The Real Vixen
May 7, 2010 – 11:52 am
Photo by NG Photographer Joel Sartore
For the last several weeks, we have witnessed our neighborhood come alive with wildlife. Caterpillars, frogs and toads, raccoons and opossum and now foxes. This latest discovery has been a special treat since foxes all but disappeared from our landscape for many years. It signals a turning point in the restoration of our backyard wildlife habitat program, a NWF program that our garden club and many of our neighbors have adopted as a way to support a sustainable, earth-conscious way of life.
Of course, good news rarely travels alone. Hiding in the shadow are always the naysayers who allow fear and ignorance to dominate their thoughts and actions.
So while many of us were sharing sweet tales of seeing the fox pass by in the evenings in search of a stray rabbit or a vole and some of us were cleverly securing our chicken coops, others were busy plotting revenge on the innocent creatures whose only crime has been its natural search for food in our diverse habitat.
But how diverse can our habitat be if we rid ourselves of the inconvenient creatures? Some many of us have worked long and hard to restore our yards and in turn our neighborhood back into a balanced wildlife habitat that the thought of someone reversing it overnight by trapping and relocating the animals seems like a giant leap back into the dark days of ignorance.
I coined an aphorism a few years ago: Paradise ceases to be paradise once all of the fools move in.
Mark my words, you will hear more of this controversy before all is said and done. On one side will be the fearful “protectors of the innocent” citing that their motives are purely out of concern for those dainty little children and small dogs who may fall victim to rabies. (even though the animals show no sign of rabies.)
On the other side will be the extreme environmentalists who think that our neighborhood should be returned to a wild forest.
But in the middle of all of this, I sit, still believing that there is a happy medium. I believe we can have nice, neat yards and well manicured parks as well as wildlife habitats. I believe that we can take care of our own responsibilities as individual homeowners without assuming that we are in charge of the universe.
Unfortunately I am only one voice among many and sadly, in our modern society, it is the loudest voice that usually wins. Which begs the question. Who is the real vixen in this tale?
5 Responses to “The Real Vixen”
For one more voice, it’s difficult for many of us to realize/remember that the wildlife has been here for many more years than Man. I’d hate to see total development drive wildlife to extinction. Thanks for your thoughtful message of the day.
By John Sikes on May 7, 2010
The best tool we will have is to educate the public and our childern to learn how to adapt with the presence of the wildlife and to recognize an animal that presents a danger due to rabies or other reasons. I for one enjoy all wildlife and am one that will stop for a squirrel in the middle of the road. I fear for the wildlife in densly populated areas due to there life expectancy be shortened due to senseless deaths from automobiles, carelessnes, or outright killing for the fun of it. I would like to see more on this discussion.
By Louis Harrison on May 7, 2010
Sooner or later, one way or another, Mother Nature always wins. I, for one, want to be on her side!
By Beth Smoak on May 7, 2010
Very well said, Trish. We got so excited when we saw the fox walk across our yard and patio just outside our window. Foxes are not known to be aggressive toward humans,so I cannot understand the fear. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this. Glenda
By Glenda on May 7, 2010
You know the Indians beleived in leaving no footprints, strange we are beginning to come around to the
same way of thinking, hopefully in time to have saved our green earth.
just June
By June on May 7, 2010