Welcoming our pocket-sized neighbor

Our yard is looking brighter.  The Mexican Elderberry trees and wolfberry are leaving out, the Autumn Sage and Chuparosa have sprung red flowers to the delight of our hummingbirds.   The rock squirrels are not as active, saving some of our plants from their appetites and passion for digging.  One of the pitfalls of planting for wildlife is that some of the plantings will be eaten by wildlife.  Although the squirrels can try my patience, especially on new plants, I am glad for their presence in our tiny ecosystem.  Mrs. S. has a soft spot for them too, putting out leftover fruit and veggies for them to eat.  

Have you ever stopped and considered the labels we put on plants and wildlife.  These labels can create consequences which do not promote a healthy planet.  

The "weeds" are sprayed.
The "pests" are terminated.
The poisonous are eradicated.
The "feared," are attacked at will.
The "varmints," are campaigned against and blamed for low game numbers.
The "insignificant," are stepped on. 
The "dumb," are misunderstood or under-appreciated. 
The "game," is taken for sport.
The "cute," are collected.
The "ugly," are dispatched without remorse.

Most if not all wildlife can be put in at least one of these categories, and all, even the "cute," have a negative impact on the quality of the animal's life, or the species survival.  The biggest current threat happens in our own backyard, compounded by sprawl into natural areas.  Tortoises are collected, snakes, lizards, rodents, and insects are eradicated, native plants are removed, and bobcats, coyotes, and javelina are "relocated."   Many homeowners decide to "choose," which animal stays or goes, playing god with "God's creatures."  I wonder how a god would react if his masterpiece, his creation, is systematically destroyed by selfish acts of just one species.   Taking a bite of the apple surely is a minuscule act in comparison to plowing under the garden, right?

Imagine if all these descriptions were replaced with the word "welcome,"or "encouraged."  Dare I say "fellow neighbor."   Imagine if our struggle were focused on living with wildlife rather than campaigning against it.   This solution is easier than the current state, and even more economical. And it's not as hard as you think.  It may mean slightly more work in the beginning since we are adapting to our changing surroundings rather than fighting against it.   But we humans pride ourselves on being able to adapt, so we should be up to the task.  All beings struggle to live on this earth-it is one of the traits we share with other species-it is our special bond with them. 

So it is with this outlook that I welcome our new neighbor, the pocket gopher (Botta's).   He poked his head out of the newly formed hole the day after Thanksgiving.   He's "cute," but look at those chompers!  The next day one of my native grass plantings disappeared completely, a nice hole right next to it.  
Yes, he is welcome as all our neighbors.   I'm glad he is in the yard, though it will mean some change to our ecosystem.  But that is what happens in a balanced system, it changes like the ocean's tide against the shoreline.  Perhaps a hawk or owl will appear to change the balance again in our back yard.   Who knows what the future holds.  But our new visitor is as welcome as the Orange-crowned Warbler and Green-tailed Towhee who visited the day before, on Thanksgiving.     

So won't you welcome our new neighbor, Botta.  Thank you for living with, and appreciating, our neighborhood wildlife!