Urban Nature Walk-Cats

Please join Helen Sierminski of Nola Sidewalk Gardens and Forests for an Urban Nature Walk through the Marigny Neighborhood on Saturday, November 15th at 8am, which will focus on community cats and their complex place in our Urban ecosystem. We will meet outside of Marie’s Bar at 2483 Burgundy St (the bar will not be open but several businesses along the walk will be). Anticipate a leisurely walk around the neighborhood to last approximately 1 hour. Feel free to bring treats for the cats but I will also have some to share.

On this walk, we will engage with the community cats of this neighborhood. We will have an open discussion about the positive and negative factors that come into play with having domesticated cats outside. Some of these cats may have an official home but many of them are simply taken care of by the community without having a space that they go indoors. There are many inventive ways that the community has developed to care for their needs.

The cats that we will encounter are loved by many but it is important to be honest about the issues that cats cause in urban environments. Cats most likely domesticated themselves (and possibly even us!) between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. They were attracted to the rodents that were attracted to our stored grain. They continue to provide us with pest control but they are also the leading human-caused threat to birds, killing billions a year. In areas like Hawaii, they are the reason why several bird species have declined. But still, they bring joy to many of us, giving us endless love. They are entrenched in our society, for better or worse.

We will highlight two organizations that help with community cats: Trap Dat Cat and Big Easy Animal Rescue. Trap Dat Cat helps trap, neuter and release the cats, the recommended method for controlling community cat populations. BEAR has found homes for many of our former community cats. Each of these organizations accept donations and volunteers. 

Helen is a great appreciator of nature and consider myself an Urban Naturalist. She is a certified Master Naturalist for the Greater New Orleans area and currently serves on the board for the Native Plant Initiative of Greater New Orleans. It is her life’s work to get others excited about nature in an urban setting.

This is a totally free walk but tips are appreciated. Your tips allow us to continue providing these researched Urban Nature Walks.

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