We've all experienced it—meeting someone we thought we wouldn't like, only to find that, once we got to know them, they were kind, decent, and maybe even became a close friend. Animals deserve that same chance. Through this series, I hope to help people see wild animals in a new light and realize the importance of preserving them as essential parts of our world.

Unfortunately, wild animals are often labeled as pests. Majestic animals like elephants and lions are not welcome in villages that lose crops or livestock to their nighttime foraging. While some of us recognize these animals' essential role in ecosystems and work to protect them, many communities understandably struggle to see their value.

Our misunderstandings impact other animals severely. Take coyotes, a prime example of fear-driven, counterproductive reactions. When coyotes are killed, they respond with a "compensatory reproduction" effect, breeding even faster to offset the loss. Killing one coyote can lead to an equal or larger population within a year. As Stephanie Garcia Richard, New Mexico's Commissioner of Public Lands, explains: "Coyote killing contests as a measure of predator control actually do not work…for this species, wiping them out has the opposite effect, leading to population surges with devastating consequences.”

Consider wolves, another misunderstood species. Fear has led to their widespread hunting, creating a cascade of ecological disruptions. But when wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, the positive ripple effect was remarkable:

• Balanced elk populations
• Healthier waterways
• Fewer cases of chronic wasting disease
• Even fewer elk-vehicle collisions

This is the profound impact one species can have on an ecosystem.

And then there's my favorite—the endearingly "ugly-cute" opossum. Often overlooked, opossums play a surprising role in our health and safety: they eat ticks, thereby reducing Lyme disease, don't carry rabies, and produce a protein used to create antivenin for snake bites.

Every species has a unique role in a complex web that ultimately benefits us. Our priority should be recognizing those benefits and finding ways to live harmoniously with all wildlife—even those we've been conditioned to see as pests.