WEST FARGO – I’ve said for years how nature is not rated “G.” Even in a winter like last year with little snow and warmer-than-normal temperatures, deer and pheasants died. Sometimes, I get frustrated trying to explain to people who understand that their pet cats and dogs won’t live forever and neither do wild animals. They get sick, diseased and die. They grow old and perish. It’s the circle of life.
Even more disturbing to some is watching a coyote eat a small rabbit or seeing crows feed on roadkill. It’s completely normal in nature, but at times, humans don’t want to acknowledge or believe there’s nothing wrong with predators eating prey.
In some cases, I ask a question back: Why should a great horned owl go hungry and a rabbit live? At times, I’ll explain how those rabbits were also eating their flowers or garden produce.
It’s life and death on the prairie…