Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of the whole mess is when I lament to some friend about the garden destruction and the response is, “Aw. They are so cute!”
Ecology is a Balancing Game
For those who think that there should be a give-and-take with all wildlife, things are never as simple as we would like. In a balanced ecology, herbivores are kept in check by predators. And while we find it distasteful to watch one animal chase down and devour another, it is important to understand that allowing unchecked population of herbivores no matter how cute leads to overgrazing. This in turn causes soil erosion because too many plants are eaten and destroyed. Eventually this leads to mass starvation of said cute herbivore. Along the way, this overgrazing and habitat destruction also has a tremendous negative impact on agriculture.
I understand the essay here. But I have seen rabbits suffering with myxomatosis while on a hiking vacation in about 10 years ago
in the beautiful English countryside. It is a horrific memory and one I will keep for the rest of my life. A horribly blinded rabbit that will starve to death.
There needs to be a better way to solve this.
As you read, there are a large number of “solutions” none of which work. This morning I went out and a shrub seedling that I have been nurturing for two years was bitten off at the root line and destroyed. When someone comes up with a good solution, I will also be interested.
When I was Ecology Club advisor at PCHS, we occasionally had camping nights with parents doing the cooking. It was there that I first tasted rabbit. If U can’t beat ’em; EAT ‘EM”