The range revisited

All great writers, at some point in their writing career, put forth an article or a book or at least an ad in the phone book that generates both praise and criticism from readers. Yesterday's blog entry, on the proliferation of wildlife in our area, was just such a piece. I heard from others whose peaceful, tranquil lives -- and property -- has, like ours, been intruded upon by four-footed critters, and from some who admire these animals' intellect in getting us to provide them with free food.

But naysaying is always to be expected, especially if you are a great writer (awful writers, of course, have their naysayers as well, so that it is sometimes hard to distinguish between the two). Somewhat surprisingly, I received a comment from the animals themselves. On top of pilfering greens from our gardens and keeping us up at night, they are now demanding respect for these activities, with the somewhat lame excuse that we should find them "at least somewhat cute."

Now the idea that we should excuse inexcusable behavior on the basis of cuteness is not new. Curious George has committed innumerable mischievous, even destructive, acts during his long literary lifetime and has never received so much as a time-out in consequence. And in real life, babies and puppies get away with barfing on your best dry-cleaned skirt, chewing your shoes, and destroying your favorite lamp. But one hopes that these individuals eventually learn not to behave this way. Wildlife, on the other hand, though they might learn to display pseudo-civilized behavior (banging on doors, bringing along fork and knife to the garden buffet, etc.), never get to the point where they are truly well-behaved. They outgrow their cuteness the minute they sink their little teeth into your lilies. I used to think rabbits were cute. I know better now.

I realize that this blog may anger my wild neighbors even more. They are probably unionizing right now.