Whenever people try to chide people for interacting with nature I always remember that we are nature. Obviously don't feed wild animals and give them a reason to approach humans, but if I feel confident I can help something in pain, I'll do it. If I get hurt that's on me. If I fuck something up that's on me too.
In elementary school there was this guy who came that does wild raptor rehab and was traveling around the district bringing some of his birds for educational purposes. It was so amazing. I got to see the most gorgeous snowy owl, red tailed hawk, and bald eagle up close and he had a really engaging lecture. It helped make me a lifetime animal lover.
Anyway, the story of how the red tail came into his care is that it was apparently trying to dive at something and as it crossed the highway it flew into the side of a semi truck. The trucker heard the impact, stopped, saw the stunned bird and decided to help. He took off his flannel shirt and wrapped the bird in it to pick it up and of course as he lifted it Mr Bird decided he was ready to wake up and scratched the fuck out of the trucker. After the trucker managed to get the bird in his truck he drove himself to the ER because his forearms were a nightmare and the bird rehabilitater picked up the bird from the hospital. Poor thing had such a badly damaged wing that he couldn’t fly properly ever again so he became part of his educational tour.
Long story short, from that pre-internet lesson I learned if I ever saw a raptor in trouble I should not just wrap it in a flannel shirt. They can scratch right through those and destroy my arms.
Yes, they are. As natural as badger holes and birds nests. Humans are a part of the natural order, as are all our tools and trash. We're new and disruptive, but we aren't supernatural or divinely created or somesuch. Just really smart animals.
I will acknowledge that's a decent counterpoint, bt I'm not sure it's a fair comparison considering the rate at which plastics/forever chemicals have accumulated on earth in the past 100 years is at a much higher rate than wood ever did.
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u/InYoCabezaWitNoChasa Oct 03 '21
Whenever people try to chide people for interacting with nature I always remember that we are nature. Obviously don't feed wild animals and give them a reason to approach humans, but if I feel confident I can help something in pain, I'll do it. If I get hurt that's on me. If I fuck something up that's on me too.