IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE!
It's nearly the end of spring, and in nature, "All's right with the world". The creatures in our Garden and Nature Center have laid their eggs and built their nests or burrows, and are taking care of their babies now. Perhaps at your home you caught the scent of a skunk couple perfuming the air, or the mockingbird, so proud of itself in it's early morning song, or the late night music of cats searching for meaning in life. Now, they and their offspring, are hungry. With the increase in babies, plants, seeds, and flowers, everyone is looking for a meal. We have HUNDREDS of birds eating seeds and insects, opossums digging for grubs, and bees and butterflies galore, adorning a million blossoms.
Recently there were reports of a coyote in the area. Well, of course they have babies, and they are hungry too. It is true that they have become bolder in recent years - although I believe that they are just hungrier because of the drought - their usual prey in the hillsides and canyons, squirrels, mice and other rodents, are not as numerous. It is unusual however, for them to come into any area, especially in daytime, where there is a lot of activity. It is our fault that they come so close. I see people leaving out pet food at night, and letting small animals out after dark. Why hunt in the hills, when there is a delicious buffet right down the way? Perhaps over time they will become a casually accepted part of our urban/suburban interface, as the skunks, possums and raccoons have. With the proliferation of Urban Agriculture, the emphasis on more green space, new wetlands being developed, and a proposal to return the Los Angeles River to a true waterway, there will be more, and closer, food sources for all the wild animals.
We need to learn to respect and live with the various creatures that live in our cities - they all serve a purpose in nature, and anyone who has gardened knows that nature is not something easily controlled, if at all. You will never get rid of all the ants, or all the cockroaches, or all the stray animals. The earth abides, and so do they. If we enjoy the earth in it's current configuration, we need to understand that our efforts to control and remake nature will result in an unpleasant state of affairs for us. Many scientists believe that it is already too late, and future generations will suffer because of our lack of care and our wish for instant gratification. I hope that they are wrong. I believe that our children here at Niemes will take caring for the environment to heart and turn things around, making sure that humans abide as well.
Recently there were reports of a coyote in the area. Well, of course they have babies, and they are hungry too. It is true that they have become bolder in recent years - although I believe that they are just hungrier because of the drought - their usual prey in the hillsides and canyons, squirrels, mice and other rodents, are not as numerous. It is unusual however, for them to come into any area, especially in daytime, where there is a lot of activity. It is our fault that they come so close. I see people leaving out pet food at night, and letting small animals out after dark. Why hunt in the hills, when there is a delicious buffet right down the way? Perhaps over time they will become a casually accepted part of our urban/suburban interface, as the skunks, possums and raccoons have. With the proliferation of Urban Agriculture, the emphasis on more green space, new wetlands being developed, and a proposal to return the Los Angeles River to a true waterway, there will be more, and closer, food sources for all the wild animals.
We need to learn to respect and live with the various creatures that live in our cities - they all serve a purpose in nature, and anyone who has gardened knows that nature is not something easily controlled, if at all. You will never get rid of all the ants, or all the cockroaches, or all the stray animals. The earth abides, and so do they. If we enjoy the earth in it's current configuration, we need to understand that our efforts to control and remake nature will result in an unpleasant state of affairs for us. Many scientists believe that it is already too late, and future generations will suffer because of our lack of care and our wish for instant gratification. I hope that they are wrong. I believe that our children here at Niemes will take caring for the environment to heart and turn things around, making sure that humans abide as well.