along the East River,” remarked Adrian Betancourt, a 60-year-old from the Lower East Side.

“I don’t like how they disturbed the squirrels’ home; they could’ve gone around it,” expressed 28-year-old Gregory Venable, also from the Lower East Side. “They should enhance the environment for these creatures instead of just recklessly putting up barriers.”

“I wonder where the squirrels are supposed to live now and why this is happening to their home,” shared Marianni Cuello Batista, a 14-year-old. “A better solution would have been to leave the trees standing and just let them be.”

Activists argue that this situation reflects a broader issue of city planners neglecting the welfare of wildlife during large construction initiatives.

Ashkin pointed out that the environmental impact statement required for the project failed to address the potential consequences for local wildlife, notably neglecting strategies for the squirrel population.

The study primarily documented common or “disturbance-tolerant” species, with Ashkin contending that the squirrels lack a means of escaping the construction barriers or the opportunity to survive in the exposed environment.

“There needs to be an environmental impact statement that acknowledges wildlife,” Ashkin stressed. “It appears there was either a significant oversight, or the correct experts weren’t consulted…there should have been an exit plan for the squirrels from the construction area.”

She hopes this incident serves as an important lesson for future urban projects impacting wildlife in New York, noting that the frightened squirrels now face difficulties in capture due to the absence of trees.

“Going forward, we need to ensure urban wildlife safety is integrated into our projects, and such plans must be detailed and site-specific,” she asserted.

“Wildlife should not be the collateral damage of development.”