Steve Irwin...

[Wayne C.]

As a biologist I find it difficult to come to terms with how Irwin's death effects me. I always thought he was rather foolhardy and a poor example to kids by doing unsafe things with dangerous reptiles. But I watched the shows nonetheless. And Irwin was having the kinds of adventures I like partaking in. Irwin took the mystery out of and showed the beauty of the reptiles he experienced. And if the public knew anything about reptiles such moronic movies as "Snakes on a Plane" would be booed off the screen.

I expected him to ultimately be claimed by one of the venomous snakes he free handled. Today's news about his death by stingray sting was a one in a billion freak accident. Stingrays are common as dirt in tropical seas. I've dived with them. They are innocuous as long as you dont step down on them. I cant imagine how Irwin got caught.

And over the past few years I came to realize that the majority of kids I know learned more about nature from watching Irwin's antics than anything else.

The fact is, if people dont know about nature they do nothing to preserve it. Irwin may have been a bit of a showman but he definitely got the message across that nature is something to be valued and not feared or destroyed. I know I'll miss him.

WC