Conflicts between humans and wildlife
As I write my column this week about this expansive subject known sometimes as the “great outdoors,” our environment and the world around all of us. In the back of my mind is the situation in the so-called “Holy Lands” of the Middle East. Even though the Middle East is thousands of miles away, almost on the opposite side of our delicate, beautiful world, conflicts and shots fired there are heard and felt around the World. The meaning of sacred words such as Nativity, Bethlehem, Birth Place of Jesus Christ, Israel and many others have been desecrated and changed forever by conflicts between man and his fellow man.
I’m not going to stick my neck out so far as to take a position on who I think is at fault or who the bad guys might be. We only know what we read and see in the news. And we all know how the American spin doctors, politicos and the media work their propaganda in the USA. The conflict in the Middle East seems to be the never ending battle that has been fought for hundreds of years -- even wild animals don’t act this way. Wild animals don’t use weapons of mass destruction to kill others of their own species. Religious folks around the world should be outraged by what is taking place in the Middle East “holy lands” and as I see it a mass pilgrimage is in order by the faithful. What is the underlying problem? Is it the quest for Power? For Land? For Money? Is it Prejudice in its worst form?
Like Rodney King once said -- “Can‘t we all just get along.”
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Conflicts between humans and wildlife have been documented since the beginning
of recorded history. Early man also had his share of problems with wildlife
since his very survival took him directly into dangerous environments and
range of large carnivores to hunt and collect foods in order to survive. The
different types of primitive hunting implements that he used to kill and
harvest the many different types of animals for food, clothing, shelter, tools
and other implements were state of the art during that period of time.
Primitive man was also the hunted since there were (and are today) many larger
carnivores who could easily kill and consume him quickly. But I’m sure that
early man couldn’t defend himself against all potentially lethal attacks.
I’m sure that when primitive man, settlers, and even some cultures today encountered wildlife that got into their dwelling, home or garden -- the uninvited guest would have become dinner. Modern day man and American folks have different ways to deal with wildlife that encroaches on their land or in their homes. It goes from one extreme to the other -- from poisoning all and everything to feeding and observing wildlife visitors to our homes and backyards.
Homeowners who have a problem with certain types of wildlife where the suspect is causing damage to their home, for example, squirrels, birds, bats, racoons in the attic or overhangs, beavers damming up a stream on their property can call a Licensed Nuisance Trapper. In our region unwanted guests come in all shapes and sizes. From the large Black Bear down to the field or deer mouse and even carpenter ants, termites, ticks and spiders and everything in between. I would emphasize that the best action would be prevention. To use poisons to control any types of wildlife or other unwanted pests is risky and dangerous to all of us. In my opinion when we attempt to poison nature we poison ourselves.
Folks who move from the big city into the country near forested areas and then expect that wildlife will stay off their sterile lawns are expecting the impossible. I know there are people out there who panic when they see wildlife on their property. I could understand the fear that some people have with snakes. But there are many harmless and beneficial snakes in our region. All that one has to do is learn how to identify the different wildlife that we share our environment with.
My Father once told me the story of when he and my ex-brother-in-law were hunting in Pennsylvania and “brother-in-law” thought he heard a rattlesnake along the trail. He dropped his rifle and ran all of the way back to the car.
I know of one lady who would chase chipmunks and waterfowl from her back yard. I wasn’t surprised to see that she used a broom to do this.
Last year and this year I’ve had an ongoing problem with a “ a four legged, furry demolition expert” with sharp teeth, who has acquired a taste for wiring and vacuum tubing under the hood of my vehicle. Mrs. Squirrel cut right through and removed wiring from the vehicle. after making all of the necessary repairs several times the final straw cam when she then built a large nest of leaves into the space in the right front fender and brought in her four young hairless babies. I had no clue they were there until I tried to start my vehicle. Since it wouldn’t start I looked under the hood and found more cut wires and many oak leaves. Mrs. Squirrel wasn’t in the nest at the time but as soon as touched the leaves I could hear the four young squirrels squealing.
I carefully removed the four young ones to a large spackle pail with wood shavings in the bottom. I covered them lightly with a paper towel and shortly the mother returned. She transferred all four babies to a new nursery but she returned one last time and checked under the hood, as I watched, to make sure that she didn’t leave anyone behind. I now make sure that I check under my hood on a regular basis. I even placed moth ball in a mesh bag under the hood but this didn’t help.
Some folks don’t mind having wildlife visitors in their backyards. They will feed hundreds or thousands of pounds of feeds and seeds to many songbirds, deer and turkey. This also attracts the predators to the feeding stations for easy pickings. Then when spring comes black bear will also come to bird feeders. In some states the practice of attracting and feeding black bears is illegal.
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Turkey season is in full swing. I haven’t been out yet but intend to go. I
hearing some good reports from others. “Uncle Mike” went hunting May 1st,
opening day but was unsuccessful. When he returned home later in the morning
“Auntie Dottie” said that there was a tom turkey in the back yard before he
returned home.
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I fished at Rondout Reservoir Wednesday afternoon and evening with Sullivan
County buddies Phil L. and his son “PJ.” We didn’t get any keepers but we had
a great time catching and releasing many trout . The size limit on Rondout for
Brown Trout is 12 inches. Other regulations that apply may not be the same as
general statewide regulations -- as usual make sure that you check the
regulations. We had a great time fishing and I hope that you do too.
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Practice catch and gently release and if you carry it in, carry it out.
Discarded fishing line and other debris by fisherfolks should be discouraged.
We should pick up after others when necessary.