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In the wild, every animal, reptile, and fish defecates, but only human defecation in the wild is considered disease producing.
We have to have processing plants to treat human defecation (not sure what happened before the advent of these plants), but every other creature "goes" outside and it's just fine - no problems.
Why is human defecation so toxic to land, water, other humans, etc.?
Animal defecation IS Toxic. In the wild animals are Free to move around. They don't eat where they defecate. O they go back to an area weeks or months later by then Nature has Cleaned up the mess.
Dog BM carries Parvo Corona Worms & other deadly germs.
There are germs in Every animal that can be Deadly to them & Humans.
Which is why People Need to cleanup after their pets. Its Not just the smell.
Histoplasmosis, hantavirus, tularemia, leptospirosis and salmonella are some of the better known feces-born wildlife diseases. I'm sure there are more.
In the wild, every animal, reptile, and fish defecates, but only human defecation in the wild is considered disease producing.
We have to have processing plants to treat human defecation (not sure what happened before the advent of these plants), but every other creature "goes" outside and it's just fine - no problems.
Why is human defecation so toxic to land, water, other humans, etc.?
Since this could have easily been Googled, this thread comes off as a clear example of misanthropy.
In the wild, every animal, reptile, and fish defecates, but only human defecation in the wild is considered disease producing.
We have to have processing plants to treat human defecation (not sure what happened before the advent of these plants), but every other creature "goes" outside and it's just fine - no problems.
Why is human defecation so toxic to land, water, other humans, etc.?
Totally wrong premise.
There are numerous diseases spread to humans by the animal feces vector.
Two examples come readily to mind: (1) EColi in fields producing vegetables, (2) Hantavirus from mouse droppings … even breathing the dust while cleaning up an area can infect a person. Wild animal wastes are not tolerated in the human food production chain due to illness/disease that can be spread this way, hence measures are taken to prevent animal wastes at every step from storage of grains to the process/packaging stages of food distribution.
As well, animal feces in livestock or in the wild is the vector for many other illnesses such as chronic wasting disease which infects across species … such as from deer & elk to domesticated livestock. Or spreads intestinal worms, such as barber pole worms in sheep & goats … domesticated and wild.
A little time spent on-line would reveal numerous other diseases spread by wild animal feces.
I guess I am wondering about "nature" in this sense and design . . . I may have wrongly assumed that the natural design worked for other species. You don't hear of mass deaths of birds, fish, mammals like squirrels, raccoons, skunks, et al - due to infections from their own defecation.
No one discloses when you buy a house that you may be subject to bird or squirrel defecation.
It doesn't seem to be a big problem . . .
On the other hand, human defecation is frequently cited as polluting land and waterways.
Are all of you saying there is no difference and that all of the other species are creating a great pollution to our neighborhoods, parks, and greater outdoor spaces?
There was a case a few years ago, of mice feces, spreading diseases in a Yosemite campground. I would imagine that human waste has the right kind of disease to infect other humans. Try google for some facts.
On the other hand, human defecation is frequently cited as polluting land and waterways.
Think total quantity and concentration, (not just bodily waste but washing and bathing also)... and continuous accumulation over time.
Same issues develop with concentrated farm kept animals like feedlots and dairies...
In the wild, animals tend to move around and not concentrate waste all in one spot. Where there is concentration, due to population and accumulation, problems develop.
I guess I am wondering about "nature" in this sense and design . . . I may have wrongly assumed that the natural design worked for other species. You don't hear of mass deaths of birds, fish, mammals like squirrels, raccoons, skunks, et al - due to infections from their own defecation.
No one discloses when you buy a house that you may be subject to bird or squirrel defecation.
It doesn't seem to be a big problem . . .
On the other hand, human defecation is frequently cited as polluting land and waterways.
Are all of you saying there is no difference and that all of the other species are creating a great pollution to our neighborhoods, parks, and greater outdoor spaces?
The "Natural Design" works a little different. Think about it. A Squirrel or a Deer doesn't have its food picked by one person that might have filthy hands, and that person's lettuce isn't commingled with 25 other picker's lettuce and cross contaminated.
Human Defecation (sewage) is collected and concentrated. If a Hobo takes a dump in the towns water supply reservoir, not a big deal really, as gross as it sounds. But you direct a pipe of a neighborhoods waste, you have a real problem quickly.
But Goose Poop, as an example, can cause a huge problem in the natural world, hastening eutrophication and causing fish kills and algae blooms. So what happens? The DNR or Fish and Wildlife Dept opens up the "resident Goose season" to allow hunters to thin the Goose population, and hires dogs or trappers if they really must.
Humans and dogs both can get really sick from Giardisis, AKA Beaver Feaver, from drinking contaminated water. It most commonly affects campers/Backpackers in the US.
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