Raychelle Daniel

Private Citizen

July 23, 2009

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

I grew up in a subsistence household and in a wildlife refuge. The names of our months weren't just names on a calendar, they were tied with the seasons and the events during that time, and there was always something to look forward to, and it always involved the changes that come with the seasons.

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

My first love was the mucky stream that had marsh marigolds that made the loveliest mud pies. And of course every excuse to go out picking berries on the tundra - with only the sounds of mosquitoes, the wind and the birds. Now i live in DC - and i just can't seem to get away from the elbowing from capitol hill climbers - it seems to follow everyone in all that they do.

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

Arctic ground squirrels & harbor seals - they are always on alert & with reason somebody is always out there trying to eat them or so they think - but just enough survive. Their vigilant behavior makes for interesting watching.

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?

Realizing our health is dependent upon the health of the environment.

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

Would you trade your well-being and health for short-term money gains? Then, think about that when you wheel and deal in the policy world.

Do you have any comments or other information that you would like to share relating to this project?

i think that these connections that people have with their environment (in my case the ocean) are hard to quantify - and policy makers seem hell bent on money - i just wish that they would make the right decisions for reasons other than money, first, and studies like yours should become more mainstream to bring these things that we care about into the general populace.