Living Beside Our Non-Human Neighbors
When I was a young child my dad was in Alaska, working away from our home in Illinois. When he returned, he told a story about a Kodiak bear that had accessed the workers’ camp one night. Of course the bear broke into their food supply, dined well and left a mess.
In my child’s mind, I associated that bear with my dearly beloved teddy bear, my best friend and sleeping buddy.
Lamentably, the kodiak didn’t fare as well as my teddy bear. The men didn’t want a bear in camp, they were angry and afraid, so they took what they considered the only step — they killed her.
My dad proudly showed me the trophy photo they had taken to commemorate the occasion.
What Other Options Exist?
When I look back on this story I am left with so many questions. Was there a way the men could have been safe without killing the bear? What other options were available to them? Options that would have allowed both species to coexist, rather than resulting in the death of one of the species.
We are in a both/and relationship with animals, not an either/or relationship.
Which brings me to some soul-searching questions: How can we live in an animistic way with animals? Is there a way that allows for the agency of all species, instead of domination by the human species?
The answer to the questions is yes. It’s also a very big, complicated and nuanced conversation, which can be confusing to know how to start. Here are some things you can do right now, today, to get you going:
**Take a moment and appreciate the unique connection you have with animals.
**Without disturbing the animals, observe them quietly and from a distance to become familiar with their lifestyle.
**Google is your friend. See what you can find out about your non-human neighbors. You can then dig deeper by reading up on them and watching videos.
**Explore ways to make your backyard wildlife friendly.
We All Do Better When ALL Creatures Do Better!
If you care to share how this goes for you in a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.
Janet Roper is an animist, elder and communicator and for 20+ years has helped people restructure their relationship with animals. Two of her most popular resources are her monthly newsletter and her 5 email introductory series to her signature program Deepen.
