I hate to admit it now, but I was brutal to wildlife as a young child up to my early teens. I would shoot all species of birds with my bb gun and even rob and kill baby birds out of the nest. I would kill squirrels and other animals for fun as well. I am embarrassed to admit it, but that is just the truth. I grew into a teenager that disliked killing, but would still hunt rabbits and squirrles for food. And as a young adult I grew to detest killing anything. As a senior I even go out of my way to not step on bugs and really don't like to think of hunting animals, perhaps because I consider life so precious a gift. I feel as if I am a very kind and loving animal person now, so the question is whether this was a chemical imbalance as a child or if perhaps empathy and appreciation for all life can be learned?