Leave It Be: Why Less Is More When It Comes to Wildlife

About this episode

Dr. Drew Ricketts discusses the importance of allowing wildlife to thrive without human intervention and how to educate future generations about respecting wild animals.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Drew Ricketts, Wildlife Extension Specialist at Kansas State University, to explore why even the best intentions can lead to harmful outcomes when it comes to wild animals. From “rescuing” fawns to preventing snake bites, Dr. Ricketts walks us through common human-wildlife encounters and explains how species are biologically adapted to thrive without our help. We discuss Kansas laws, public health risks, and what to do if you encounter injured or endangered wildlife. Most importantly, we unpack how to teach the next generation to respect wild animals—by giving them the space they need to stay wild. Fins, Fur, and Feathers: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HyaYenrLLztd5l9NseZ8h Let wildlife be wild: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/stories/2025/05/agriculture-leave-wildlife-alone.html Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit Information: https://ksoutdoors.com/Services/Rehabilitation/Wildlife-Rehabilitation-Permit-Information K-State Extension Wildlife Management: https://www.wildlife.k-state.edu/ Animal Diversity Web: https://animaldiversity.org/

People in this episode

Guest: Dr Drew Ricketts

Topics covered

• wildlife
• human-wildlife encounters
• wildlife rehabilitation
• public health risks

Keywords

• Kansas laws
• injured wildlife
• endangered wildlife
• wildlife management

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Kansas

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