[sallyomally]

We've all established the fact that a pelican eating a pigeon is pretty odd.

Some of us would have liked the pigeon rescued,and some say the poor pelican

may have starved.While I wouldn't want that,I still feel awful for the poor

pigeon having to suffer for twenty minutes.It's like those nature programs we watch;the lioness must hunt to feed her cubs,yet we still can't help but feel sorry for the gazelle.

So-here's my story.Tell me what you think:

A beautiful family of hawks moved into our neighborhood last spring.

We also have cute little squirrels we love to feed and watch scampering

around the place. The other day while driving down my block,a squirrel

ran in front of my car at the exact moment a hawk swooped down to

catch it.The little thing was frozen in fear and I swear looked right at me.

I stopped my car, honked the horn which frightened away the hawk,and

the squirrel ran and tried to get inside my car! It did make it to safety,

and I was glad of that, yet I felt a litttle sorry for the hawk.

My daughter mentioned that we don't have as many squirrels

in our neighborhood as we used to.

What would you do in this case?Should the hawks be allowed

to hunt the neighborhood squirrels until there are no more?Should we let

Nature take its course?Should the hawks be removed? Was it wrong of me to help the squirrel?

 

[Indian Summer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sallyomally

What would you do in this case?

Probably the same as you.

Quote:

Should the hawks be allowed to hunt the neighborhood squirrels until there are no more?

Well, how would you stop them? What would you feed them instead? I think it would prove impractical to find a better solution.

Quote:

Should we let Nature take its course?

In general, yes.

Quote:

Should the hawks be removed?

No.

Quote:

Was it wrong of me to help the squirrel?

No!

 

[karenlovessnow]

I think what you did was ok. The chances of you being able to interrupt a hawk's meal often are probably slim and none. I understand your feeling badly for both sides of the situation. I think Indian Summer summed it up nicely.

 

[troub]

/summon sevenseas (or was it Mr. Sun) for post on the injured pelican/fish ethics question.

 

[sallyomally]

OK.Thanks.

 

[Sevenseas]

*appears*

My answers to your questions would be exactly the same as Indian Summer's. I think the predator animals vs. prey animals question is a very difficult one and sometimes there just isn't necessarily a "right answer". My first instinct would probably (usually) be to rescue a prey animal from a predator animal, but removing the predators (hawks) or anything like that wouldn't be right. Of course, many factors could go into my decision. For example, if the predator is a pet cat, then I would save any prey animals from her unless she was starving, because pet cats usually get their food anyway and hunt just for fun. Whereas if the predator looked like he/she was starving, I maybe wouldn't save the prey animal.

*disappears in smoke*

 

[sallyomally]

Thanks for the appearance!My concern now is what will happen when the

squirrels are gone.I worry about my cats and the neighbor's chiahuah;

he never uses a leash when he takes it for a walk. I don't know enough

about hawks to know whether they would try to take a small dog or

even a cat.Maybe if the main food supply ran out,they would migrate

elsewhere.

 

[Christopher Jon]

It's funny you should mention this because there was an article here in Toronto about how a family of hawks has moved into a park here that houses Government buildings. Apparently, there are very few squirrels left as a result.

I just say let nature take its course. If the food supply runs out then the hawks will move on and then the squirrels will come back and so forth. There are certainly enough squirrels around that they are not in danger of extinction.

 

[Tom]

It's a difficult issue for me. Generally I am far more concerned for the welfare of an herbivore than of a predator- no apologies. But then why have I adopted a CAT??!!

Yes, I observed her reaction to my pet gerbil in a cage (she couldn't touch the gerbil) when I adopted her. I was looking for an animal with little drive to hunt, as I know cats differ greatly in this behavior. She doesn't show much interest in small animals compared to other cats I've known, and I keep her inside. I love her. But even so, I wonder sometimes.

And then sometimes it's hard to tell who is who. The first day or so I had those goldfish I adopted, I had the tank cover off. I was a few feet away. A fly landed on the tank and was creeping down the inside of the glass to the water surface. One of the goldfish swam up toward the fly, there was a small splash, and I think the fly was gone.

I'm not sure which fish it was, but I named one of them "Jaws".

 

[sallyomally]

Thanks everyone for your input.

Myabe this sort of thing (the hawks) is pretty common.I do remember a story

about falcons moving into New York city.They hunted pigeons,which of course

were in plentiful supply.I just love the little squirrels and enjoy feeding them

and watching them play,and feel kind of protective toward them.

Tom- Goldfish are voracious eaters! You named your little guy correctly.

When I taught elementary school,we had pet goldfish.The teacher next door

decided to add a few more to the tank.The next morning,they were nowhere

in sight,but our two fish looked fat and happy!The kids named our Adam

and EVe,by the way.

 

[sallyomally]

Thanks everyone for your input.

Myabe this sort of thing (the hawks) is pretty common.I do remember a story

about falcons moving into New York city.They hunted pigeons,which of course

were in plentiful supply.I just love the little squirrels and enjoy feeding them

and watching them play,and feel kind of protective toward them.

Tom- Goldfish are voracious eaters! You named your little guy correctly.

When I taught elementary school,we had pet goldfish.The teacher next door

decided to add a few more to the tank.The next morning,they were nowhere

in sight,but our two fish looked fat and happy!The kids named ours Adam

and Eve,by the way.

 

[troub]

Bah I can't find the post but it was something like ummmm:

Your walking in the woods and come across an injured pelican near the shore of a river. You only have three options at this point, which is the most ethical route?

Walk on by, letting the pelican die of starvation.

Catch (and therefore kill) a fish and feed it to the pelican.

Kill the pelican yourself so it doesn't starve to death, and instead has a quick death.