Part 9/15:
Wildlife, Nature’s Ferocity, and Human Impact
A significant portion of the dialogue is dedicated to wild animals—bears, wolves, coyotes, and moose—and the human-wildlife interface. Papa enthusiastically recounts recent viral videos of bears fighting, raiding garbage, or crashing through neighborhoods, emphasizing their enormous size and power. He warns against overpopulating or mismanaging these animals, advocating for responsible wildlife management, including controlled hunting.
He shares newfound appreciation for animals like the majestic red stag in New Zealand, which were introduced by Europeans, and details the hazards of invasive species, parasite-borne diseases like Lyme disease, and the escalating danger from aggressive mosquitoes and ticks.