National Wildlife Day – September 4, 2022, history, quotes

National Wildlife Day – September 4, 2022, history, quotes

America marks National Wildlife Day on September 4. It’s an opportunity for everyone to step back, take a deep breath and think about all that surrounds us. It inspiring to consider preservation and conservation efforts that work to improve the natural world. There remains so much to learn. As Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “In wildness is the preservation of the world.” We couldn’t agree more. So let’s take a closer look at this special day.

When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.

Lao Tzu,

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History of National Wildlife Day

In September of 2006, the world suffered a terrible loss. Steve Irwin, known colloquially as “The Crocodile Hunter”, died in an encounter with a sting ray that went horribly awry.

These normally docile and peaceful creatures pack a powerful punch in their tail, and instead of swimming away as Steve expected, it instead attacked him with its stinger. After hundreds of strikes, Steve believed he had sustained only a punctured lung, but the stinger had actually managed to pierce his heart causing him to bleed out. So passed an amazing man from the world.

What does this have to do with National Wildlife Day? Steve Irwin was an expert on animals, and spent much of his career working to bring attention to endangered species and aid conservation.

In his honor National Wildlife Day reminds us that the animals of the world are a precious resource, and of the many zoos, sanctuaries, conservatories, and organizations that work together every year to help preserve them for future generations.

If we don’t start taking care of them now, we’re going to lose them. Once an animal has gone extinct, they’re lost forever to future generations, it’s our responsibility not to let that happen.

WHEN IS NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY 2022?
National Wildlife Day is on September 4, 2020.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY TIMELINE

March 1, 1872
Grant makes Yellowstone official
President Ulysses S. Grant signed the law establishing Yellowstone as America’s first national park — and the first national park in the world.

September 27, 1962
A boost for the environmentalist movement
American biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring,” documenting the adverse effects of pesticides on the environment.

December 28, 1973
The Endangered Species Act passed
President Nixon signed a law protecting threatened species from extinction as a “consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.”

2006
National Wildlife Day was born
Colleen Paige created National Wildlife Day in honor of the late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin — the famed “Crocodile Hunter.”

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY

Take a hike!
Those of us fortunate enough to live close to the “wildness” that Thoreau wrote about with such startling clarity should use National Wildlife Day as a motivator to get out and about — and to explore the great outdoors.

Donate to conservation groups
Without the hard work of conservation groups, much of what we love about wildlife and natural habitats would likely be lost forever.

Clean this place up!
Many communities have organizations dedicated to picking up all the trash left behind. Find out when and where they’ll be at work, and join them in cleaning up your town.

5 PRETTY WILD WILDLIFE FACTS

Our water supply never changes
The amount of water on Earth remains constant and is continually recycled over time.

There are more trees on the Earth than there are stars in the Milky Way
Scientists estimate that there are 3 trillion trees on Earth — way more trees, in fact, than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

‘Blind as a bat’ isn’t blind at all
Contrary to popular myth and opinion, bats are not blind and sometimes use their eyesight to hunt, rather than using echolocation.

Mass extinctions happen more often than you’d think
Experts estimate that about 200 species of plants and animals become extinct every 24 hours — more than 1,000 times the natural rate of extinction.

WHY NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY IS IMPORTANT

We need a breather
Many of us are occasionally encouraged to “think outside the box.” But how often do we acknowledge that “the box” is more than just a mental construct? It’s physical too. Nature and wildlife remind us that it’s time to get outside.

Wildlife is life-affirming
We admire wild creatures and the environments in which they live for a very simple reason: They remind us that each of us is tasked with finding the right balance between ourselves and the world we inhabit.

It inspires us to do good
National Wildlife Day reminds us of the alarming numbers of endangered animals and habitats, and it encourages us to advocate for preservation and conservation efforts.

How to celebrate National Wildlife Day

Thankfully there are plenty of options to help support endangered animals, and National Wildlife Day is a great opportunity to get out and do it! Almost every community has animal sanctuaries and zoos nearby, so take a trip with you, your family, and friends out to enjoy their exhibits.

While you’re there see what you can do to donate time and/or money, or even just spread the word about drives they’re doing. You can even contact them ahead of time and work to help them organize an event, you can even go to the local library to hand out flyers to spread awareness!