Craig Stanford has an established reputation as a science writer for both an academic and trade audience, he is the Professor of Anthropology and Biological Sciences at USC, and Co-Director, USC Jane Goodall Research Center. Stanford's books and writing have been praised by the Washington Post, Times Literary Supplement, the Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Jane Goodall.  A series of accessible essays that together offer a survey of the plants, birds, mammals, and arthropods of LA, both native and introduced, with a discussion of the conservation implications of their presence, together with reflections by the author on his own relationships with the organisms in question. The book is organized in 5 sections: 1) a focus on nature in suburbia; 2) misunderstood or overlooked flora and fauna in LA; 3) endangered or fading species in LA including oaks and various pollinators; 4) the backyard; 5) sharing the habitat in LA or 'neighborly' creatures Will include illustrations from Maddalena Bearzi, author of Stranded. This book looks at the ecology of LA from the perspective of a conservation advocate and with an eye toward a holistic sense of ecology, and brings in the author’s personal voice and experience as a transplant to LA. A book published for a core audience in Southern California. The LA Times "Wild" newsletter indicates a thirst for connection with the natural environment in Southern California, and this book supports further development of that tendency. Heyday has a mission to connect Californians to their natural environment, and that includes nature in their cities. Books like Stranded, the "Californian’s Guide To" series, Fylling’s Nature in Your Neighborhood, and Spiders in Your Neighborhood all are the other books we’ve been excited to publish toward this end. This book will fit along nicely with these! Includes a 'further reading' section.