When we assign human emotions and values to things in nature we set up a lot of critters for a difficult time. Charismatic animals, cute baby animals, they tip the scales, but too many of them isn't a good thing.

My almost-elderly next door neighbor impressed me today when she told me that she saw a snake on her back porch. She did get out of there, she said, but she didn't suggest it should be killed or even driven off, even though it was no doubt venomous (it had the classic pit viper head shape). It eats mice and other critters and that's fine with her. I like them fine, but even this naturalist has limits (and knows that snakes can manage to get into houses). I probably would have thumped something at it to move it along, then put down a layer of cedar mulch in the area (it's supposed to repel a lot of critters because of it's strong smell).

Even cockroaches have a useful job. One that's hard to see, but they are useful when they're out in the compost. :)

SRS