Cooperative Living June 2020 - 36

Kids'Korner | Story and artwork by Anne M. Dellinger, Contributing Columnist
Coexisting with Nature's
Unlovables
H
INTO THE FOREST
Picture yourself entering
the woods ... suddenly you
cross paths with a big, hairy spider.
This is no itsy-bitsy arachnid!
It moves really fast, pounces on a
cricket and drags it into a hole in the ground. You
recognize this fierce hunter as a wolf spider.
What will you do?
____ Grab your phone and take a picture
when it reappears.
____ Stomp it because it's a scary biter.
____ Back away and let it live because
it is nonthreatening.
You make your decision and move on,
warily watching for more 8-legged creatures.
Next, you notice poison ivy growing on the side
of a tree. Steering clear of this wicked weed, your eyes
follow the vine up the tree and make a frightening
discovery! Hanging from a tree limb is a basketballsized,
papery nest! It looks like a piñata but woe to
anyone who is tempted to hit this house of " stingers! "
What will you do?
____ Take another picture.
34 | Cooperative Living | June 2020
ave you ever wished that certain plants and animals
did not exist on planet Earth? You know, the ones
that often ruin your summer fun, like ...
Depending on your own personal experiences,
just reading this list could trigger bad memories.
It's not pleasant to live alongside species that
are mostly recognized for their " badness. " In fact,
you might wonder ... " why were they ever
created in the first place? "
But Mother Nature always has a plan for every
living thing, including the undesirables. Like it or
not, they are contributing to the planet's diversity
of life and are here to stay.
BE AWARE, NOT AFRAID
No need to panic about sharing your summer
with biters, stingers, bloodsuckers or itchers.
When you happen upon them, simply:
1. Stay alert
2. Consider your options
3. Act wisely
Ready to test your coexisting skills?
Just follow the boot prints on the imaginary hike described below ...
you'll be sure to meet some of nature's infamous critters along the way!
____ Decide to observe a hornet's nest safely at home
on YouTube.
____ Maybe, take one quick swipe with a stick
because you think you can run faster than
stinging female hornets can fly.
____ Resolve to return during winter to collect the
abandoned nest and explore its mysteries.
As you steadily move away from hornet territory,
you approach a pond near the forest's edge.
AROUND THE POND
There is a water
snake basking on the rocks.
What will you do?
____ Scream in terror and run away.
____ Watch quietly as it slips into
the water to feed on small fish and amphibians.
____ Try to kill it by throwing big rocks at its head.
____ Take a picture, from a safe distance.
While considering your options about this
harmless reptile, you hear a high-pitched buzz
near your ear. Suddenly you become painfully aware
of another pond dweller ... the blood-sucking mosquito.
This is your first personal attack by an aggressive
animal!
co-opliving.com
POISON IVY
JELLYFISH
HORNETS
RAGWEED
SPIDERS
TICKS
MOSQUITOES
SNAKES
KIDS! CLIP AND KEEP YOUR KIDS' KORNER COLUMNS IN A THREE-RING BINDER AND YOU'LL HAVE A NOTEBOOK CHOCK FULL OF FUN IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE FUTURE!

http://www.co-opliving.com

Cooperative Living June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living June 2020