Big spider...ick!!!

[K9soul]

Originally posted by slleipnir
That reminds me of a story this guy told me at work.

This girl he knows found a worm of some sort inside I guess..so she look it to release it back outside where it can be FREE and live on!!!

What happens moments later? A bird swoops by and eats it...

But see, that wouldn't upset me like me killing it would have. At least it's death wasn't senseless, it went on to feed a bird and possibly its young .

I know many people feel that my feelings, and Suki's, are silly on this type of thing. I grew up studying animals of all kinds, including spiders, and I don't have much fear of them, so to me they are not a threat. I understand that to others who fear them, they are a threat and I don't judge or condemn them for feeling that way or for doing what they feel is best. However, in my eyes, there is no reason for me to kill one if I come across one. I generally just leave them alone. Coming across venomous spiders in MN is rare. They were much more common where I grew up (esp brown recluse), and I was a bit more jumpy about them though still didn't really kill them. I captured them in a jar to get a closer look at them and usually went ahead and moved them outdoors. I really only recall coming across a recluse once and it wasn't even at home.

I understand fearing something so much, and feeling that it is a threat to you so much, that you want it dead. I was trapped on a moving bus once with an angry yellowjacket (one thing I do fear, as I have been stung and am allergic), and a guy was trying to kill it, and I truly at that point wanted him to succeed.

I used to be really embarrassed to admit my soft spot for all creatures, but now I am more open and comfortable about it since I've grown out of being afraid of being mocked about it . I used to save drowning bumblebees out of the city swimming pool, toss a drying earthworm back into the earth off the sidewalk, and so on. I know things live and die every day and it's a part of life and nature. I just feel for myself personally, I'd rather be a creature's second chance than their end if possible.