LEAGUE CITY — Mateo, 5-year-old nature enthusiast from League City, is competing in Colossal’s Nationwide Jr. Ranger competition for a chance to win $20,000, appear in Ranger Rick Magazine, and spend a day with wildlife conservationist, Jeff Corwin.

Mateo enjoys the outdoors including swimming, bug hunting, feeding wild rabbits around the neighborhood, and even collecting mushrooms in his specimen jar in the field near his house.

Mateo’s mother, Sheena Miller, says that he gets mad when people throw trash on the ground.

“He’s like, ‘we have to take care of the earth, this is polluting the earth’,” said Miller.

According to Miller, Mateo attended a friend’s birthday party at a local wildlife center, where he experienced many animals.

“They got to touch a snake, a bearded dragon, and a tortoise,” said Miller.

Mateo likes researching animals and learning fun facts about them to share with the world.

“We make little videos and we’ll post them — he just gets really excited learning about animals,” Miller said.

Miller says that ever since Mateo was a baby, the family has had milkweed in their yard, which is a host plant for monarch butterflies.

“From itty bitty, he’s been interacting with caterpillars and butterflies, and watching the full cycle from the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, to the butterfly,” said Miller.

Miller says that Mateo is always encouraging others how to respect nature, animals and their habitats.

“Our kids learn from us, they see what we do and hopefully want to follow,” said Miller.

Mateo is a quarterfinalist in the Jr. Ranger competition, and is most excited about meeting Jeff Corwin, because of the different animal encounters.

Any proceeds raised from Colossal’s Nationwide Jr. Ranger competition will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation.

For Miller, seeing Mateo interact with nature at a young age, sparks hope for future generations.