Hi, my name is Owen Lyons, and I am a rising Sophomore taking People and Other Animals with Dr. Emily Wanderer this summer in Wyoming. As an Anthropology major, I have been looking forward to this course all summer, getting a chance to experience a part of the United States that I have never seen before!

Since I could walk, I have always loved spending time outdoors. From playing sports to hiking with Boy Scouts, much of my life has been spent interacting with nature in some capacity. Through this, the outdoors has long shaped how I view and think about the world. However, this course gives me a chance to learn and reflect on how animals shape our use of the earth and how we view it.

Wyoming is a state abundant with wildlife and people devoted to caring for it. Since arriving earlier this week, I have already seen moose, pronghorn, cattle, bison, and many more. The cattle on the plains outside of Laramie have ranch hands constantly tending to them, watching for any disruptions. With many people in the U.S. depending on these herds for food, careful care is applied to ensure they maintain their health.

In the case of the moose my group saw, people play almost the opposite role as they do with cattle. Despite its popular image as a cute woodland animal, moose are immensely dangerous, with their massive size and protective nature making them a danger to humans who come near. It is the job of park and forest rangers to deter visitors to the areas that moose frequent from approaching the animals. This service is something I had previously not considered as a role in the interplay between animals and humans, demonstrating the work some people do in protecting us from ourselves.

With about three weeks left in the program, I can’t wait to see how else I will grow from my travels through this state with its people and animals!