Payton DeMay

Bio

Advisor and Program

Nils Peterson
Forestry and Environmental Resources, NC State University

About

Growing up in a rural community and later serving as a Navy medic, I developed a deep sense of responsibility for both people and the natural world. My journey into conservation began through lived experience, where my exposure to climate impacts, biodiversity loss, and social inequities inspired a desire to pursue integrative, solutions-focused science. I am passionate about addressing climate adaptation and wildlife conservation through socioecological lenses, considering both ecological processes and human values, particularly anthropogenic impacts on birds and large carnivores at the urban-wildland interface. My academic path merges natural and social sciences to improve coexistence between communities and wildlife in a rapidly changing world. I aim to become a research ecologist and educator, advancing proactive conservation strategies through public service and inclusive scholarship. By integrating interdisciplinary research, community engagement, and equity-driven policy development, I aim to help shape conservation efforts that are scientifically sound and socially sustainable.

Research Interests

My research examines how public attitudes and acceptance capacity influence support for large cat conservation. In Nevada, I am investigating the social drivers of support for mountain lion presence and management using surveys that assess tolerance typologies and barriers to coexistence. Internationally, I am collaborating on research in Kenya evaluating how ecotourism and proximity to national preserves affect community tolerances of lions. These studies aim to inform proactive, socially grounded conservation strategies by identifying regional and cultural variations in predator tolerance, advancing coexistence in landscapes where ecological restoration, human livelihoods, and large cat presence intersect.