Listen to the newest episode of Launchpad: Voices of Innovation as Kyle Shaney, PhD, UT San Antonio assistant professor of biology, health and environment shares his research and stories from his wildlife encounters around the world.
Launchpad is available on Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube.
It’s a calm, breezy afternoon. Birds call throughout the forest, a river rushes nearby, and clouds shield the landscape from the afternoon sun. Then, suddenly, a brown bear appears in your sight.
Encounters with wildlife may seem intimidating, but according to Shaney understanding animal behavior is often the key to staying safe outdoors.
Shaney studies wildlife ecology and conservation. He conducts research on animals ranging from mountain lions and bison to endangered crocodiles in Indonesia. Through years of fieldwork, he has studied animal behavior and how humans interact with wildlife in their natural environments.
While animals like mountain lions are often feared, Shaney says attacks on humans remain extremely rare despite millions of people visiting the areas they live each year. “They are not usually looking at humans as prey, and they’re not attacking people very often,” Shaney explains.
According to Shaney, understanding wildlife behavior is important not only for outdoor safety but also for helping people better appreciate the role animals play within ecosystems.
“Humans are inherently linked to all biodiversity and nature,” Shaney says. “When we mismanage our natural resources, it has negative consequences for human health and well-being.”
For Shaney, wildlife research and conservation efforts help communities better understand the environments they share with animals while encouraging people to responsibly enjoy the outdoors and respect wildlife behaviors.
