There he was, hopping along in a fairly large open swath of ground right below the light-rail train trestle. He caught my eye as I gazed through the railcar window. I contemplated his living so close to highly developed urban areas. He was a breath of fresh air.
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I began to think about Jack Rabbit and how he’s learned to adapt to so many challenges in life. Hopefully, he’s thriving — finding food, a mate, perhaps, and doing what jack rabbits do. I thought about all the wild creatures and how they’ve all learned to adapt and survive living among we humans. Which brings me to a monumental question — “Why do we have such difficulty adapting in our ever-evolving world?”
Frequently I get stories about how communities decide to deal with creature conflicts. So often the first action people consider is to use lethal methods. Why? Animals are gifted with life just as we are. They’re not just “pests” or threats. What is it about humans that causes far too many to harbor such disdain for “other” life? I thought about Jack Rabbit and how he is able to live off the land and coexist fairly peacefully with other beings — even predators — because nature has gifted him with instincts and abilities to survive.
The natural world hasn’t really changed an awful lot since the beginning of time. Yet, man has created such an un-natural environment where rapid and constant change clearly impact our ability to thrive and coexist peacefully — not only with the animal kingdom, but with our own kind. So many problems, so much discussion, so many fruitless efforts to help us “live” kinder, more thoughtful lives. There are humane ways to co-exist.
What would a day be like “being Jack Rabbit”? Or, was it Jill Rabbit?
Hopping off for now,
Susan