Academic training often leaves students poorly prepared for what they actually encounter in the field, where bridging the distance to the general public in matters related to wildlife and the status of our planet can pose a real challenge. The increasing disconnect between nature and an often skeptical or misguided public means that many people have a poor understanding of how to behave in the great outdoors and take a bewildered or even confrontational stance against those dedicated to nature conservation and species protection. Managing nature has simply become increasingly synonymous with managing people.

This primer equips practitioners – teachers, students, researchers, citizen scientists, park rangers and guides, zoo staffs, and volunteers – for what they can expect to hear while going about their business. It provides a set of concise answers to over 200 questions or assertions arranged in 20 headings covering major ecosystems and their inhabitants, natural history institutions, and various human perspectives and activities. You’ll never again be caught off guard, stumped, or flustered.

A dash of humor and a twinkle in the eye maximizes the chances that those on the other side of the proverbial fence will shake your hand and urge you to keep up the good work. No team should gear up for work without a copy of this book.