Wildlife

I am a 20-year resident of Mount Washington and have always felt privileged that I could live in one of the few remaining areas that contains some wildlife.

Recently I witnessed a horrific sight. On a hillside construction lot, I observed some workers smashing a California kingsnake to death. When I objected, I was told, “How would you like the snake to kill your cat or dog?”

Well, I do have two dogs and a cat and I’d like to tell you how I feel. I now have gates and fences surrounding my property, but before I did I used to run after any creature that would venture into my back yard hoping to scare it off. Ten years ago a starving coyote got into what I thought was a secure pen and carried off a puppy.

Yet I don’t want to kill the coyote. We are choosing to live in a vanishing natural setting where mowed lawns meet canyons. Not only are my pets still safer than if I lived on a busy street, my own instinctual side is fed because wildlife is close by.

When we rid our gardens of all unwanted visitors, I feel something greater within us is lost--and lost forever.

Instead of trapping and killing a wild animal because it has eaten one of my pets, I’d rather mourn my loss and let the predator go on living. Somehow the death penalty is out of place for an animal that is only following its nature and trying desperately to survive.

We humans can secure our dog runs better, bring in our pets at night or choose to live where there is no wildlife. Animals lack those same kinds of choices.

GLORIA STANETTI

Los Angeles