About this episode
Summary In this episode, Ron Hayes and Jason Loftus are joined by guest Nehemiah Ray, and they share discussions of how venturing into the wild in their childhood has developed a strong appreciation for the finer details in nature. Nehemiah Ray, a wildlife professional, shares his philosophy for raising his children to appreciate the wonders of nature. This episode digs into the importance of family, outdoor experiences, wildlife biology, and the impact of human behaviour on ecosystems. Nehemiah Ray shares his experiences with nature, wildlife removal, and the importance of teaching children to appreciate and respect the natural world. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to nature, wildlife, and exploring the natural world. It delves into the impact of invasive species, the importance of understanding wild edible plants, the value of foraging, and the significance of being aware of one's environment. The conversation also highlights the benefits of spending time in nature, the challenges today’s technology has on kids, how it limits their opportunity for outdoor experiences and the influence of childhood experiences on adult perspectives. Takeaways Teaching children to appreciate and respect nature is important for their development. Human behavior, including the release of pets into the wild, can have significant consequences for ecosystems. Wildlife removal and the coexistence of humans and wildlife is a complex and important aspect of environmental management. Understanding the impact of invasive species on ecosystems The value of learning about wild edible plants and foraging The importance of environmental awareness and spending time in nature The impact of childhood experiences on adult perspectives How technology is limiting today’s youth from having outdoor experiences Sound Bites "It's not about not being afraid. It's about being able to overcome it." "The impact on the ecosystem, you know, just by people releasing pets is significant." "Don't keep a pet that should be wild. And secondly, don't ever turn them loose. There's always other options. But if you go turn them loose, then the ecosystem is dealing with a problem that you didn't want to manage. So." "The grocery stores have such a small amount of foods that we eat. And granted, I know shelf life and all those types of things play a part into it, but I really want to teach them at a young age to be explorative. Don't just go with what's offered to you." "It's really easy to admire the mountains. It's a lot more difficult to admire the molehill. Being able to ... You don't have to go far. You don't have to take a trip to Yellowstone, which, I mean, that's on the bucket list for me. I really want to go there." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Family Conversations 02:00 Outdoor Adventures and Wildlife Removal 05:25 Wildlife Biology and Environmental Stewardship 25:08 Human Behavior and Ecosystem Impact 28:22 Understanding Invasive Species and Ecosystem Impact 31:39 Exploring Wild Edible Plants and Foraging 34:36 Appreciating the Natural World: Mountains and Molehills Thanks for listening to another episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast. To see more of our show and to watch the hosts, as well as the photos and videos that they discuss, tune into their Beyond the Wild Podcast YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing enjoyment! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.