A Wildlife Educator’s Guide to Misunderstood Animals

In a world increasingly shaped by humans, the concept of “the wild” can often feel distant and evoke images of far-off rainforests or African savannahs, but bringing attention back to the nature around us can help us connect not just to the world, but to each other.

As a nature and wildlife educator, I get the chance to educate people about the amazing biodiversity throughout the Bay Area.

While I love teaching about charismatic or endangered species, some of my favorite critters to teach about are maligned species. These species often get bad reputations because of fear, misinformation, or a lack of understanding about their roles within ecosystems.

One oft-feared animal I teach about is the Virginia Opossum… and I understand why! Seeing a wild opossum can be startling for both you and them. And a startled opossum leaves quite the impression: teeth, hissing, and that hairless, rat-like tail.

While they certainly can give the impression of large rats with fangs, opossums aren’t actually rodents—they are marsupials (pouched-animals, like kangaroos!).

Opossums do have a lot of teeth (around 50!), but are rarely aggressive; the chance of an opossum attack on a human or pet is incredibly low. If approached, opossums are more likely to run away or play dead. Given their gentle demeanors, their reputation for being scary is quite unfounded. Opossums are actually great wild neighbors, especially if you have a garden. They are omnivores and regularly munch on rodents, snails, slugs, and spiders. Additionally, opossums are resistant to rattlesnake venom, which puts snakes on their menu.

When it comes to misinformation, few animals are as maligned as pigeons. Pigeons aren’t technically wild, they’re actually feral (formerly domestic animals that now live in the wild). Actually, pigeons enjoyed a rich history alongside humans; they were likely the first domesticated birds and were raised as companions, for food, and for communication. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the term “rats with wings” was first coined, after pigeons were (incorrectly) blamed for two human deaths. With a single newspaper article, these birds became widely associated with disease spread. In reality, pigeons carry no more disease than any other bird and actually, thanks to their service in both World Wars, have been awarded medals for saving human lives! Pigeons are actually quite smart, form long-term pair bonds, are great parents, and, on top of that, are gorgeous. Next time you see one, take a good look at those iridescent rainbow feathers!

While all animals serve specific roles within their ecosystem, the important role of the Turkey Vulture is often overlooked. Turkey vultures are scavengers, which means they only eat dead organisms. When I show pictures of vultures, I’m often met with a round of, “euch!” due, I assume, to their featherless heads. While these naked heads do serve the grisly purpose of keeping the vultures clean while they feast on corpses, these birds are nature’s clean-up crew! By consuming decomposing remains, vultures speed up the return of nutrients back into the ecosystem and keep diseases in check.

Helping people understand and appreciate the value that often-maligned species have in our world is invaluable.

Building these connections can help open us up to a more empathetic world view, where differences are not seen as threats, but as opportunities to learn, find connection, and build respect for anyone who may be considered “other.” Wildlife education, to me, is not just about learning cool facts about animals—it’s about cultivating respect and recognizing the worth of all forms of life, no matter how scary, different, or misunderstood they may seem.