Last Saturday I had the pleasure of presenting at the International Society for Anthrozoology/ Human- Animal Interaction conference on falconry and how high level relationships with wild (rather than domesticated) animals have positive psychology and health implications. I know this all sounds very scientific, but mostly what I was saying in a nutshell that, “Humans ARE nature, not apart from it. We not only desire contact with nature in its extreme, but we require it.”
It was very well-received (much to my surprise and relief), which pleased me to no end. Here’s the bowl of mixed nuts. (As opposed to just the nutshell):
ISAZ/HAI Abstract
An increasing amount of research is demonstrating that Nature Deficit Disorder is a very real problem in our wilderness paranoid society. Recent research has asserted that contact with nature is essential for the physical and emotional development of children and has tremendous impact on the health and emotional well-being of all human beings. More than this, engagement with the natural world initiates a passion and connection between animals, landscape and human beings that leads to advocacy for sustainable use, respectful engagement as well as preservation of natural resources, most especially animals. With the diminishing engagement and hand-off attitude toward nature has come the vanishing of many traditional high-level relationships with animals, such as falconry.
This paper discusses recent research that supports a less hands-off approach to animals in the natural world and gives examples of some of the more intense and unique working relationships humans have with wild animals, focusing primarily on falconry.
Through the exploration of fifteen years of falconry experience, the paper discusses how a respectful relationship based solely on applied behavior analysis and positive reinforcement with a wild animal can bring depth, passion and well-being to humans as well as multiple other benefits to the animal partners. This same approach when applied to the rehabilitation of wild animals or their care in education settings can be equally beneficial to both animals and their caretakers.
Individuals who engage in high-level relationships with wild animals are some of the strongest advocates for conservation and protection. Based on the correlation with recent research they may also be healthier and better adjusted, a possibility that is worthy of further research. Although not necessarily recommending that all humans engage in working relationships with animals, the paper suggests that there is a tremendous amount of value in these relationships and that they should be explored, embraced and should not be discouraged.
Is there any chance I can get a copy of this presentation? It seems like it fits in well with a lot of the things we teach in our programs.
-Ryan
Love the line about “wilderness paranoid.” Reminds me of a student of mine who wrote about the feral chickens on our campus. There was a line in his column about them being “disease-ridden.”
I called him on it: “How do you know that?” I asked.
“Holly, they’re wild animals!” he said.
Rebecca:
This post brings the recent coyote encounter to mind. Do you have any thoughts or insights to offer regarding the coyote encounter with the 19 year old folk singer in Canada? I fear the impending demonization of these creatures could now be problematic even in the progress that has made made (though slowly) will wolf conservation. My blessings go to the young womans family but the encounter seems a mystery? These clashes are always so hard to accept, and as an avid lover of nature I feel oftentimes the animal gets the bad end of it all.
Hmm, very interesting. I love the concept of Nature Deficit Disorder. Although I’m not a fan of labels and I think we WAY overuse terms like that, I do think it is an accurate description of the problem.
I like the term Wilderness Deprived, too. I know when I get to see animals in the wild, I get an immense physical reaction; a massive recharge of my batteries, so to speak. It happens when I see birds in the city, too.
While I adore dogs, there is something spellbinding about seeing a wild fox vixen leading her kits up out of a storm drain from the creek a quarter mile away, on a foggy summer morning. I stand agog as she trots past me.
[...] I had a few comments wanting to know more about the presentation that I gave at the International Association of Anthrozoologists about the potential psychological and health benefits of high level relationships with wild animals. Mostly I was making a plea to anthrozoologists to look deeper, consider doing further studies before the trend of outlawing this type of interaction becomes blanket law. Here’ s the Powerpoint and you can find the abstract in this post. [...]