Interacting with wildlife alleviates PTSD symptoms in veterans

The new study, published in the journal Human-Animal Interactions, showed that socializing with wildlife and walking in the woods can alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in U.S. military veterans.

Researchers at UMass Chan School of Medicine studied veterans with PTSD or symptoms of PTSD and found that walking in the woods, helping care for wildlife at a rehabilitation center, observing wildlife at a wildlife sanctuary and watching birds improved psychological symptoms, primarily by reducing anxiety.

Participants in the four-month study in Massachusetts were also given bird feeders to help provide a sustained connection to wildlife after the study ended, which included wildlife observation at a Maine wildlife park and walks in Harvard Forest.

All activities included education, such as bird identification classes at the Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Veterans have benefited more from immersing themselves in wilderness conditions

The results of the study suggest that the veterans benefited more from immersion in a wilderness setting, including close interaction with the Sulcata tortoise at the New England Wildlife Center, than from a walk in the woods.

Dr. Donna Perry of the UMass-Chan School of Medicine says, “While many studies on interactions between humans and other species to improve psychological or physical health have been conducted with pets, few have focused on wildlife.

We found that the response of veterans with PTSD to wilderness immersion involves improvements in psychological symptoms as well as connection to nature/wildlife and increased understanding and concern for animal welfare and conservation.”

Nature-based interventions are dynamic and require a flexible approach, which can be addressed through immersion experiences.

Particularly meaningful was the interaction of animals with humans.

According to Dr. Perry, study participants felt that interaction with wildlife was particularly meaningful when animals chose to interact with humans.

One participant said: “Because animals are like that… You can’t control them… They have their own free will. They have their own way of thinking and acting, so if they like you. …there is a sense of unity with nature.”

Another person described a similar spontaneous encounter in his journal after the training. “I was sitting on the terrace and saw a red squirrel running past. It stopped and looked at me. I thought it was so cute. I really felt a connection with it.”

In some cases, participants seemed to identify with the animals, such as a study participant who helped feed a baby gray squirrel through a syringe. In this case, the technician held the squirrel for the participant because it was, according to the participant, a “biter.” After feeding the baby squirrel, the participant said: “They’re probably our relatives. And they are very beautiful.”

Mutual benefits for people and wildlife

Dr. Perry believes, “The findings also suggest that improvements in depression and well-being may be mediated by transcendent feelings that arise in response to human-wildlife interactions.

The study confirms that placing veterans in an environment where they can socialize with animals that have also experienced loss and suffering may promote healing in the veterans themselves.”

Interacting with and helping to care for injured wildlife also raises awareness of human impact on the environment and can help reinforce conservation attitudes.” This suggests that organizing wildlife care and educating the public can be mutually beneficial for both humans and non-human animals.”

The scientists say that future studies with more participants would be useful to further explore the mutual benefits for humans and animals in specific areas of interaction, such as physical contact through animal care or memories through prolonged companionship.

They add that it would also be useful to explore animal-assisted therapy in which formal therapeutic interventions were incorporated into wilderness immersion.