THE PERSONAL TOUCH

Rex Burress

It is evident that certain people have a certain understanding with certain animals at certain times.

We constantly see examples of unusual relationships between a wild animal and a person, usually involving a degree of trust and friendship. While it's generally not recommended to make a pet out of a wild animal, there are some exceptions in the case of injury or orphanage. Some species are able to be rehabilitated and returned to their natural environment, while others remain dependent on confinement. Thus do zoos have some justification.

Any unusual animal/man reaction, such as with a fox or wolf, quickly gets videoed around the world. Cute training of domestic animals, beyond the role of a farm pet, gets attention too, but advertising these relationships, especially with normally wild species, spreads some misinformation about habitats and their natural inhabitants.

When I worked on the Naturalist Staff at Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge in Oakland, various people would attach to certain animals in the Duck Yard and appear regularly to “talk” to their special “friends,” usually accompanied with food. An edible is the great pacifier that can turn a beast into a beggar!

The most constant duo was Barbara and Anita, appearing in their bright clothes almost daily, loaded with tidbits for each friend. There was a white Chinese goose, 'Herbie,' who was the prize of prizes, gladly accepting a lift out of the Duck Yard to stand proudly on a bench while being petted and presented with choice foods. That goose would see them coming and come running, wings flapping, and honking his head off. I rather walked among the yard fowl, taking care of them and catching any that needed catching as part of my naturalist job. Herbie would have nothing to do with me, as I showed no favoritism. The domestic fowl were “dumped” intruders into the wild flock of migrants that we featured, although we tolerated a few popular types like Herbie.

Another Herbie fan was Randy-of-the-white convertible, another of the Gay community, alright then and alright now, as bird lovers come in all kinds. He took that domestic goose for rides with the car top down, sitting Herbie on the front seat, where the spoiled 'brat' rode around and never tried to get out, head held high like some kind of royalty, sometimes fitted with a bonnet, finally to be returned to his harem.

There was a multitude of unusual pairings among the birds. A French domestic goose followed a Canada goose around the refuge, a whistling swan befriended Helen our resident white pelican, dutifully protecting her when she was fed her daily smelt, and Helen kept competitors away when the swan fed from the grain bucket. But the most unusual pairing was between a black-crowned night heron and a cattle egret, species quite different, one a dark prowler of waterways, and the other prone to frequent fields and snatching insects, and known for riding on rhinoceros in Africa. Both birds had wing injuries and we kept them in the geodesic dome aviary. They mated , laid eggs, and produced a hybrid offspring! Bird experts couldn't believe it! “Cities produce strange bedfellows!” Unusual circumstances can create exceptions to the rules.

The personal touch was also seen in a “gull geek” fellow who would come and stand and stare at a western gull, and the gull would stare back and get closer and closer, almost as if a hypnotic trance-linkage was established, as they exchanged little clucks and clicks!

Many of those relationships were based on lonely people seeking friends and interactions with a form of life that responded to them. Even John Muir in his lonely mountain travels spoke of the chipmunk sitting on his knee, even though overall, he was interested and concerned about nature in its natural habitat.

“Those who wish to pet and baby wild animals “love them.” But those who respect their natures and wish to let them live normal lives, love them more.”--Edwin Way Teale

“I just don't know how I would have lived without animals around me. I'm fascinated by them—both domestic pets and the wild community. They just are the most interesting thing in the world for me, and its made such a difference in my lifetime.” --Betty White

“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” --Charles Darwin