Despite being the most widely hunted species in the U . S ., whitetail deer thrive across the country and are even over-populated in some areas .
ADOBE STOCK ( OPPOSITE ); COURTESY OF LEUPOLD of decline and renewal . We , too , whirl in the cycle of life and death . Which raises the next question : Are there any indications that Nature abhors hunting or a carnivorous diet ?
We rightly revere Nature ’ s system as the ultimate biodegradable , all-organic , endlessly recyclable , environmentally perfect manifestation of earthly perfection . Yet she shows no inclination to stop wolves from biting and tearing caribou to death . She doesn ’ t prevent lions from clawing kudu and buffalo . She lets eagles snatch lambs from ledges , allows sharks to bite seals in half , house cats to toy with innocent , helpless mice . Whether you subscribe to evolution or creation , the Ultimate Authority purposefully included hunting , predation and meat-eating as essential parts of the biosphere .
All evidence indicates planet Earth has long been seething with carnivorous fish , fowl and beasts galore without green agendas , recycling bins or vegan diets . Nature is obviously bloody red in tooth and claw . Is this wrong ? An irreconcilable dichotomy ? Has Someone made a mistake ?
Not if life on Earth is any indication . Nature ’ s predators — the ones many call “ innocent animals ”— chase and grab , frighten and terrorize , rip and tear , bloody and kill , bite and swallow their fellow creatures in an endless cycle of carnivorous rampage . Were Nature human , PETA and vegan community organizers would protest her , condemn her , cancel her . Condoning hunting and meat-eating ? How could she !
Still , somehow , it works . Nature has somehow managed to reach environmental perfection , without cancelling her carnivorous creations , without heeding the insights and wisdom of even the greenest vegan acolyte . And this brings us the answer : Hunting and meat-eating are environmentally responsible .
Nature proves it .
Altruism and Nature The reality that hunting and meat-eating are responsible brings into question another popular trope : Humans are a curse on the environment . Selfish , hateful , uncaring , uniquely destructive . We kill wildlife wantonly , indiscriminately , just to satisfy our egos . No one can dispute that , right ?
Well , it ’ s true that many humans have been thoughtless , even cruel and wasteful . But that is painting an entire species with a broad brush . It ’ s like condemning all wolves because some packs kill dozens of caribou at a time and only eat one or two . Before we pass judgement , we might contemplate the one uniquely human trait that separates us from Nature ’ s other predators and prey ... altruism . Humans are the only species that is altruistic . Yes , this goes against the popular view of humans-ashorrible , yet we are the only animal that willingly and knowingly indulges in self-sacrifice for the benefit of other species .
Think about that for a second .
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