If someone asked you to conjure up an image of a conservation biologist, you’d be forgiven if the first thing that came to mind wasn’t someone who resembles a cross between Steve Irwin and Jason Momoa. But Matt Fox, biologist, safari guide, game ranger, STEM educator, wilderness adventurer, and star of the video series Uprise Conservation wants to change how we view biologists — and conservation altogether. We sat down with the infectiously enthusiastic multi-hyphenate to discuss his past work, his current project…and his stint as a caregiver for endangered wolves.

When did you first get interested in biology?
I grew up in a huge NASA community in Houston, where passion wasn’t something you should ever hide, but something you should share as much as possible. Every one of my neighbors was the biggest nerd you’ve ever seen. My grade school was generational nerdism. It made me so thrilled from a young age to learn, and I was most interested in wildlife. My first memories are catching toads and anole lizards and letting them loose in my house. The other kids had toys. I had reptiles.

Where did this passion lead you?
I went to college at Mizzou, knowing I wanted to get into biology and try to save as much of the Earth as I could. After meeting this incredible field biologist and begging him to go on one of his field projects, I got involved in field biology. We went to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and studied gerbils, hamsters, jerboas, and corsac foxes. From there, I was off to the races. I was all over South America, working mostly with bears. Then Africa, as a safari guide. I became this world traveler who had a different field project every summer.

Matt Fox in Mongolia, a country near and dear to his heart. (Chris Bauer)

What shifted your focus from biology to conservation interpretation?
I can credit the Endangered Wolf Center in St. Louis for that. When I first got involved there, I was a keeper for about 46 wolves and was only interested in doing good for those wolves. I got really invested in these animals’ stories.

Then, a position opened for a program manager. I wanted to be the person who made sure that every one of the 600 visitors a day left with a positive impression. I thought of it as waves: that all my actions are making waves, and the more positive waves I can make for nature a day, the better. I realized that I’m a good biologist but a great interpreter, and that I should stick with whatever I do best to have the biggest impact.

How did Uprise Conservation come about?
I started Uprise Conservation with my friends Tom Herbig and Chris Bauer about two years ago. Tom is a videographer with his own production company, Wild & Curious. Chris is a photographer. The three of us became Uprise Conservation. I do tours on land and by kayak, teaching people about nature and the local organisms. I teach in schools around St. Louis, primarily with grade schoolers, because I see myself now almost as nature’s ultimate hype man, and nobody gets more jazzed than a fifth grader.

But the central part of the project is the video series, which we’ve shot all over. It feels like a million dreams coming true where you can look back on a whole life and say, “Ah, all of it was building towards this.” I hope when people see me treating conservation biology like the most important issue of our time, they can’t help but agree and feel the desire to get involved. 

What’s your advice for aspiring biologists and conservationists?
If you’re interested in getting involved in biology and conservation, you’ve already taken the most important step of your life. Being interested in nature is the best gift you can give yourself. You can draw so many inspirations from nature’s ingenuity, creativity, and resilience. Be tough, don’t give up, be brave, and always listen to yourself.

Matt Fox’s passion for nature is intense. (Chris Bauer)

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MATT FOX’S ESSENTIALS

COUNTRIES VISITED
36

FAVORITE LOCAL NATURE AREA
“Castlewood State Park in Ballwin. It inspires me every time I go there and feels like a thriving habitat.”

FAVORITE ORGANISM OR ANIMAL
“I love all the organisms that are part of this great machine that is Planet Earth, but I have a special place in my heart for carnivores. They make a human stop and say, ‘I’m in nature now. This is real wilderness.’”

FAVORITE COUNTRY
“Mongolia, by a wide margin. While I was there, I learned to speak Mongolian and got really into Mongolian wrestling. I competed twice in Naadam, which is their version of the Olympics.”

HOBBIES
“Archery, kayaking, and looking under rocks and logs.”

Author: Neima Shahdadi is a contributor to Terrain.

Top image: Matt Fox inspects a snake. (Chris Bauer)