Just A Thought

[NightskyeB4Dawn]

I would pose another question besides that one: what is man's distinction from the animals?

Alfred North Whitehead once observed, "I dare say the ants and the bees have smoothly working systems, but they do not change. This element of novelty is what makes the difference between man and the animals." Well, that's one of them, but what else?

There is a lot that we can look at in your post. I can't address it all in one post or I will end up with something that challenges the "Remembrance of Things Past".

I will speak to feral animals first because one adopted me no that long ago. I thought it was strange, and even my brother who once was not very fond of cats, has fallen in love with this one. Nebuchadnezzar seems to have that affect on every human that comes in contact with him.

What I think works for him is that he is fearless. He is the tiniest thing in the house at nine pounds, but will not back down from four 55 pound Huskies or a 25 pound and 22 pound Huskicat. He is very vocal, very loyal, and very loving.

What has me looking closer to what is going on, is that more domestic animals are becoming more aggressive, while more wild animals are becoming more docile. 

Nature is supposed to be red in tooth and claw, and domestication an artificial process for making animals gentle. But it appears that some corners of the animal kingdom are becoming kinder, gentler places. Certain creatures may be domesticating themselves.

https://www.wired.com/2012/02/self-domestication/

Attacks on humans by carnivorous animals have increased steadily since 1950, as growing human populations in new areas make such incidents more common, according to a study published last week. According to other experts, climate change may also be contributing to increased human-wildlife conflict.

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environm...-rcna68998

Living in a rural area, out in the woods, I see wild animals being more docile. I don't think it has as much to do with weather,, out here, as it does with the decrease in natural woodland. They don't have anywhere to go, so they either have to live with the invaders or die.

I think what is happening is that wild animals have adapt to survive, so they will try to cohabit. Some domesticated animals have become "the pretty ones". They are so sure that humans will provide for them, that they actually feel humans are obligated to provide for them, or they become hostile. None of mine have become aggressive with me, because I have never let it get so far that they think that they are the boss. They know who is alpha in this house.

I guess they may both be sharing some personality changes, because I see the same behavior trends in humans.