Wild Philly: Explore the Amazing Nature in and Around Philadelphia

by Mike Weilbacher

A vibrant, family-friendly guide to the unexpected nature found in and around Philadelphia.

Philadelphia may seem like a concrete jungle, but in reality, it's full of amazing wildlife. You just need to know where to find it!  Equal parts natural history, field guide, and trip planner, Wild Philly has something for everyone. This handy yet extensive guide looks at the factors that shape local nature and profiles over 100 local species, from beautiful flowers and towering trees to majestic birds and surprising city-dwellers like coyotes and red foxes. Also included are descriptions of day trips that help you explore natural wonders on hiking trails, in public parks, and in your own backyard. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2023

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent, above and beyond what I expected. Opening with the history of the area, human and ecological, was really well done, easy to read but very informative. The section of local flora and fauna is a great summary and the hikes organized by season was honestly just brilliant. Love that approach. Really pleased to have this as a resource on my bookshelf.

[Hannah Pigeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned a lot about local plants, animals, and historical sites around Philly. It even comes with a comprehensive list of field trips to take and specifies whether they are ADA accessible, dog-friendly, and accessible by public trans. I would recommend this book as a gift to any Philadelphia or Jersey nature-lover (a lot of the field trips are in Jersey).

[Doreva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! As an area resident it taught me so much that I didn’t know about nature in the greater Philadelphia area. I like that it breaks down 25+ suggested field trips with easy to understand directions along with information about transit, parking and facilities.

[Sandra Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book with an interesting format including short pieces about Philly's unique geological history as well as a great list of places to visit across the seasons.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book detailing the history of the Philadelphia area how it pertains to the natural world, highlighting some of of the abundant native species, and some local spots to check out nature in all it's splendor.

My one gripe is a minor error that could cost folks a lot of time, which is saying Tacony is accessible on the West Trenton regional rail line, when it's in fact the Trenton line.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be referring back to it often!

[Maddie Allard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who lives in or around Philly and wants to know more about the flora and fauna we share our homes with. I am a librarian for the FLP, and I’ve been recommending it to anyone and everyone.
I learned so much about the history of the land, the indigenous people and how they cultivated it with care, and what I can do to help preserve it. One of my favorite parts are the field trips, in which I’ve photocopied and plan on doing at the suggested times. I have a patron that has a group that does nature walks in Pennypack Park, and I suggested she do the same so they may see things they might not have noticed before.
Philadelphia is abundant with nature, and a lot of it is within walking distance for most of us. It’s part of what makes Philly such a hidden gem of a city. Our government may be corrupt, and our public transportation is NEVER on time, but our people and our nature is a wonderful force to be reckoned with.

*my opinions are my own and do not reflect on the Free Library of Philadelphia*

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great information in this book. I love how easy it is to find a picture of something and then find the pertinent identification and interesting facts. Sections for flowers, plants, insects, fish, and reptiles will make wanderers more knowledgeable of their surroundings. Because some of the snakes mentioned are venomous, I think it might be more helpful to have a huge "venomous" tag next to the picture as a warning for the more adventurous and less inhibited. It's also a good starting guide for birders although I think they'd want a more comprehensive one if they get more serious about the pursuit. All in all, a wonderful resource that will help hikers while away an afternoon or longer.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't read cover to cover but read a lot and loved! I want to go back again and again to find more places to go throughout the year and learn about the wildlife I could find. I learned a lot about the natural and human history or the area which I find really interesting. The author in my opinion had a good balance of acknowledging past and present problems we have created for the environment and native people but also ways to do better.

[Becky Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, fascinating review of the Philly region's wildlife beautifully written by someone who obviously also reveres all things nature. The first part is a 2-3 page summary of each plant or animal and the second covers various hikes in PA and NJ. I've already done one and can't wait to try the others. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found out about this book on afield trip to the Fair Amount Food Forest next to Woodford Mansion and promptly bought 4 copies for my school. I have lived in Philadelphia for almost 20 years and still learned so much.

[Matt Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the ecosystems and natural history of Philadelphia. Great for learning local plants and finding local trails. Really did a good job as a philly guide

[Allegra · Rating 4 out of 5]

some of these passages were truly quite lovely