I'm looking at iNaturalist for reference photos of sea stars and I'm honestly disturbed by how many photos are of people holding the animals. Some as selfies, some with the animals on their hands as though they're showing off their rings. It feels more like instagram than a naturalist website. - ThreadSky

kellybrenner.bsky.social • 31 days ago

I'm looking at iNaturalist for reference photos of sea stars and I'm honestly disturbed by how many photos are of people holding the animals. Some as selfies, some with the animals on their hands as though they're showing off their rings. It feels more like instagram than a naturalist website.

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doveseed.bsky.social•31 days ago

I do not think scientists should ever post pictures holding animals. It sends the wrong message.
‘I can hold this animal because I have a permit and am wearing gloves, but you all can’t.’

doveseed.bsky.social•31 days ago

… and there are good reasons that handling is done and will ultimately benefit a species, but no wild animal really ‘needs’ human contact. Just be mindful.

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

I absolutely agree. It creates a divide of privilege and reinforces the ivory tower of science image.

whalefern.bsky.social•31 days ago

the aquarium’s guidance for touching intertidal life is “touch with one wet finger, as gently as you’d touch your own eyelashes,” which I think is lovely and has stuck with me.

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

yes I love that!! I think it's okay at times to gently touch things with a finger like sea anemones or sea stars or whatever even in the wild, especially kids so they learn to love it. But picking it up, taking it out of the water for a selfie is just infuriating.

whalefern.bsky.social•31 days ago

that and carrying animals around in buckets/containers on a warm day; people don’t mean any harm, especially kids, but creatures gotta breathe 😞

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

yeah, I've seen that a lot too unfortunately. and people not putting rocks back right, or stomping right over animals in the sand. it's honestly quite amazing anything survives at the busy beaches here.

devikk.bsky.social•31 days ago

I’ve seen that as well. I just don’t understand the disconnect, but so many people have when it comes to wildlife.

ev0lemi.bsky.social•31 days ago

Bummer.

I have lots of underwater photos of sea stars doing their thing without interruption from me or my camera. Happy to share if you need!

sarahlovesbirds.bsky.social•31 days ago

Ewwwww! No!

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

Yeah, it's gross. But hey, how else are you going to show off your diamond ring if you don't put a sea star on top of your hand and post it online 'for science'?

sarahlovesbirds.bsky.social•31 days ago

🤮

tumbleandtide.bsky.social•31 days ago

Isn't it harmful to pick up sea stars? It can damage their feet to pull them off the surface they're clinging to?

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

Yes, it definitely is! Sometimes they're on the sand though and not clinging to anything, but it still disturbs them.

mariheee.bsky.social•31 days ago

I often come across more “aesthetically pleasing-instagram worthy photos” on iNaturalist when I’m searching for bug photos too!

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

This shouldn't need to be said, but wild animals are not accessories, they aren't there to be played with and they're not there for you to take selfies with. And yes, invertebrates are animals too. iNaturalist should ban those types of photos.

ikei.bsky.social•31 days ago

I see the same thing with amphibians and it's so disturbing, because the toxins on your hands are literally poisoning the animal you're holding. Many people have no respect for wild animals. Nature is not a decoration for you to exploit.

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

Yes, exactly!! Not to mention any hand lotion, sun screen, perfume or whatever else. The worst part is many people understand this and still do it.

tinylongwing.bsky.social•31 days ago

YES. This bothers the hell out of me. I see it a lot still in bird banding circles too even as some organizations (such as mine) have banned "bird selfies" - photos of animals are for scientific documentation, but animals are not toys and promoting images like this encourages people to copycat &

tinylongwing.bsky.social•31 days ago

puts those animals under excess stress and risk of harm. Ugh.

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

Yess!! I've been saying this forever, every time a scientist posts a grinning selfie holding a bird, or any other animal, it only does harm. I've even seen author portraits in books of them holding birds. I'm glad some orgs have banned this!

restoration.bsky.social•31 days ago

Huh, most of my photos with my hands are because my phone camera doesn't like to focus so my hand is a backdrop for grasses, small wildflowers, and I feel awkward enough about those!

randyhermanlaw.com•31 days ago

I got an app that allows me to manually focus the camera and my iNat photos got much better

kellybrenner.bsky.social•31 days ago

Now that makes sense! But to haul a sea star out of the water, balance it on the top of your hand next to your giant diamond wedding ring? That's just messed up.

(also, if you don't want to use your hand, I've started carrying a small black cloth to use as a backdrop for photos like that)

restoration.bsky.social•31 days ago

That is such a simple solution, thank you! I often have a black binder in the field but it wasn't as effective

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