Patti Percoski

Private Citizen

Today's Date: August 8, 2006

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

I have spent my entire adult life feeding, watching and loving birds thanks in large part to my Dad's interest in them. Eagles, sea gulls, geese and owls are my favorites! I could watch them a million times and still be in awe when I see them the million and one time!

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

Several, actually. I loved the many camping trips we took to Lewey Lake (Indian Lake region) in the Adirondack area of NY and have many fond memories from those days. I grew up traveling to Maine and the rocky coastline which also provided amazing wildlife adventures for me. I especially remember the guided nature tours we took whenever we went to Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park. Tide pools were of special interest to me. But, honestly...my own woods behind our house in Catskill were my own special get away place. No matter how bad the day I always felt better after exploring about for hours in the fields and woods right on our own property!

Now? As an adult and parent some of my favorite times have been spent at a church camp called Pyramid Lake. We took the kids there every fourth of July for about ten years. The pristine lake and majestic mountains were a haven of peace every year. I also enjoy our times on Lake Ontario where our daughter is a college student. Sunset Heaven!!!

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?

As far as wild animal, my favorite has always been the wolf. Partly because my favorite domestic animal is the dog! I find the whole pack life scenario amazing and hate all the old Westerns that paint such a negative picture of the creature! A close second for me is the tiger. I find them absolutely gorgeous! I am a fan of orange, so I guess that plays into it, but I just think they are about the most beautiful creature on God's Earth.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

I think the obvious answer here is how to produce oil/gas efficiently to decrease the current crisis situation, while at the same time maintaining our natural environment as best we can. In the future I believe that development will get out of hand completely with overpopulation what it already is and we will lose a great deal of our beautiful lands such as Alaska, etc. I hope to see them all before it is too late!

5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

My advice would be to stop tearing down what is already sound to build more buildings. Nothing infuriates me quite as much as seeing perfectly good houses, buildings, malls, torn down, only to have something bigger and newer put in their place. Think of all the material that goes into such a project. Why not utilize what is already there and reduce the amount of destruction? I also would encourage people to take recycling more seriously for the same reasons. Paper, glass, plastic can all be returned to usefulness and cut down on waste if people would just be a little less lazy and a little more concerned about what their wasteful ways are doing to the environment as a whole. We may only be here a few short years, but we need to consider our children, their children and so on.