Michelle McIlroy

Teacher - Coxsackie-Athens CSD

Jul 18, 2009

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

Living and working in the Adirondacks- dealing with bears that have become too humanized, trying to work to be as green as possible to leave as little impact on the tender Adirondack area as possible...

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

Early childhood: the "swamp" behind our house. Later childhood: tie between the "swamp" and the trails and lakes of the Adirondack Mts. Now: The wild areas around the ocean in Maine, the Adirondacks. I am still pretty partial to the acres behind my house.

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

I love them all... I really think I do. I am extremely impressed by the entire cat family for their stealth and power. I am fascinated by aquatic/marine animals- whales, especially- they are designed perfectly for their surroundings.

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?

Overpopulation of the world by humans- either way, this will be the greatest now and in the future, because it not only triggers global climate change, but urban sprawl, pollution, loss of habitat... humans are straining the planet for resources that are not limitless.

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

Do everything you can. It may seem insignificant to use a washable coffee cup, for example, or to buy green/fair-trade, shade-grown coffee, but if every person of the 6 billion + on earth were behaving that way, it would add up!