What is your job related pet peeve?
Ask A Biologist Monday 3/29/21
Mine is people who feed wildlife, especially bears. It leads to a number of issues including disease and the animal becoming too accustomed to humans, often leading to their death.
Answers from Biologists:
Littering
People ignoring trail signs
Messy handwriting (this can really mess with data collection)
Locals asking me how the squirrels I work with taste (they’re endangered)
People thinking illegal wildlife rehab is okay
Feeding bread to birds (this causes their wing feathers to grow in incorrectly and they often die)
People killing for fun. I’m a hunter, but killing an animal for no purpose sickens me.
The public trying to discredit your knowledge with an old wive’s tale/viral internet video
People who are perpetually late to field activities. Especially early mornings.
Assuming I have the ability to arrest someone for breaking a regulation, especially in state or federal jobs.
People assuming that I’m not the big game biologist because I’m a woman.
Being loose with data collection and organization.
When I tell people I’m a wildlife biologist and they think that means I work in a zoo.
Careless data entry/management.
People joking about shooting “annoying” birds (like Scrub jays and Magpies)
Standing on coral when snorkeling. Most people don’t know coral is a living thing.
Balloons. I find so many, even in the most remote areas.
Free roaming cats. Barn cats included. (They do so much damage to small mammal and bird populations.)
Batteries. Always have extras. If you don’t, a camera or GPS will always be dead.
People saying I don’t know anything even though I have 2 degrees and 11+ years of experience.
People not understanding that all species are vital.
Not hitting reply-all on an email chain.
People not believing me when I tell them that Virginia creeper is not Poison ivy/oak.
Exotic pets like cougars and coyotes.
Being an educator with a Bio degree, having biologist talk down to me or disregard my role.
Off-leash dogs.
When people ask what species I work with and then respond with “Ew.” “Gross.” etc.
Members of the public directing their questions to my male interns/techs/coworkers and never to me.
The expectation of working for free when we start out.
People sending blurry photos to ID (flora/fauna) and feeling inadequate when I can’t.
Bragging about illegal/immoral activities.
Disregarding any advice or information.
People asking me for pest control advice.
People thinking of predator species as “mean”. They’re just living their life!
Assuming that I’m lost when doing fieldwork.
Asking to ID all kinds of random blurry critter pics.
Off-leash dogs in piping plover nesting areas. Especially when they ignore the fences!
People who claim zoos are bad and should be abolished.
Being asked if I’m “catching butterflies??” when I go out in the field with insect nets.
People who work in the field with long nails (that inevitably get full of dirt).
Bad handwriting on datasheets.
People saying that they want to hunt/eat the animals I care for (zookeeper).
When people use me as a dumping ground for their anti-predator opinions.
Sexism.
Saying the black mountain lions exist in Texas.
