I’ve seen this sentiment many times with fellow naturalists - the gist of it, from what I gather, is to not even give the animal the tiniest reason to feel stress resulting from your presence. “Do not approach the animal, do not make any noise, do not try to catch it, hold it, or shine a light at it…

No matter how we look at it: Handling and/or intruding induce stress and derail them from their activity (resulting in energy waste) at the time of intrusion. There’s a good science literature on the topic (I’ll go back to this thread and list a few soon). Indeed, the question is more “when is it a…

Very nice piece. Thanks for sharing it, and sharing it further on our channels :-)

Handling or grabbing certainly stresses them out; how much is variable depending on how you handle catching and restraining, and on the species/individual in question. But my biggest question is: Why? Why do I need to restrain that animal? Is it worth interrupting it’s day? Do I gain anything real…

I would argue 99% is no, for most of beetles you have to photo underside, you can’t get it without interacting with an insect. Without that you won’t id it, you won’t know the destribution of the species, prpobably rare, new or understudied one. It worth interrupting it’ standing on one place doing …

Do people still use bird calls? I just wonder how using bird calls fit into this? I would see how such may be a distraction to natural behavior, but is it considered impactful to birds and related species? (E.g., a bird call may attract a potential predator who detours it’s path to investigate)?

[image] teellbee: Do people still use bird calls? I just wonder how using bird calls fit into this? I It’s a complicated and at times controversial issue in the birder community. My understanding is the main issues around stress from calls come when irresponsible (that’s my judgment) birders…

[image] mira_l_b: or, if you’re annoying enough, leave the territory. Well, shoot, I liked whistling back at birds (not bird calls, just random whistling). I didn’t know I might be stressing them out more than the real birds around them. On the plus side, at least I know now. Thank you for…

If you don’t sound like the bird you’re whistling at you aren’t necessarily a threat. It’s important to consider the context, environment, species etc… My interactions where I live in the woods may need to be different than the interactions or behavior of folks birding in central park in NYC, or n…

Does the “Golden Rule” help you to understand limiting disturbances to animals? Would you be impacted by someone accosting you in your important business? A brief discussion about weather? Politics? Snatched into a quiet nook for some handling? These animals are going about their business as needed…

"Don't incur any amount of undue stress on the animal"

Nature Talk

themothergooz August 10, 2020, 6:10am 29

I never handle anyone. How would you like to be relaxing in the pond on a nice summer day and be picked up by some idiot?

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"Don't incur any amount of undue stress on the animal"

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