This book explores how humans decide which animals are “pests,” often based on context and wholly human based criteria, and whether anything can or should be done about it.
One of the parts I found most interesting was that evolution was already taking a stab at correcting some of our mistakes.The introduction of cane toads in Australia, for instance.
At first, they had no predators, but over time, some birds learned how to flip them and safely consume parts. Many snakes died eating the toads ,but snakes whose heads were too small to prey on toads survived and reproduced, leading to smaller headed snakes in area where cane toads predominate.
It may seem simple….rats on islands eating rare birds eggs, no problem most would say….kill the rats….but what about cats.Beloved video stars get a pass on wiping out a species?

The book is thought provoking and a bit preachy occasionally, repeatedly insisting that indigenous people lived for a millennium in harmony with all creatures, whereas facts show humans have always had huge and often negative impacts on their environment regardless of their philosophy or culture…but it raises questions that all people who want a better future should consider
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Narrated in a conversational tone and packed with food for thought. Discusses both how we metaphorically create a villain from an animal that's just being an animal, by consigning it to the label "pest"; and literally turn animals into pests by how we've imported them into places they're not native to, or imported ourselves into their own habitats, or changed our ways of life in ways that they can take advantage of - and do. It draws parallels at times to how we treat marginalised members of our own communities - sometimes even calling people pests, vermins, mongrels, etc. There are cautionary tales of past attempts at extermination, and fascinating examples of alternative methods of control or coexistence. There's also a good range of Indigenous perspectives on other ways to relate to animals. ( )

Pests, by Bethany Brookshire, is a fun and informative read that shows just how subjective our judgements can be, in this case in relation to the animals around us.

I think any of us who have had companions (also called pets) that many people think of as pests already have a general idea of this subjectivity. I didn't understand how someone could not like my various friends, be they snakes, mice, or rats. One person loathed my rats while adoring her hamsters. What Brookshire does so well here is illustrate the ways in which we demonize (pestize?) some animals while giving these animals no choice but to develop the habits we hate in order to survive.

I think, for me, one of the big takeaways is that while the idea of a pest is certainly valid, we should keep in mind that on the whole this is not an objective quality of an animal but one that is formed in human minds through the dynamic of our interactions. This might help to create more situations where instead of killing "pests" we move them to some place where they will not be "pests." Instead of killing the snake, take it to an area where it can live, keeping in mind that it needs to be part of their natural habitat so as to not throw off that new ecosystem.

Highly recommended for readers who like to think about that dynamic between humans and the rest of the natural world, as well as animal lovers who have always had a soft spot for "pests."

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )