You probably know Nathaniel Peterson—better known as Coyote Peterson—as the guy who screams in agony while a Bullet Ant destroys his nervous system. Or maybe you've seen him calmly explaining the docile nature of a snapping turtle to millions of kids on YouTube. But before the Emmy awards and the billions of views, he was just a kid in Ohio trying to figure out how to turn a backyard obsession into a career.
Everyone asks about his "degree in zoology" (which he doesn't actually have) or his "expert training" (he's mostly self-taught). Hardly anyone looks at the place where the foundation was actually laid: Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School (NDCL) in Chardon, Ohio.
The NDCL Days: More Than Just a Prep School
NDCL isn't just some random building. It’s a co-ed, Catholic college preparatory school situated on a massive, beautiful campus in Geauga County. If you’ve ever been to that part of Ohio, you know it’s basically a playground for someone obsessed with the outdoors. It’s hilly, wooded, and full of the exact kind of "creepy crawlies" that would eventually make Nathaniel famous.
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He graduated in 2000.
Back then, he wasn't "Coyote." He was Nathaniel, a student who was already deeply immersed in the world of animals, though he wasn't exactly planning on being a scientist. Honestly, his path was always a bit more creative than clinical. NDCL is known for a pretty rigorous academic environment, but for Peterson, it served as the backdrop for a growing interest in storytelling.
He wasn't just catching frogs between classes. He was learning how to communicate. NDCL has a strong focus on "holistic education," which is just a fancy way of saying they want students to be well-rounded. For a guy who would eventually have to pitch a wildlife show to Animal Planet and manage a massive digital brand, those early years of learning how to structure an argument and present himself were kind of vital.
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A Return to the Lion’s Den
Fast forward to January 2022. Peterson didn't just forget where he came from once he hit 20 million subscribers. He actually went back to NDCL to talk to the sophomore class. It wasn’t a "look at how rich I am" speech. He sat there and showed them bizarre videos of himself getting bit by alligators and snapping turtles.
Basically, he wanted to show them that being "the animal guy" isn't just about the bite; it's about the persistence. He told the students that "Coyote Peterson" wouldn't exist without social media, but more importantly, he wouldn't exist without the drive he developed while sitting in those same classrooms.
Why Everyone Thinks He’s a Biologist
There’s a huge misconception that floats around Reddit and YouTube comment sections. People assume he went to a specialized "wildlife high school" or studied biology at The Ohio State University.
Nope.
He actually studied film. At Ohio State, he didn't even have a formal film major available at first; he had to basically convince guidance counselors to let him piece together a personalized study program. He wanted to be behind the camera. He wanted to write, produce, and direct.
This is why his videos look so much better than your average "guy in the woods" vlog. The high production value—the sweeping drone shots, the tight editing, the dramatic scores—that all stems from his film background, not a science background. He often mentions that his mom was his biggest inspiration for the "nature" side of things, but the "show" side? That was all self-driven education starting from his time at NDCL.
Breaking the "Expert" Myth
Let’s be real for a second. Peterson is very open about the fact that he isn't a formally trained biologist. He’s a "wildlife educator." There is a distinction there that sometimes gets lost in the mix.
- Self-taught knowledge: He spent years reading books and working with actual experts in the field.
- Safety first: He constantly warns kids not to do what he does.
- Storytelling over Stats: He cares more about making you feel something for a misunderstood animal than reciting its taxonomic rank.
At NDCL, he was a kid with a semi-photographic memory who could submerge himself in an environment without being noticed. That’s a skill he honed in the Ohio woods long before he ever stepped foot in a rainforest.
The Reality of the "Coyote" Persona
He didn't even get the name "Coyote" until later. It started as a nickname from his daughter, Olivia. He would take her on adventures, calling her "Pup," and naturally, he became the Coyote. It stuck. It was a perfect brand.
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But the work ethic? That started in Chardon. He worked a 9-to-5 job at a printer-ink company for years after college while trying to get Brave Wilderness off the ground. He used his vacation time to film episodes. He lost a multi-million dollar deal when he was 26 and had to start over.
You don't survive that kind of career volatility without a serious foundation.
Actionable Takeaways for Aspiring Creators
If you’re looking at Coyote Peterson’s journey from a prep school student to a global star, there are a few things you can actually apply to your own life.
- Skills stack, they don't just add. Peterson combined a childhood hobby (catching turtles) with a professional skill (filmmaking). Don't just learn one thing; learn how to combine two things that usually don't go together.
- Go back to your roots. Peterson’s return to NDCL wasn't just PR. It was about reinforcing his "why." If you're feeling lost in your career, look at what you were obsessed with when you were 15.
- Don't wait for the perfect major. If your school doesn't offer what you want to do (like OSU didn't have a film major for him), build it yourself. Convince the "counselors" in your life to let you experiment.
- Embrace the "Non-Expert" label. You don't need a PhD to be an educator. You just need to be more curious than everyone else and willing to do the work that experts won't (like getting stung by a Warrior Wasp).
Peterson's story isn't about being the smartest guy in the room. It's about being the guy who stayed in the woods the longest and then figured out how to film it. NDCL was just the starting line.