August 20, 2007
Humans have intervened so often in the natural course of nature that we have made a mess of things. I struggle with it myself frequently. Once we have made so much influence, is it ok to stop? Should we intervene?
I was torn today. While working on the deck, I heard the coyotes explode. They couldn't have been more than a hundred yards away. I think I know how they work. If they happen to be working together (not often) they start yipping and crying to confuse and strike fear into their prey. Then they attack. They don't do it all at once, but in pieces, exhausting the prey until they can finish it. It was horrible. Amidst the cries and encouragements of the coyotes, I could hear another sound. I think it was the scream of a deer. I am not sure, but there were too many coyotes involved, and the sound was too loud for anything smaller. Deer are generally quiet creatures. They only make sound for two things as far as I can tell: a need for help, and fear of dying. Maybe the two are related.
We have a tremendous number of deer. We also seem to have a lot of coyote. Could I have crashed through the brush and helped the deer? Maybe. Would it have been the right thing to do? I don't know, but I don't think so. Death is brutal, but Mother Nature embraces it as a need for balance. The deer need to be thinned to keep the herds healthy. The coyotes have to eat just like anything else. It wasn't easy to listen to, but I have to accept it.
It's very Dale Carnegie, but it depends on the perspective of the individual:
Deer: The past winter did not yield much rain. Food is very sparse. I have to scavenge constantly for something new. The herd has broken up to find new food rather then give it to the dominant members. I finally found some growth in the redwoods that has not been beaten down by the heat and lack of water. What is that noise? Oh my gosh, I am surrounded! What do I do? Someone please help me? I can't fend them all off!!!
Coyotes: Water is so scarce. As a result, the shrubs and undergrowth have been scraggly. Rabbits and squirrels have moved to different hiding places and we can't feed ourselves, let alone our children. We banded together to help with the hunt. I am worried that I will lose my family's portion to the dominant members, but this is my only choice: to hunt in a pack. What is that noise? Something is pulling grass ahead, and the scent suggests a deer. We surround her. She is beautiful, but I can't let that change my focus. There are lives at stake. Someone starts yelling. The deer is frightened. She will make a mistake soon. She does, and someone attacks her from behind. She screams, and others attack. I have to do my part, or I will lose out on my share. Soon, she is down. She will feed not only the pack, but my family for the next week, maybe two.
I know. We don't like to think about it. It's morbid. Aren't you glad that you buy meat in a market where you don't have to know how the beast was killed? Do yourself a favor, never find out.
Praying my buck comes back tomorrow morning...
I was torn today. While working on the deck, I heard the coyotes explode. They couldn't have been more than a hundred yards away. I think I know how they work. If they happen to be working together (not often) they start yipping and crying to confuse and strike fear into their prey. Then they attack. They don't do it all at once, but in pieces, exhausting the prey until they can finish it. It was horrible. Amidst the cries and encouragements of the coyotes, I could hear another sound. I think it was the scream of a deer. I am not sure, but there were too many coyotes involved, and the sound was too loud for anything smaller. Deer are generally quiet creatures. They only make sound for two things as far as I can tell: a need for help, and fear of dying. Maybe the two are related.
We have a tremendous number of deer. We also seem to have a lot of coyote. Could I have crashed through the brush and helped the deer? Maybe. Would it have been the right thing to do? I don't know, but I don't think so. Death is brutal, but Mother Nature embraces it as a need for balance. The deer need to be thinned to keep the herds healthy. The coyotes have to eat just like anything else. It wasn't easy to listen to, but I have to accept it.
It's very Dale Carnegie, but it depends on the perspective of the individual:
Deer: The past winter did not yield much rain. Food is very sparse. I have to scavenge constantly for something new. The herd has broken up to find new food rather then give it to the dominant members. I finally found some growth in the redwoods that has not been beaten down by the heat and lack of water. What is that noise? Oh my gosh, I am surrounded! What do I do? Someone please help me? I can't fend them all off!!!
Coyotes: Water is so scarce. As a result, the shrubs and undergrowth have been scraggly. Rabbits and squirrels have moved to different hiding places and we can't feed ourselves, let alone our children. We banded together to help with the hunt. I am worried that I will lose my family's portion to the dominant members, but this is my only choice: to hunt in a pack. What is that noise? Something is pulling grass ahead, and the scent suggests a deer. We surround her. She is beautiful, but I can't let that change my focus. There are lives at stake. Someone starts yelling. The deer is frightened. She will make a mistake soon. She does, and someone attacks her from behind. She screams, and others attack. I have to do my part, or I will lose out on my share. Soon, she is down. She will feed not only the pack, but my family for the next week, maybe two.
I know. We don't like to think about it. It's morbid. Aren't you glad that you buy meat in a market where you don't have to know how the beast was killed? Do yourself a favor, never find out.
Praying my buck comes back tomorrow morning...