The Neighbors

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia)

Imagine my rage when, arriving home from an early morning errand one Saturday, I discovered 2 of my neighbors bulldozing my back yard! We have 2 ½ acres which we’ve left in its natural state except for ½-acre of sod around our house. Our property is home to snakes, lizards, and Gopher tortoises, with occasional rabbits, squirrels, possums, armadillos, and raccoons.

I confronted my neighbors, and they explained that they had come to our door several times during the week (while we were at work) to ask permission to clear our property. They were concerned that snakes and a fox had come from our property to cross their yards to get to a pond. The animals were “scaring their children”. They asked what they were supposed to do. I suggested that they educate the children (and themselves) about their “native neighbors”.

It’s sad when fear of the unknown leads someone to try and wipe out a habitat.

When I was a child, we made regular visits to our local Nature Museum. There, we could see many of the native species. We learned which animals we needed to stay away from (rattlesnakes and scorpions), which animals were harmless, and what they contributed to the ecosystem. We learned to respect and love nature.

EDUCATION, PEOPLE! Don’t let your ignorance taint your view of the world.

Laurie Arnold