Mecklenburg's wilderness - stories of living, eating and being eaten

Today I would like to take you into a world that I have discovered here in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. A world of “living, eating and being eaten” - a fascinating balance that I encounter every day and that has changed my perspective on life. Nature is merciless and yet harmonious. A choreography of survival and adaptation. It is not only the spectacular moments that I experience, but also the small, almost invisible encounters that amaze me.

A world in miniature

The little hunters are on the move on my windowsill. Earth wasps fly high and grab tiny flies in a dive. A fight breaks out but the fly cannot escape the wasp's grip. The deadly sting that the fly has to take is the only way for the wasp to survive. It's as if I'm looking through a magnifying glass - I didn't realize how much life is happening right in front of me and how merciless this cycle is. Afterwards, they transport the fly back to its nest like a trophy. I am filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity when I watch these hunters and experience their precision.

The scene in the spider's web

A few days ago, I witnessed a silent drama: a fly gets caught in the spider's web behind the door and eight long legs slowly crawl out of a gap. Quietly, she slowly pulls the fly towards her. The fly tries to free itself, but its strength is dwindling. The spider approaches, grabs the fly and wraps it up. It is an image of control, a balance between movement and stillness that both shocks and fascinates me. A look at the fragile, often invisible structure of life, which is nevertheless strong and uncompromising. I observe this cycle and feel a strange connection to these creatures unfolding within me.

A new ally

But it's not just the little hunters who are active. Dieter the cat has proved to be a real mouse hunter. Almost playfully, he smacks them over the head with his paw and whirls mice through the air, a routine for him that amazes me. Dieter is part of this ecosystem, and sometimes I feel like a silent spectator in a theater that plays with scenes of everyday life, wildness and closeness to nature. I am filled with a certain understanding, even respect, for his role in this eternal cycle.

A surprising encounter with a mouse

Then there was myself, suddenly turned into a hunter. One morning, I heard a rustling noise behind the sofa and discovered a mouse. In a reflex moment, I caught it and released it outside. A strange encounter that shows me: I am also part of this cycle, even if my intentions are more about peaceful coexistence than hunting.

The cockchafers: a living sign

I now see the cockchafers crawling on my windows as a sign. They are a symbol of happiness and at the same time a living part of nature that accompanies me here. These encounters have shown me how much beauty and inspiration there is in the inconspicuous world of living creatures. Nature opens my eyes to new things every day and gives me a new understanding of the balance of life - a gift that I accept with joy and wonder. I also experience how entertaining the life of a ladybug is. Despite its size, it is also a hunter of aphids. This brings balance, otherwise the aphids would destroy the plant.

Closing thoughts

“The cycle of hunter and hunted teaches us that strength and vulnerability are inextricably linked in life. As humans, we have a responsibility to respect these laws of nature and to consciously shape our role in this chain. Art and philosophy show us that true strength lies in the ability to coexist with life rather than dominate it. By no longer seeing the game of life as a struggle, but as a shared journey, we create a new world - a world where humanity flourishes not only in survival, but in the protection of life.”