What Is Squirrel Therapy—and Does It Really Work? 🐿️
By Reynard Loki, SPNA
You may have noticed them darting along park paths, perched on benches, or pausing mid-leap on a tree trunk. Eastern gray squirrels are the unofficial mascots of Stuyvesant Square Park—but could they also be your next stress-busting companions? While “squirrel therapy” is a playful idea, science shows that spending time in nature and observing wildlife can genuinely reduce stress and boost mental well-being.
Studies have found that even brief visits to urban green spaces—such as strolling through a leafy park or sitting quietly among the trees—can lower stress biomarkers, such as cortisol, while improving mood and reducing anxiety. Researchers have also discovered that the presence of harmless wildlife enhances the restorative effects of these natural spaces, giving our brains a mental reset. So whether you’re watching a squirrel nibble a nut, a bird hop across the lawn, or simply soaking in the calm of a winter park, you’re reaping real physiological and psychological benefits.
Eastern gray squirrels: winter warriors
Eastern gray squirrels, like the curious one pictured above, stay active all winter instead of hibernating. They survive by scatter-hoarding—burying nuts and seeds in many shallow caches—and later locating those buried food stores using their keen sense of smell and spatial memory, even beneath snow. Watching these clever behaviors in action can be surprisingly engaging—and, as research shows, quietly restorative.
Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) have excellent hearing. But are they good listeners? (Photo: Charles J. Sharp/Wikimedia Commons)
Squirrels as nature’s little gardeners
Your squirrel therapists aren’t just cute and furry stress-relievers—they’re also helping the park flourish. Not every buried nut is retrieved, so some grow into new trees that support birds, insects, and other wildlife. In essence, every seed that goes “missing” contributes to Stuyvesant Square Park’s future canopy. These clever foragers are urban ecologists, quietly planting the seeds of renewal while we enjoy peaceful strolls.
Pair squirrels with sound: a double dose of park therapy
If watching our clever squirrel residents can help lower stress markers, why not double the effect with a little curated sound? The Stuyvesant Square Park Spotify Playlist lets you experience the park in a whole new way—its mix of calming tunes, historic echoes, and the rhythm of downtown New York creates the perfect backdrop for a mindful stroll or a quiet moment on a bench. Together, the playful antics of squirrels and the soothing power of music offer a science-backed way to recharge your mind and reconnect with nature right in the beating heart of the neighborhood.
So, why not give it a try?
Head to Stuyvesant Square Park and let the squirrels do what they do best: entertain, charm, and—scientifically speaking—help you relax. Nuts are optional, but recommended for full cooperation. 🐿️
Share your squirrel stories!
Do you have a Stuyvesant Square Park squirrel story or a funny encounter with one of our furry therapists? Drop us a line at info@spnanyc.org, and we may feature it in our newsletter or on social media!
References:
ScienceDirect: Wildlife in Urban Green Spaces Enhances Restorative Experience
PubMed: Effects of Music Interventions on Stress-Related Outcomes
ScienceDirect: The socioeconomics of food hoarding in wild squirrels