The Asses of Balaam

"The Asses of Balaam" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction story that explores what beings owe to their environment. The main character, Dodeth Pell, is in charge of keeping predators under control on his planet. He finds a new species called “wygorex” that might ruin the balance of nature by eating the local hurkle. As Dodeth learns more, he believes they may actually be intelligent, changing how he views the situation. When a spaceship lands, it hints that there's more to the universe and forces everyone to consider what intelligence truly means and the importance of understanding between different groups. The story ends hopefully, with characters overcoming their wrong ideas and looking forward to working with the new arrivals.