Author: Elizabeth Carlen, Living Earth Collaborative Postdoctoral Fellow, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis

Imagine it’s a crisp and sunny fall morning. You just left your local coffee shop, ready to start your day. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of something moving in the bushes. Is it a squirrel stashing acorns for the winter? A robin fattening up for migration? As you get closer, the image becomes clear and you unconsciously hold your breath. It’s a black cat out for its morning stroll. You pause for a second to decide your next move. Cross the street so the cat can’t cross your path? Muster the courage to walk…