Little Climbing Raccoon

Youngsters at play.

Or escape.

You never know, scary Two-Legger that I am.

Getting high in a tree is a natural defense for raccoons, one of many.

The Wild, The Old Ones only fight when there are no other options available.

Even then, it’s rarely open aggression. More often it’s defense. Yes, there’s predation and only those preparing to pass over are hunted. Unlike humans, ego plays no part in survival. No wolf or fox or coyote or bear or mountain cat takes down the healthiest, most robust buck and shows off their kill to others of their kind. Nothing in The Wild brags about killing because they only kill when there’s a need (“only” meaning “under normal circumstances”).

Boastful behavior doesn’t exist in aboriginal societies, either. At least not that I’ve seen. Often, when some group prepares to hunt, they make supplications to the Old One they wish to take down. They ask The First of whatever they hunt to give them one ready to go home so as not to offend.

Also to keep the greater numbers of the hunted kind safe. Aborigines know there will be other hunts on other days. Taking out the most fit means numbers diminish and until the numbers are zero.

Should you ever wish to learn the Mathematics of Life, spend time with aborigines. They know it well.