The Fo - Vulpes vulpes

 

The Fox is a beautiful animal found on every continent of the world.  They are omnivores, like humans, and their diet is primarily insects, reptiles and birds along with vegetables. Fox only eat around two pounds of food a day and will cache excess for later. Some scientists call them opportunistic hunters and they are often considered pests or nuisance creatures because they will attack poultry.  In reality they are just acting naturally.  Our domesticating animals to raise and kill for food is truthfully not natural.  Many foxes adapt to human environments.  There are species that are actually clssified as "resident urban carnivores" because of their ability to live entirely within urban boundaries. (Interesting the use of 'carnivore' when the Fox is an omnivore.)  We had a beautiful Red Fox den in Black Fox Hollow where she had a litter of three kits.

     It is interesting.  We do the same thing with other animals (remembering that we too are animals) as we do with plants that we don't like or have habits that annoy us; viz. we given them derogatory titles - weed, pests, nuisance creatures - and condone their destruction when, as often as not (and generally more often) the weed, pest or nuisance has more value and important to life on Earth than do humans.  (We actually qualify as an invasive species.)  This being said about the Fox,  Fox are actually used to keep "pests" out of orchards.  Humans have never concerned themselves with contradictory behavior as long as it serves our purpose.

     Unlike humans, the Fox is an important member of the animal kingdom.  Despite annoying us by raiding the hen-house, the fox is a major factor in the natural control of rodent and insect populations.

#Fox, #wondersofnature, #animalrights,  #OldConservationist

Accepting that we have no greater right.

 

The idea that we are not only the most important animal on the globe but the only one that counts goes back to religion; especially the three Abrahamic religions. 

Buddhism and some of the eastern religions see being human as a superior condition, but they acknowledge all animals as sentient beings. All of the tribes indigenous to North America whose spirituality I have studied believe that we are a part of nature just as are other animals. 

If you have a hard time accepting that an animal other than a human has the same right to exist as do we, I would lay odds on you having grown up in a Jewish, Christian or Muslim home. 

To accept this reality does not mean that we must stop eating meat. We are omnivores, which is an advantage to our species.  Personally I couldn't kill an animal for food so I'm a vegetarian. That does not mean that I think hunting and eating your kill is bad. Since I couldn't kill another animal, I think it would be inappropriate for me expect someone else to do it for me.  Many cultures thanked the animal they killed to eat, and there are modern American hunters who do the same.  So don't panic. You don't have to give up meat to accept that we have no greater right to exist. 

To accept that we are equal does not mean that you must sudden stop taking care of yourself and your family first.  I would assume that you accept that I have an equal right to be here as you.  If you were suddenly faced with the choice between saving my life or the life of one of you family, who would you pick?  You can be honest. The family member would come first.  That doesn't change my equality. You can accept that all sentient life has an equal right to life without changing you priorities. 

What it does expect is that you will not kill for fun or hunt to extinction. It means that you won't destroy other animals because they annoy you, or get in your way or look funny. You will be mindful of their need for food and water, and not destroy their habitat. The balance of nature has done an excellent job without human interference. It is when we start messing with nature, because we think we are more important, that we cause tremendous problems for everyone. 

#animalrights, #nature,  #sentientbeings, #OldConservationist

Live in peace with other animals

#OldConservationist, #cherishnature