New2view's Blog   Life on The Blue Marble

As a rural Surrey B.C. resident its still true that wildlife has a distinct place in our rural environment, thankfully. Indeed in my own rural setting, surrounded by bush and trees, there are a great number of creatures, from pointy-nosed little shrews to yipping Coyotes and graceful twin deer.

Recently I took on the responsibility of feeding a black feral cat. He or she is happy to accept daily food offerings, but rejects human contact whatsoever. One reason for my accepting this arms-length relationship is its a possible deterrence for rodents.

For example at this time of year (say from October to January) there is expected attempts by at least one unwanted rat to share my residence. Of course its instinctive for them to seek warmer shelter, and especially food. So war begins: I raise shields and declare condition red in my efforts to thwart bold attempts to penetrate defenses!

Now most people may not have any compunctions about killing a rat,  but I do.  Yet it becomes necessary when their ambition seeks to access your home!

I purchased a plastic reusable rat trap from Walmart that’s been effective as a last resort.  I refused poison, formulated so that a rat cannot resist it, and even worse, a glue pad that will completely trap them alive! But who could feel good about using those, not me?

The problem with rats is they apparently have little control over their bowels (?), and, like mice, leave excretions everywhere they go.  Even worse, according to my experienced farmer neighbor, they urinate constantly.  Why is that?

Regardless of their seemingly inexcusable traits, its my belief that all living creatures have been created by a loving God for a our benefit. Yes for our human environmental benefit.

Btw, did you know rats have miniature teeth like a Beavers’ that grow continuously? But unlike those far more popular relatives, their main purpose may elude us at present. Or, its also very possible that we humans have created conditions that were never intended by our Creator and therefore create conflicts with other creatures, like rats. Climate change being the most recent sad example of this.

For example, did God intend that we live in cities?  No!  In fact according to the Bible when men first established a city and proceeded to build a tower, God saw fit to thwart that effort and multiply human languages.

You may say; “well since then God must have decided to allow people to live in cities”. But did you know its only in recent days total human population is more than 50% in cities? What does that suggest about our Creators’ point of view, and good intentions for our future? Think about it seriously!

In any case, its hard to feel compassion for rats, most people regard them as pests, or even a disease threat.  Yet I was in an electronics supply store last year and a man came in with a rat sitting on his shoulder as if it was a most normal pet relationship. The rat looked totally at home, unflinching and content as his patron went about his business. No doubt they are very intelligent creatures.

We share this planet with untold numbers of living creatures.  Perhaps there is something to be learned, even from annoying rodents. Such as that all living things have a place in the environment created for our human benefit.

Please visit my post, From Paradise Lost to Paradise regained: 

https://new2view.ca/wp-admin/post.php?post=3022&action=edit