Human beings will never stop interfering in the lives of the so-called lesser animals on this planet.
Take the recent rescue of a eaglet in Sidney, B.C., whose leg was tangled up in fishing line. There’s also the case of a pair of orphaned bear cubs being taken care of in Errington after a hunter killed their mom. Then there’s the case of lone seal pups, baby deer and other animals that people ‘save’ from themselves.
It sounds like people are getting in nature’s way and should leave well enough alone. After all, it’s natural selection, right?
Wrong. People have stepped in the way of Mother Nature for too long and these days, the best humans can do is lend a hand when something they created or caused, affects wildlife.
We always hear about how humanity’s impact on wildlife should be minimal. While that’s the ideal, it just isn’t true any more.
Our industry, our lifestyles, have encroached upon the habitat of animals to such an extent that it could be argued that all animal life on the planet has been affected in some manner by people.
Whether we try to co-exist or just dominate, we do agree that having animals around is a lot better than not. So, people need to take steps to reduce their impact — even if it’s as simple as managing one’s garbage to keep bears and cougars away, or not panicking and calling for a gun when a bear lumbers through the yard
When people affect other people, it can often lead to class action lawsuits. But, since animals don’t have access to our justice systems, the best we can do it try to mitigate the effects our progress has wrought.
These days, well-meaning simply means correcting another wrong.
And that may be the best anyone can do. — editorial by Steven Heywood