When James Barilla went from renting to owning a home in South Carolina, he wanted to have his yard certified as a wildlife habitat. With the constant stream of news about global warming and vanishing species, Barilla felt his wildlife habitat could make a small contribution to the environmental struggle.
But what does having a wildlife habitat mean? He wanted to raise fruit trees and start a garden--would it also be possible to have squirrels, rabbits or deer? Could they co-exist? And what would it mean for humans to co-exist with the creatures that would take up residence in his yard? To answer all the questions blooming in this new habitat, Barilla traveled the world. Though he starts out with little knowledge about wildlife habitats, he is committed to his efforts. From monkeys in Delhi to bears in Massachusetts to marmosets in Brazil, Barilla explores the urban settings where humans live close to wild animals, talking with both experts and local residents to examine how they get along without major conflict or destruction.
Each section begins with a statistical fact related to the highlighted creature, but the chapters themselves are not laden with stats or scientific jargon. Instead, Barilla gives us first-person accounts of his eye-opening experiences--his reactions, questions and realizations. My Backyard Jungle is a fascinating exploration for anyone interested in wildlife and the human's role in the great circle of life. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts