Show Why Kill Our Small Animals By BV Steve Conservation on Officer Div cf tf Wildlife Resources Many l of oC us IS Im I'm sure have had the ex of oC walking quietly through through a woodland glen amid the pleasant sounds of oC birds singing and the busy chatter of oC squirrels and chipmunks only to experience ex a heavy silence descend when these small and cheerful denizens of oC the woodlands detect our presence Man Ian the greatest and most powerful predator pre dator Bator of oC all commands an awesome and fearful respect wherever and whenever cr he lie walks Centuries of oC Instinctive In training has taught every creature creature crea ture large or small that a menacing threat is n near and a a once noisy and cheerful cheer fuel ful forest is quiet deathly quiet RATHER EGOTISTICALLY we tell ourselves that man claims the distinction of oC being the and intelligent all ruler of this planet called earth Years of oC schooling and training have drilled the fact into our minds that man and man alone in the animal world has the supreme capacity to learn to reason to thing and to mold his future all beca because e we are endowed with that illusive and unique quality called intelligence supposedly far greater than that of any other creature who shares our space born home Many of oC us have lost sight of man and his perspective perspective tive role roe of being but an an part pait of oC ofa oCa a universal pattern of balance To gain knowledge of any animal anima be it large or small is is' to gain a healthy respect for its purpose here Each of us at one time or another in our lifetime should put forth an honest effort to study around us us A study of our small crea crea- and learn more about the animal world around us A study of our small irea- irea tures birds squirrels prairie dogs would teach many of us a great lesson in humility Mans Man's mightiest feats and spectacular structures suffer in comparison comparison com parison to a tiny humming birds bird's nest built with instinctive precision or a cleverly cleverly cle verly very built dam impounding the swift waters of a mountain stream There Ther are many examples if you will only take the time to look ook and see THAT IS ts why it seems such such a tragic waste to me that very few of these small animals escape mans man's careless and often oCten cruel hand Prairie dogs shot in great numbers are carelessly tossed by the roadside and left eft to decay or haphazardly left lying upon the mound of their underground home by an unconcerned unconcerned un concerned marksman Harmless water snakes and bull snakes although beneficial beneficial benefi cial and efficient h harvesters of rodents are Idled and left to rot in the sun Small birds rabbits woodchucks and squirrels are each at times the recipient of mans man's careless and irresponsible hand Pollution an ever constant threat is isan isan isan an issue here aso also Animals that are shot and left to decay present a jd ij ite health hazard when they are left near water sources or springs and the resultant process of decay infiltrates infiltrates rates into nearby water and rendering it unfit consumption for forlong forlong forlong long periods of time It would be well worth the time and effort expended to bury these animals well away from any anyplace anyplace anyplace place that could become a dangerous source of contamination ANOTHER POINT to ponder is the fact that the early spring months of April May and June are for all the various birds a crucial time of incubation incubation tion and hatching of oC their young Rabbits squirrels etc are busy raring their young at this time also Adult animals shot or destroyed during this period very likely will leave a helpless litter of young to die a slow and lingering death of starvation It is far better I believe to admire and study these small neighbors of ours rather than thoughtlessly destroy them All in all it seems to be a needless waste of life iCe Not only do their bloated and fly fly covered covered remains add to the pollution problem but they also create an eyesore sore to an otherwise serene and beautiful country side IN THIS modern era we live in great emphasis is being placed upon the importance importance im of oC preserving our natural re re- re sources Dont Don't be guilty of overlooking the seemingly small and unimportant members of nature that ve we live with and enjoy every day Small creatures as well as the larger and more exotic ones each have an integral role that fits very precisely into the over-all over pattern of oC purpose and need in the complicated world of oC nature |