Typical of Humans
This is the first of two rants this morning, on two different subjects, so if you don't want to hear it, just go on by.
In the opinion column of our local paper yesterday, a question was asked by a person who found a baby snake in their yard about what to do with it. Every response that was printed today was the same; kill it.
How typical of humans. If it isn't cute and fluffy, it must be an abomination. Even if it is venomous (and is the person absolutely certain?), let it go. It will probably go on its way with no harm to anyone. Most snakes are far more frightened of you than you of them (though my wife would disagree), and even full grown species generally prefer to avoid or ward off would-be predators, as opposed to attacking them.
Is it really so difficult to live and let live? Must we destroy that which frightens us, or that which we do not understand? It just so happens that I find snakes fascinating and misunderstood. Almost every species of snake is actually quite beneficial and serves an important purpose in the ecosystem; pest control.
You see, snakes eat rats, mice, burrowing rodents, frogs, insects, and even other snakes. Of course, larger snakes native to tropic environments, such as the anaconda, hunt larger prey, but even so, attacks on humans are fairly rare.
The point is, just because something has scales or a means to defend itself, doesn't mean that is should be condemned to death on sight. If people took the time to learn a little about a creature, they might find common ground; or at least a little respect.
In the opinion column of our local paper yesterday, a question was asked by a person who found a baby snake in their yard about what to do with it. Every response that was printed today was the same; kill it.
How typical of humans. If it isn't cute and fluffy, it must be an abomination. Even if it is venomous (and is the person absolutely certain?), let it go. It will probably go on its way with no harm to anyone. Most snakes are far more frightened of you than you of them (though my wife would disagree), and even full grown species generally prefer to avoid or ward off would-be predators, as opposed to attacking them.
Is it really so difficult to live and let live? Must we destroy that which frightens us, or that which we do not understand? It just so happens that I find snakes fascinating and misunderstood. Almost every species of snake is actually quite beneficial and serves an important purpose in the ecosystem; pest control.
You see, snakes eat rats, mice, burrowing rodents, frogs, insects, and even other snakes. Of course, larger snakes native to tropic environments, such as the anaconda, hunt larger prey, but even so, attacks on humans are fairly rare.
The point is, just because something has scales or a means to defend itself, doesn't mean that is should be condemned to death on sight. If people took the time to learn a little about a creature, they might find common ground; or at least a little respect.