Meadow Mutts & Mew Mews: Fear of what we don't understand

If you think about it, why are so many of the creatures that make us cringe physically unappealing?

Perhaps its the best self-defense nature could have given them. Snakes, bats, spiders, creepy crawler bugs; all considered physically unattractive, so our natural reaction is to avoid touching them.

How many times are we told not to touch a butterfly because if we remove their wing coating they won't be able to fly properly? Or those fuzzy woolly bear moth caterpillars we love to "pet" causing the poor things to recoil in fear. When something is visually beautiful we tend to be drawn closer and want to touch.

In nature too much attention is often a threat to their existence. To really look at the face of an insect, spider or bat is very fascinating. They look like aliens for a good reason.The intent is for them to look like a threat to the onlooker so they are left alone. Why would they want to mess with something as giant in size comparison? They are usually more than glad to turn tail and get away from us. So why do we have the need to crush anything that moves?

Fear of what we don't understand. When we don't understand something we get on the defensive.

According to David Bodanis in his book "Secret House" the typical clean and tidy home still houses many, many spiders. These beneficials prefer to stay hidden in the dark corners of our cabinets and basements and quietly give us a hand in keeping those insects at bay who can do us harm. No one wants visible spider webs on their living room walls but to spray liberally with poisonous insect spray just seems ludicrous.

Same with rat and mouse poison. Why purposely place these threats to our children and pets while killing every garter snake or black (rat) snake you see under your bushes? Snakes only try to look scary when disturbed because they are startled and need some sort of defense. The best way to deal with any frightened creature is to just slowly back away and let it get away from you. What better way to keep those mice from moving into your home once the weather turns cold than to just leave the garter and black snakes do their job. The only time you'll probably ever see them is should they be minding their own business sunning themselves on a warm day. Snakes sense the size of their pray by the heat given off and are no threat to anything too large to eat. These two beneficial snakes pose no threat to humans. Just leave them alone or if in the house have them safely removed to the outdoors.

black or rat snake

garter snake

Further research tells us that snakes are one of our teachers of transformation. According to Clea Kanaan in her book, "Sacred Land", snakes remind us that though life may change the way it looks, it is a coiled spiral of rebirth. Just as the snake sheds its skin, there are times when we must shed and change either spiritually or physically and remove ourselves from comfort zones. Accepting change, awakening creativity and passions is definitely a boost for personal growth.

In the end we finally shed this life altogether.

It's instinctive to swat or jump when we feel something crawling on us or recoil when we walk smack into a spider web. But let's get a grip when it comes to those planned attacks of stepping on every scurrying ant or using bug spray like its only going to harm its intended target. Man or beast we all breathe the same air.

Below are three non-aggressive common spiders around our homes and gardens:
If interested here is a post for more information about some common spiders