A Lesson In Tolerance

I thought about the animals I saw on my trip and just had to say something about the tolerance of animals in general. As I stated earlier, many (maybe all) of the predatory animals wandering into town here are killed, not relocated. Deer are a common sight lying dead along the roads, as of course are racoons, rabbits, prairie dogs and our own pet cats. After really taking the time to watch all the wildlife in Yellowstone the past 2 days, I KNOW animals have a very high tolerance for humans. Fears have been instilled into us; we think wild animals are out to attack and kill us. We are taught to fear these animals. Sure sometimes an animal may attack but most times it is because we were in their territory and were surprised, or for protection of their young, and only rarley purely predatory.

The grizzly was just going about its business, no intentions of harming a person. The fox was playful and curious, only a couple feet away from humans and not afraid at all. The deer did their grazing as us campers camped. The sheep went about grazing at the side of the road, never once moving as a person in each car took a turn for a picture. The moose kept on grazing as many people moved in to get pictures. Buffalo lay only about 10 feet away, resting on thermal ground near hot springs as tourists walked by and stopped to take pictures. These wild animals were kind enough to share their home and themselves with us-and peacefully. Very tolerant of our strange habits.

Now on the other hand, the mountain lions and bears coming into town to try to share our home with us do not get out alive. They are treated as criminals and without a trial. They are shot dead as they try to find their way in a world that has few places left for them. The poor deer are probably the most tolerant here. Far too many of them are hit by cars and left dead, thrown in the trash by the roadkill cleanup crew like trash. Humans have little tolerance left for animals. It will be a sad world indeed when the only animals left are trapped in zoos and as pets while the ones people don't favor are wiped off the face of the Earth.

The tolerance of animals is a lesson we need to learn. They are accepting and adapting to us so why can't we do the same? God gave us all this planet as home.

Animals are amazing!