In Stanley Park, jewel of the city of Vancouver,
acres of forest trails are the delight
of the West End - home to coyotes,
who kept out of sight for years,
till we became too many
and their habitat too small,
till they grew hungry
and emerged from their dens
to be fed by humans.
This was not a kindness.
Some bites on the ankles
of people along the seawall
when they didn't produce food
other walkers had given,
and now they will be "humanely
euthanized" for the crime
of existing near the margins
we have etched into
the forest that once was theirs.
On the news today, the "cull" (killing)
has begun - not humanely -
as they are caught in leg-hold traps,
suffering till they are "liberated"
from their pain by the "humane" shot.
I could cry like a coyote
for the shortcomings
of humankind,
for the loss of the wild ones' home,
for the destroyer species we are,
for our lack of understanding
of how to live with our wild neighbours.
I cry with the coyotes
who will be "culled" (killed) for the crime
of existing on land that has become
dangerous for every non-human being
and will one day be as unsafe
for those of us who believe ourselves
immune to the inhumanity
gaining ascendance
on the planet.
for earthweal - hard to find a positive note of hope these days. Innocent coyotes, whose habitat has been diminished and encroached - fed by humans, when they are hungry and lacking natural food sources - dying, because we are so many, and we have the power.
Today the police and industry goons used heavy equipment to CRUSH the cars of three protestors at Fairy Creek, one belonging to a media rep. Three CARS. How are they allowed to behave like this? Injuring protestors (daily!), crushing property - and no consequences at all. (I worry especially as my friend is a media rep and he is up there right now.)
I cry - like a coyote, like a wild wolf, like a conscious human who cant believe what we are doing to this planet, so unconscious that what we do to the coyote will eventually, karmically, inevitably, happen to us.
Oh, that is horrible. Why not relocate them, or at least shoot them humanely. I believe that those traps are illegal in the UK. Canada continues to shock me with its actions.
ReplyDeleteYes, what is happening is a long ways from the world's former view of what goes on in Canada. I remember a long ago commercial about Red Rose tea where the person said, of the tea's availability, "Only in Canada eh? A pity." I think of that now, when it comes to relations with First Nations, what is going on at Fairy Creek, the clearcutting of Old Growth - all the political talk is hot air - empty promises. NO ONE is ready to make tough laws about the climate crisis, other than the Green party, who dont have enough support or seats to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteOh Sherry, my heart hurts at the reality you are sharing here. The forces of darkness grow ever more emboldened. The poor coyotes and every other critter forced out of their natural habitat and then murdered when they try to survive. There have ongoing incidents in the upper peninsula of Michigan with the wolves, where it has been documented that farmers put out bait of dead livestock and then say the wolves killed it, which leads to the state dnr approving killing them. You can see the writing on the wall just like I can. We aren't far behind unless a miracle happens and the darkness flees.
ReplyDeleteCanada is always put forth as a progressive first world nation.... it is the ordinary folk who can tell the world the true stories...
ReplyDeleteThis really sums up the insane depths of our selfishness and ignorance Sherry. We think we can destroy every non-human living thing on the planet and continue to live on it. I wish the defenders at Fairy Creek well - it would seem there are no limits to what the authorities can do in their determination to destroy the earth.
ReplyDeleteAs human populations expand in their dominance, wildlife is ensnarled, driven out and hunted. Coyotes have flourished into many urban areas, killing cats and dogs, doing what they do. 'Tis a grief and thanks for the tears. -b
ReplyDeleteI know you would cry for them and with them. Humans sometimes don't understand the full magnitude of their actions. The animals are the ones that suffer. The darkness is real but, please my friend still look for the flickers of light.
ReplyDelete