Um...

[conuly]

She was turning soil, and uncovered a newborn mole. So she moved it to her compost.

And it didn't occur to her that the mama might not know where to find it now? Poor thing's probably dead. *sighs*

Comments

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

OK, I see nothing cute about that creature. I'm glad it died (and no, that's not me being heartless). Moles are PESTS; their eventual lifespan includes the ruin of most crops and domesticated plants before someone puts an end to them,usually with the more common poisons (which then leech into our soil and food crops).

I hope it fed something useful, like a snake or a hawk, though most predators can't even recognize infant rodents like moles and mice ("pinkies") because they don't move like food. Still, ending up as birdfood is the only really good outcome for that animal.

[conuly]

Moles are only pests because we insist on planting where they live! They could call us pests for killing them off. Sheesh, what ever happened to live and let live?

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

She was planting *something* there. Her alternatives upon realizing there was a common-variety mole in her yard were to: kill the mole, relocate it and all its relatives, or stop planting. One stops planting for endangered burrowing owls. One does not halt food production for a very prevalent mole species. Personally, I think her behavior was fine-- put it in the compost to die and decompose. It's her attitude that was naive.

"Live and let live" only applies when you're not in competition for food. At that point, it's "survival of the fittest" or "it's a dog-eat-dog world." Moles threaten food that even animal-loving vegetarians eat. Now, I won't say that humans should be taking as much land for food use as we do-- that's a given. But, having the population we do, we need the land, and we need it to not be infested by pests.

But I don't really expect most people to understand this stance. I'm an animal lover, but I greatly admire the efficiency of snakes and owls in keeping common agricultural pests from overrunning our food supplies.

[conuly]

Nah, I don't mind you thinking that moles are pests :)

Personally, I have a very practical view towards most animals. Too many years of kittens dying did that (we found out later that there's a genetic flaw in the cats of this neighborhood, making them extremely prone to sinus infections of all sorts, and general bad health. I still feel responsible, though, I know where it started, if that cat had been fixed, it wouldn't've happened). But I like playing devil's advocate.

[georgiapeachy.livejournal.com]

http://www.yptenc.org.uk/docs/factsheets/animal_facts/mole.html
"However, moles are also useful. They eat many pests which are harmful to plant roots, such as leatherjackets, wireworms and cutworms. Their tunnelling helps to aerate the soil which is important to waterlogged areas."

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/957/25244

Remember, even if you don't like them they are part of the food chain and serve a purpose. In moderation it's likely you won't even notice them. I've never had a problem, and I know there are plenty of them living near me. I hate it when I see people go beserk trying to get rid of them when I've never actualyl seen much ruined by them. Besides, they do have natural predators and us humans removed them, so it's really our fault. The best solution i've found is adopting a mean old outside cat to get some of them.

[conuly]

The best solution i've found is adopting a mean old outside cat to get some of them.

Like that's not cruel and inhumane.

[georgiapeachy.livejournal.com]

Pounds regularly get semi-feral cats that have lived outside and have a lot of difficulty living indoors. Rosie, the semi-feral adult cat I adopted can not be kept indoors and I have to let her out. It so happens she kills moles, which is a hell of a lot better of a method to kill moles than the method our neighbors use: poison. Poison disrupts the food chain in drastic ways, which having a cat kill moles does not.

[conuly]

I didn't say it was worse than poison. I was joking around, referencing the feline pastime of tormenting mice (and presumably other small mammals).

Frankly, I'm not going to waste my time crying over any animal I don't know personally. That's why I'm borrowing a cat to chase out this mouse we've got. If the mouse gets out, good, I'm happy for it. If it doesn't, too bad, no skin off of my back.