Biologist, 45th Space Wing - US Air Force
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
The oceans and its inhabitants (invertebrates, sea turtles, fish, whales).
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
Yes, the ocean. Now it's the ocean and the mountain woods.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The crab. They eat all the wiz dizzes on the ocean bottom and turn it into a delicious meal. Seriously, they help to keep our oceans clean; one of the many janitors of the ocean
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?
The greatest environmental challenge we face right now is permanent damage to the environment (CO2, overharvesting the oceans, deforestation, overpopulation and a dwindling food supply. We can all say to everyone until we are blue in the face to recycle, don't pollute, save energy, don't ruin the environment etc. We need to also realize that many populations are dealing with survival for themselves on a daily basis (what am I going to eat, how can I make a dollar today, if this thing kills me in 20 years who cares-I've got to eat today). If the western world and the more affluent countries continue with the insatiable quest for more, more, more, the world as a whole may be doomed, thrown into the real natural world of survival of the fittest and money will not be able to help or quench their want or need. Our greatest challenge in the future will be feeding the enormous populations and surviving without war over the remaining natural resources (food, air, water) that will have been so permanently depleted.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Just do your part, we cannot change the world in our lifetime but we can change ourselves.
Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!
September 18, 2010
Kathleen
Private Citizen
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Well I spent a year working in Australia studying dolphins and humpback whales, and another year in Hawaii studying humpback whales, and also time in Florida conducting research on sea turtles and bottlenose dolphins. All of that has had an enormous impact on me and has only furthered my love of the ocean and all of the things in it. There is so much we don't know and so much we have to learn, and I fear that we are going to destroy our oceans before we get a chance to see what other secrets they hold. Marine animals have fascinated me my entire life, and getting to study them in their natural habitat has been the best experience of my life. I wish everyone could see what I have seen, it provides you with so much wonder and curiosity and so much amazement at life.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
I just liked being outside as a kid...and now, I would say my favorite place is anywhere on an ocean! Anywhere where there is marine life.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite...I can't really pick one..that is tough. I love marine mammals and sea turtles, but if I had to pick, I guess I would say a bottlenose dolphin. Their behavior and their intelligence fascinates me. I would give anything to peek into their brains and see what is going on between them and what they say to each other. I always say if was reincarnated I would love to come back as a dolphin...I would give anything to know what it feels like to be able to move through the water like they do, to see things they way they can, with sonar.
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 greatest challenge facing us now is the same one that will continue to plague future generations...global warming and pollution and destruction of the environment. The world just seems to be on this scary path to obliteration...the environment around us is changing at such a rapid rate, and it scares me that so few people worldwide seem to care.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Wow...I don't know. Just get out there and experience nature! Obviously you can't appreciate something unless you have experienced it, and people won't appreciate the oceans until they have looked into a whale's eye or come face to face with a turtle..or even just taken a snorkel trip and seen the beauty the ocean holds. Get out into the woods and look around, be still and listen to what is under the surface. Just get out there, go off the beaten path, and see all of the amazing things the world has to offer, that we need to take care of. I can't wait to continue my travels!
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Well I spent a year working in Australia studying dolphins and humpback whales, and another year in Hawaii studying humpback whales, and also time in Florida conducting research on sea turtles and bottlenose dolphins. All of that has had an enormous impact on me and has only furthered my love of the ocean and all of the things in it. There is so much we don't know and so much we have to learn, and I fear that we are going to destroy our oceans before we get a chance to see what other secrets they hold. Marine animals have fascinated me my entire life, and getting to study them in their natural habitat has been the best experience of my life. I wish everyone could see what I have seen, it provides you with so much wonder and curiosity and so much amazement at life.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
I just liked being outside as a kid...and now, I would say my favorite place is anywhere on an ocean! Anywhere where there is marine life.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite...I can't really pick one..that is tough. I love marine mammals and sea turtles, but if I had to pick, I guess I would say a bottlenose dolphin. Their behavior and their intelligence fascinates me. I would give anything to peek into their brains and see what is going on between them and what they say to each other. I always say if was reincarnated I would love to come back as a dolphin...I would give anything to know what it feels like to be able to move through the water like they do, to see things they way they can, with sonar.
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 greatest challenge facing us now is the same one that will continue to plague future generations...global warming and pollution and destruction of the environment. The world just seems to be on this scary path to obliteration...the environment around us is changing at such a rapid rate, and it scares me that so few people worldwide seem to care.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Wow...I don't know. Just get out there and experience nature! Obviously you can't appreciate something unless you have experienced it, and people won't appreciate the oceans until they have looked into a whale's eye or come face to face with a turtle..or even just taken a snorkel trip and seen the beauty the ocean holds. Get out into the woods and look around, be still and listen to what is under the surface. Just get out there, go off the beaten path, and see all of the amazing things the world has to offer, that we need to take care of. I can't wait to continue my travels!
Philip R.
Student - University of Central Florida
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
When I was younger, my Father rescued an Alligator from a local golf course here in Florida. Knowing that at the time the were endangered we and one of his friends played cowboy and somehow managed to tie it up without hurting it. My Father, Brothers, and myself helped release it into a local lake where other Alligators lived natively. I realized that while dangerous animals may pose a threat to modern civilization, their habitat should be just as important as ours and our mission should be to create harmony between the two.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
Yes, I did, and it's currently the same now. I live about 10 miles from the St. John's river here in Florida and I see an ecosystem that is incredibly diverse, beautiful, wild, but in danger.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite animal is the Gray Wolf because of their importance to the American ecosystem and the strong familial ties that their pack contains. They're a great example of how animals that do live in family groups interact and also contain a great example in canine behavior. With America being such a dog loving society, we need them to understand our own four-legged friends, but also to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
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 greatest challenge facing us now and in the future is the pressure on the environment for water. With population growing larger and larger the demand for clean water is growing as well as the need to dispose of waste and sewage. People want prime real estate and they either bulldoze massive amounts of wetlands or pump them dry in order to have luxurious homes here in sunny Florida. They cry when their houses flood from our monsoon like rains then cry when water prices sky-rocket because they have ruined all of the recharge sites. If we only planned ahead and built in sustainable, well thought-out communities, water wouldn't be such a commodity.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Put yourself in the animals shoes. Do you think we would enjoy people dumping chemicals and sewage into our water, killing our children for clothing, and ripping our homes out from the ground?
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
When I was younger, my Father rescued an Alligator from a local golf course here in Florida. Knowing that at the time the were endangered we and one of his friends played cowboy and somehow managed to tie it up without hurting it. My Father, Brothers, and myself helped release it into a local lake where other Alligators lived natively. I realized that while dangerous animals may pose a threat to modern civilization, their habitat should be just as important as ours and our mission should be to create harmony between the two.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
Yes, I did, and it's currently the same now. I live about 10 miles from the St. John's river here in Florida and I see an ecosystem that is incredibly diverse, beautiful, wild, but in danger.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite animal is the Gray Wolf because of their importance to the American ecosystem and the strong familial ties that their pack contains. They're a great example of how animals that do live in family groups interact and also contain a great example in canine behavior. With America being such a dog loving society, we need them to understand our own four-legged friends, but also to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
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 greatest challenge facing us now and in the future is the pressure on the environment for water. With population growing larger and larger the demand for clean water is growing as well as the need to dispose of waste and sewage. People want prime real estate and they either bulldoze massive amounts of wetlands or pump them dry in order to have luxurious homes here in sunny Florida. They cry when their houses flood from our monsoon like rains then cry when water prices sky-rocket because they have ruined all of the recharge sites. If we only planned ahead and built in sustainable, well thought-out communities, water wouldn't be such a commodity.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Put yourself in the animals shoes. Do you think we would enjoy people dumping chemicals and sewage into our water, killing our children for clothing, and ripping our homes out from the ground?
Carmel de Bertaut
Student - SJSU
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Growing up in Ireland and having magpies all over the back yard
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
No
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
western scrubjay yellowbilled magpie coyote They each have a spirit and intelligence that draws me
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?
over population of humans in both cases
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
take only what you need-do not produce more than one child for each individual
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Growing up in Ireland and having magpies all over the back yard
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
No
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
western scrubjay yellowbilled magpie coyote They each have a spirit and intelligence that draws me
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?
over population of humans in both cases
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
take only what you need-do not produce more than one child for each individual
Anonymous
VISTA Volunteer - AmeriCorps
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Trip to the Galapagos Islands in 2003.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
No, I just liked being outside and we lived in a small neighborhood outside of town, good-sized yard, gravel road with a lake nearby. We traveled by car in the summer often to historic or national park type places. Gave me the opportunity to see a lot of the "outside". Now....I still like just being able to be outside. I lived in Chicago many years and feel the lakefront was a "great outdoors" just as much as the mountains I'm living in now in Colorado.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Can't pick favorites. Just too hard. Felines probably come to mind first, but I love visiting aquariums and a few years ago found a love for Komodo dragons. Amazing creatures. I frankly get fascinated by most animals.
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?
Educating the public now and in the future. While it seems the public is more educated and environmentally aware I think about people like my sister-in-law who just doesn't care, despite having kids who will inherit the earth after us. The other problem with public education is the fact that we seem to jump on the bandwagon of solutions without thinking about the sustainability of them. I think of ethanol, where people may think that is helping our oil issue but the transfer of land use to grow more corn has a whole new set of problems. I don't think we think through the solutions very well and people don't seem to question that.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Think about the big picture, cause and effect, the connection between everything.
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Trip to the Galapagos Islands in 2003.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
No, I just liked being outside and we lived in a small neighborhood outside of town, good-sized yard, gravel road with a lake nearby. We traveled by car in the summer often to historic or national park type places. Gave me the opportunity to see a lot of the "outside". Now....I still like just being able to be outside. I lived in Chicago many years and feel the lakefront was a "great outdoors" just as much as the mountains I'm living in now in Colorado.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Can't pick favorites. Just too hard. Felines probably come to mind first, but I love visiting aquariums and a few years ago found a love for Komodo dragons. Amazing creatures. I frankly get fascinated by most animals.
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?
Educating the public now and in the future. While it seems the public is more educated and environmentally aware I think about people like my sister-in-law who just doesn't care, despite having kids who will inherit the earth after us. The other problem with public education is the fact that we seem to jump on the bandwagon of solutions without thinking about the sustainability of them. I think of ethanol, where people may think that is helping our oil issue but the transfer of land use to grow more corn has a whole new set of problems. I don't think we think through the solutions very well and people don't seem to question that.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Think about the big picture, cause and effect, the connection between everything.
Lisa LaDore
Clerk - Rye Free Reading Room
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I spent my early years outdoors. The site was still a dairy farm, but then after many years was turned into a State College. I was always outside and saw many creatures..now I realize that was the best time.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
I try to walk to work every day, and always am surprised by some bird, animal , insect on my way.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I live on the east coast in the suburbs of New York City..so I'm fascinated with news of the black bear populations growing..and sitings of these wonderful animals. I'm a bear fan, but love ALL creatures.
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?
To realize everything we do impacts all life around us. To understand that all creatures have a right to their life, and are not "in our way". We must respect and share all space with them.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Take time to think what you could do each day to help. Even time to sit outside and observe. Walk, care, and commune with everything around you.
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I spent my early years outdoors. The site was still a dairy farm, but then after many years was turned into a State College. I was always outside and saw many creatures..now I realize that was the best time.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
I try to walk to work every day, and always am surprised by some bird, animal , insect on my way.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I live on the east coast in the suburbs of New York City..so I'm fascinated with news of the black bear populations growing..and sitings of these wonderful animals. I'm a bear fan, but love ALL creatures.
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?
To realize everything we do impacts all life around us. To understand that all creatures have a right to their life, and are not "in our way". We must respect and share all space with them.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Take time to think what you could do each day to help. Even time to sit outside and observe. Walk, care, and commune with everything around you.
I. M. Popper
Poet and freelance writer
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
All wildlife and the natural world is fascinating to me and I have spend much of my life observing wildlife, plants, and being in nature. The actual wildlife interactions I have had are of a chance nature. While I love those chance encounters, I try to avoid them and to retreat from them: I don't believe humans should regularly "interact" with wildlife; it always endangers the wildlife eventually (habituated animals live short, crummy lives.) We impose our thrill seeking needs or crazy ideas that the animals want or need to spend time around us and do not respect the animals' natures or needs. Animal Planet and a host of shows confuse kids and people with no experience of wildlife. Wolves are a major study and passion with me. Interactions with dogs and other domestic animals have been very important.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
Yes, many in my childhood and many now.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Too many to name.
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?
Same old challenges: 1. Overcoming the natural sense of us/them about wildlife and nature--so we don't see wildlife’s needs as opposing our own. 2. understanding ourselves and our world 3. Approaching the clash of our needs and those of other creatures with a willingness to learn and with understanding and humility. Global warming, species extinctions come out of these problems.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We have to change our beliefs about humans relationship to the wild and our beliefs about the nature of wildlife. Curiosity, sensitivity, intuition, should come from the assumption that the wild world is greater than we are, and greater than our understanding, is mysterious, and full of things for us to learn about, so we should proceed with great respect and caution. Think creatively about it. Science is a great way in too. You mention religion--Christianity and most of the major world religions emphasize human ascendancy and superiority, even in the idea of stewardship. This has led to ignorance, blindness, and many human abuses of nature, wildlife, domestic animals too, (let alone of other humans). Throw those assumptions out.
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
All wildlife and the natural world is fascinating to me and I have spend much of my life observing wildlife, plants, and being in nature. The actual wildlife interactions I have had are of a chance nature. While I love those chance encounters, I try to avoid them and to retreat from them: I don't believe humans should regularly "interact" with wildlife; it always endangers the wildlife eventually (habituated animals live short, crummy lives.) We impose our thrill seeking needs or crazy ideas that the animals want or need to spend time around us and do not respect the animals' natures or needs. Animal Planet and a host of shows confuse kids and people with no experience of wildlife. Wolves are a major study and passion with me. Interactions with dogs and other domestic animals have been very important.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
Yes, many in my childhood and many now.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Too many to name.
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?
Same old challenges: 1. Overcoming the natural sense of us/them about wildlife and nature--so we don't see wildlife’s needs as opposing our own. 2. understanding ourselves and our world 3. Approaching the clash of our needs and those of other creatures with a willingness to learn and with understanding and humility. Global warming, species extinctions come out of these problems.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We have to change our beliefs about humans relationship to the wild and our beliefs about the nature of wildlife. Curiosity, sensitivity, intuition, should come from the assumption that the wild world is greater than we are, and greater than our understanding, is mysterious, and full of things for us to learn about, so we should proceed with great respect and caution. Think creatively about it. Science is a great way in too. You mention religion--Christianity and most of the major world religions emphasize human ascendancy and superiority, even in the idea of stewardship. This has led to ignorance, blindness, and many human abuses of nature, wildlife, domestic animals too, (let alone of other humans). Throw those assumptions out.
Ricardo Miller
Environmental Officer - National Environment and Planning Agency
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
My most memorable interaction with an animal was when i accidentally killed a Red-billed Streamertail Hummingbird as a child. This magnificent bird was perched on a branch and partially hidden from view. Eager to get a better view of the bird i tossed a huge stone to shake the branch so the bird would fly...instead it was hit and died. I was so heart broken.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
Going to the beach was one of my favourite past-times as a child. My father and I would jog (and walk) about 2 miles to the beach every Sunday morning while it was still dark. We would then leave just as the sun came above the horizon. Today, my favourite outdoor activity is to go birdwatching in the lush hills of Portland or the Cockpit Country, Jamaica.... and going to the beach.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Black-throated Blue Warbler. This is a very attractive bird (particularly the male) and this was one of the first bird calls of a migrant that i learnt. It was also astonishing to know that this bird may travel 2000 to 4000 km each winter season and repeat this feat during spring to travel between the Caribbean and the US or Canada.
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?
Presently i believe one of the biggest challenges in Jamaica is saving our forests in its natural state. In the future things might be so bad that keeping the environment in a habitable state would be our greatest challenge.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Plant a tree as often as you can.
July 23, 2009
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
My most memorable interaction with an animal was when i accidentally killed a Red-billed Streamertail Hummingbird as a child. This magnificent bird was perched on a branch and partially hidden from view. Eager to get a better view of the bird i tossed a huge stone to shake the branch so the bird would fly...instead it was hit and died. I was so heart broken.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood? How about now??
Going to the beach was one of my favourite past-times as a child. My father and I would jog (and walk) about 2 miles to the beach every Sunday morning while it was still dark. We would then leave just as the sun came above the horizon. Today, my favourite outdoor activity is to go birdwatching in the lush hills of Portland or the Cockpit Country, Jamaica.... and going to the beach.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Black-throated Blue Warbler. This is a very attractive bird (particularly the male) and this was one of the first bird calls of a migrant that i learnt. It was also astonishing to know that this bird may travel 2000 to 4000 km each winter season and repeat this feat during spring to travel between the Caribbean and the US or Canada.
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?
Presently i believe one of the biggest challenges in Jamaica is saving our forests in its natural state. In the future things might be so bad that keeping the environment in a habitable state would be our greatest challenge.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Plant a tree as often as you can.
July 05, 2010
Anonymous - Private Citizen
Student, University of Colorado, Boulder, and prospective Ecology Graduate Student
Today’s Date: January 19, 2007
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
There are so many, and the biggest impact came from a progression of experiences. Just a very few of them: Staring at a posturing anole lizard when I was maybe 4. Almost stepping on a coral snake under a swingset when I was 9, and thinking oh, how pretty! At 10 or 11 fishing for bluegill and catfish with string and bread ball rigs, or making tiny crabs surface through the sand to watch them run back to the ocean. Bioluminescence-seeing if poking a stick in the water made patterns, or turned them off. Chasing fireflies. Petting a dolphin. Watching pelicans dive for fish, and seagulls try to rob them. When Busch Gardens, Tampa, really was a garden, wondering how flamingos there all knew how to move together and why they were so pink. Riding and feeding my horse. Seeing a bear lumber by in North Carolina when I was 12. First snowfall and sled ride - I was 12. Realizing sand dollars and starfish are alive. Collecting Coquinas. Swimming with an alligator in a Georgia lake (just a small 3 footer) when I was about 14. Being on a stilt cabin porch in the Chassahowitzka River when a flock of 20 or so vultures landed on the roof and stood there for an hour with wings spread. Always wondering why. Then after getting a zoology degree, being best qualified to kill and maim lab animals for biomedical research - rats, cats, dogs, macaque monkeys, baboons, which I did for 7 years, and finally coming to understand humans had no right to exploit animals.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, in trees, such as our orange, tangerine and grapefruit trees, since our housing development was carved out of a Floridian orange grove, or in giant oak trees in vacant lots. Also, in the Hillsborough River, for hours at a time, swimming and messing around in small boats.
Now? Anywhere in the deserts, forests, mountains where there is no sound of motorized vehicles, or on a river messing around in small boats.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I like all animals, from zooplankton to elephants, but some favorites are small mammalian predators, as represented by mustelids, herpestids and viverrids. Their ecological niche as both predator and prey, their remarkable behavioral plasticity, and some of the species' (marten, fisher) obligate habitat specialization in areas of intense resource utilization, are all factors that fascinate me.
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 can't name just one. There are at least four: Climate change, Resource extraction, Land conversion/habitat loss, and human population growth, in no particular order, though population growth is driving all else.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
In everything you do, eat, buy, or invest, reduce your impact, and encourage everyone you know to reduce their impact. If you want kids, adopt as many as you can!
Today’s Date: January 19, 2007
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
There are so many, and the biggest impact came from a progression of experiences. Just a very few of them: Staring at a posturing anole lizard when I was maybe 4. Almost stepping on a coral snake under a swingset when I was 9, and thinking oh, how pretty! At 10 or 11 fishing for bluegill and catfish with string and bread ball rigs, or making tiny crabs surface through the sand to watch them run back to the ocean. Bioluminescence-seeing if poking a stick in the water made patterns, or turned them off. Chasing fireflies. Petting a dolphin. Watching pelicans dive for fish, and seagulls try to rob them. When Busch Gardens, Tampa, really was a garden, wondering how flamingos there all knew how to move together and why they were so pink. Riding and feeding my horse. Seeing a bear lumber by in North Carolina when I was 12. First snowfall and sled ride - I was 12. Realizing sand dollars and starfish are alive. Collecting Coquinas. Swimming with an alligator in a Georgia lake (just a small 3 footer) when I was about 14. Being on a stilt cabin porch in the Chassahowitzka River when a flock of 20 or so vultures landed on the roof and stood there for an hour with wings spread. Always wondering why. Then after getting a zoology degree, being best qualified to kill and maim lab animals for biomedical research - rats, cats, dogs, macaque monkeys, baboons, which I did for 7 years, and finally coming to understand humans had no right to exploit animals.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, in trees, such as our orange, tangerine and grapefruit trees, since our housing development was carved out of a Floridian orange grove, or in giant oak trees in vacant lots. Also, in the Hillsborough River, for hours at a time, swimming and messing around in small boats.
Now? Anywhere in the deserts, forests, mountains where there is no sound of motorized vehicles, or on a river messing around in small boats.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I like all animals, from zooplankton to elephants, but some favorites are small mammalian predators, as represented by mustelids, herpestids and viverrids. Their ecological niche as both predator and prey, their remarkable behavioral plasticity, and some of the species' (marten, fisher) obligate habitat specialization in areas of intense resource utilization, are all factors that fascinate me.
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 can't name just one. There are at least four: Climate change, Resource extraction, Land conversion/habitat loss, and human population growth, in no particular order, though population growth is driving all else.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
In everything you do, eat, buy, or invest, reduce your impact, and encourage everyone you know to reduce their impact. If you want kids, adopt as many as you can!
June 14, 2010
Follow me....
For those of you who read my blog and are interested in connecting with me other places, I wanted to give a few links of where else you can find me :) I am on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jeremyjtaylor so if you are on there, feel free to add me as a friend! You can also follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeremyjtaylor I have profiles on the Biodiversity Media Alliance http://biodiversitymedia.ning.com/profile/JeremyTaylor Development Crossing http://www.developmentcrossing.com/profile/JeremyTaylor and PeaceNext http://www.peacenext.org/profile/JeremyTaylor and if you are interested in following my photography, you can view it at http://jeremyjtaylor.shutterfly.com There is an option to add yourself as a site member there to get updates when I post new photos. Also, the Earth Survey Project has a page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earth-Survey-Project/107490655964018 and group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34705684632 on
Facebook if you are interested.... There are many other places where I have feeds from my blog submitted, but I wanted to at least list a few other places where you can connect with me if interested!
______________________________________________
"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb
Facebook if you are interested.... There are many other places where I have feeds from my blog submitted, but I wanted to at least list a few other places where you can connect with me if interested!
______________________________________________
"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)