I know many people find reptiles off-putting and nasty to the point where there is even a specific phobia associated with this fear: Herpetophobia. There seems to a phobia to cover every fear and I was going to make a joke here about being afraid of fear itself, only discover that Phobophobia is an actual THING. I mean, who knew? I myself have a growing sense of dread over the very existence of the *word* Phobophobia, which itself may be also be a fear but I am too frightened to consider that possibility. I will stop now since the mind can only handle so much meta.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, reptiles. Privately I have always been fascinated by our coldblooded brethren and have enormous respect for their place in the food chain. I always leave them be when I find them outside the house, even snakes, most of which are completely harmless to humans. Last year I inadvertently cut a green snake in half whilst hedging. His protective mimicry was just too good, and I would not have known until I saw the bright red against all the green. I felt bad then even though my actions were not willful; to stop such a beautiful creature living in harmony with nature.
A few weeks after this I came across a skink dangling from a spider’s silken web, seemingly still a part of the food chain though perhaps not quite in the way he imagined. I tapped him and was surprised to see that he was still alive. I carefully unwound him from his silken cage, took him to the woods and let him go. I expect the spider was not appreciative of my actions, but in my small way I thought to balance my cosmic debt and give back that which I had taken, out there in the living world, under an incandescent sun.
whoisfenton 