This is just my opinion, but it's based on facts about animlas. I'm sure some will disagree, but I feel this needs to be said.
I really have a very hard time understanding why some people take it personally when they lose a bird(s) to a predator. While I can surely understand being upset and sad and wishing it didn't happen; the predator did not do it just to make a human mad. They are not capable of that type of reasoning or feeling. They are simply trying to survive and see an opportunity for a meal. They are as much a part of our local ecosystem as we are, and since we humans are the ones with reasoning abilities, it's incumbent on us to find a way to co-exsist. Most long-time livestock people accept that they will inevitably lose a few to predation. All we can do is do our best to prevent predation with how we house our livestock. After all, these are mostly domesticated birds and they rely us on for protection.
A balance of predators and prey is a sign of a healthy environment. Too many prey animals can be as harmful as too many predators. This is one of the reasons for legal deer-hunting, because they can over-breed and cause destruction.
I find most people are sensible about this, but I've seen so many that don't seem to understand that animals are not capable of human emotions and actions that it makes me feel rather concerned.
This post is not aimed at anyone in particular, by the way. Just putting it out there...
I agree with the others about getting angry with predators.
I DO understand that there needs to be a balance between prey and predators.
I'm not gonna chase down Brer Fox because the dog chased him under the neighbour's truck.
And even though I was mad enough to do it, I wouldn't have killed the Raccoon that killed Tom, my EE pullet, as she slept.
It was MY fault, not the Raccoon's that he was able to do so.
It's more of our guilt about not protecting our livestock/pets rather than being really mad at the predators.
So I agree with you also.
I really have a very hard time understanding why some people take it personally when they lose a bird(s) to a predator. While I can surely understand being upset and sad and wishing it didn't happen; the predator did not do it just to make a human mad. They are not capable of that type of reasoning or feeling. They are simply trying to survive and see an opportunity for a meal. They are as much a part of our local ecosystem as we are, and since we humans are the ones with reasoning abilities, it's incumbent on us to find a way to co-exsist. Most long-time livestock people accept that they will inevitably lose a few to predation. All we can do is do our best to prevent predation with how we house our livestock. After all, these are mostly domesticated birds and they rely us on for protection.
A balance of predators and prey is a sign of a healthy environment. Too many prey animals can be as harmful as too many predators. This is one of the reasons for legal deer-hunting, because they can over-breed and cause destruction.
I find most people are sensible about this, but I've seen so many that don't seem to understand that animals are not capable of human emotions and actions that it makes me feel rather concerned.
This post is not aimed at anyone in particular, by the way. Just putting it out there...
I agree with the others about getting angry with predators.
I DO understand that there needs to be a balance between prey and predators.
I'm not gonna chase down Brer Fox because the dog chased him under the neighbour's truck.
And even though I was mad enough to do it, I wouldn't have killed the Raccoon that killed Tom, my EE pullet, as she slept.
It was MY fault, not the Raccoon's that he was able to do so.
It's more of our guilt about not protecting our livestock/pets rather than being really mad at the predators.
So I agree with you also.
