I sit outside frequently and am often visited by wild beasties. Currently there are a couple of racoons, a red fox, and a barred owl living behind my place. The big racoon is the most bold, and has no fear about coming right up to me when I'm sitting on the porch. He has been within reach on several occasions, not that I would ever try to touch him. The hardest thing in the world with these animals is having to let nature take it's course. It is an element of human nature that we have an urge to care for and help our fellow creatures, especially when they're fuzzy and cute. But it's a mistake. For one thing, I don't want them to lose their fear of humans. The moral dilemma presented resonates so strongly with me, that it inspired a poem that attempts to address my ambivalence on the matter. Several years after that, my internal dilemma is strong as ever.
Yes, I understand completely. And I would have less of a problem letting nature take its course if I wasn’t so keenly aware of how human beings disrupt and feel free to abuse nature at every turn. We seem to miss the obvious fact that we are only a tiny thread in a web of life that our own lives depend on. So many believe that our lives are more important than others and that we have the right to destroy habitat and kill whenever another life inconveniences our own. This is both cruel and stupid. It’s the quickest way to ensure our own extinction. Many days I am ashamed of my humanity.
I would love to read your poem if you’re willing to share.
Jena
P.S. How wonderful to have so many critters living close. I often see foxes, coons, deer, and of course squirrels here. We have a variety of owls in the neighborhood, but my favorite is the barred owls. I love their calls, don’t you?
If you know when the cleaning crew is coming, you could remove the pumpkin just the night before and then put it back right after they are done. - Or you could crate the pumpkin with the possum inside if you have a crate on the day the crew is coming? - Maybe the internet has answers...I am sure she will be OK, but I I can tell you would be sad if she left for good due to disturbance (and I would be sad as well...). Good luck!
I don’t know. They announced the cleaning more than a week ago (said it was starting last Monday in our building) but so far nothing. This is typical. They often say they will be doing things and never show up. If you want something done (like a smoke detector replaced) you have to remind them repeatedly. When. I had black mold growing in the wall and across the ceiling of my bathroom in my former apartment they did nothing until the wall began to dissolve.
All that is to say I have no idea when they will actually clean. The painting crew IS doing its thing and will have to have clean surfaces to paint, so we shall see.
As for crating the pumpkin and opossum there is no way Heloise would let me get close enough to do that. As soon as I have an idea when the power washing will actually happen, I will remove the pumpkin and the water dish I leave out for her.
Send it to info@critterkin.com
I sit outside frequently and am often visited by wild beasties. Currently there are a couple of racoons, a red fox, and a barred owl living behind my place. The big racoon is the most bold, and has no fear about coming right up to me when I'm sitting on the porch. He has been within reach on several occasions, not that I would ever try to touch him. The hardest thing in the world with these animals is having to let nature take it's course. It is an element of human nature that we have an urge to care for and help our fellow creatures, especially when they're fuzzy and cute. But it's a mistake. For one thing, I don't want them to lose their fear of humans. The moral dilemma presented resonates so strongly with me, that it inspired a poem that attempts to address my ambivalence on the matter. Several years after that, my internal dilemma is strong as ever.
Yes, I understand completely. And I would have less of a problem letting nature take its course if I wasn’t so keenly aware of how human beings disrupt and feel free to abuse nature at every turn. We seem to miss the obvious fact that we are only a tiny thread in a web of life that our own lives depend on. So many believe that our lives are more important than others and that we have the right to destroy habitat and kill whenever another life inconveniences our own. This is both cruel and stupid. It’s the quickest way to ensure our own extinction. Many days I am ashamed of my humanity.
I would love to read your poem if you’re willing to share.
Jena
P.S. How wonderful to have so many critters living close. I often see foxes, coons, deer, and of course squirrels here. We have a variety of owls in the neighborhood, but my favorite is the barred owls. I love their calls, don’t you?
Yeah, they are the hooty-hoot owls you always hear in movies. I had to dig out the notebook the poem was in. But where do I send it?
If you know when the cleaning crew is coming, you could remove the pumpkin just the night before and then put it back right after they are done. - Or you could crate the pumpkin with the possum inside if you have a crate on the day the crew is coming? - Maybe the internet has answers...I am sure she will be OK, but I I can tell you would be sad if she left for good due to disturbance (and I would be sad as well...). Good luck!
I don’t know. They announced the cleaning more than a week ago (said it was starting last Monday in our building) but so far nothing. This is typical. They often say they will be doing things and never show up. If you want something done (like a smoke detector replaced) you have to remind them repeatedly. When. I had black mold growing in the wall and across the ceiling of my bathroom in my former apartment they did nothing until the wall began to dissolve.
All that is to say I have no idea when they will actually clean. The painting crew IS doing its thing and will have to have clean surfaces to paint, so we shall see.
As for crating the pumpkin and opossum there is no way Heloise would let me get close enough to do that. As soon as I have an idea when the power washing will actually happen, I will remove the pumpkin and the water dish I leave out for her.
Jena! Your Possum! I love the photo in the pumpkin! May the gods keep you both safe and happy!
I am praying your little animal spirit will be safe Jena. 🙏🏻🌟🙏🏻