Interfere?

Interfere? No! Earl Plato

Watching animals this past summer? What happened when one species suddenly confronted another of the same species? Did you observe how each reacted to the presence of the other? Did they act friendly, indifferent, frightened or hostile? On the family farm where we had more than ample feeders a host of a variety of bird species would eat often paying little attention to one another. But wait! Remember the pairs of Blue jays! One pair of jays would take over the feeder then a second pair would appear. “Get out of here!” Then the dominating third pair of jays would arrive and for the next ten minutes they ruled. That’s a “pecking order” and we should not interfere.
What if the animals you were observing were natural enemies? My advice is the same as Jim Arnosky, free lance writer. When you see such enemies confronting or even fighting in a natural setting, observe and don’t interfere.
Different animals react to the sight of their natural enemies differently. So? Most flee. Still some react in rage especially at nest making and raising young times. At Stevensville Conservation area I saw angry crows circling and diving at a Great horned owl resting in a tree. The noise was tremendous. I watched with my glasses as the owl perched blinking at the black birds as they tormented him. Then suddenly the owl flew east and the crows followed him. “Get out of our territory!” And it did.