How Animals Engineer Their Environments

Crash Course Kids

This energetic science video explores the fascinating ways animals physically alter their surroundings to survive, challenging the idea that only humans engineer their environments. Hosting by Sabrina Cruz, the video begins by recapping how humans transformed New York City before pivoting to the main thesis: all living things change their environment. Through detailed animated examples, students are introduced to "ecosystem engineers" like prairie dogs, termites, squirrels, and beavers, demonstrating how each species modifies the landscape—whether intentionally to build homes or unintentionally through behaviors like burying nuts.