Invasive animals in your area
- Thread starter vogelcommando
- Start date
We can't have a firearm down here for self defence. Its not even alowed for abalone divers in great white waters. We can get a power head, but only for "taking fish" not protection, yet our fisheries laws say its illegal to take fish with one, but protection is fine, so long as you don't take fish with it.
When I'm working some species in yards there's times I would like a sidearm ,but I keep a double in ought six handy instead, which I'm still allowed to have for "animal welfare", just not my own.
We had a visitor from Nth Carolina about two years ago. It was a long weekend & my parents were up along with these visitors & several others. Late in the afternoon I heard two gunshots & knew they were well inside my land. Anyway I jump in the truck & my old man too. Our visitor asks quite seriously " are you going too shoot them?" I reply "No?" she then says in a very honest way "we would back home!" . I have no doubt that would be the case from what I've heard. But we do things different, maybe not better, but different. lol
Yes I caught them. They'd killed a good chital stag & another from another species. Turns out they were guests of one of my neighbours.
I've another story about how our gubberment tried to stop us keeping bison two years ago too, but I'll save that for another day.
Cheers Khakibob
Thats because the government says Bison are invasive and will escape and form wild populations impossible to eradicate.
Thats not off topic.
alethionaut
Member
In Northern Ireland we have quite a few - off the top of my head the most notable would be the ferrets on Rathlin island that are affecting bird populations (it is an important breeding site), muntjac (of which my MSc lecturer was fond of hunting and culling), grey squirrel and zebra mussel.
Invasive species control was a module in my postgrad but honestly, not much was past the aforementioned lecturer and his zeal for hunting. I attended an outside lecture with him once and discovered his full hunting gear in the boot of his jeep - his words "well you never know when I might just drive past one of those damn muntjac so should always be prepared".
Invasive species control was a module in my postgrad but honestly, not much was past the aforementioned lecturer and his zeal for hunting. I attended an outside lecture with him once and discovered his full hunting gear in the boot of his jeep - his words "well you never know when I might just drive past one of those damn muntjac so should always be prepared".
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
While I know the negative effects of ferrets, grey squirrels and zebra mussels on their new environment, I know nothing about the impacts of muntjacs. Could you explain what effects they have in Northern Ireland?
alethionaut
Member
From what I remember from lectures, they are being more of a nuisance than anything - clearing shrub, hedges so in essence taking food and habitat from native animals. During the lecture I couldn't see the argument for culling them as a valid one (and argued it with a lecture hall full of enthusiasts) - but that was my opinion from the information received and if anyone can shed light on that I'd appreciate it.
muntjac don't seem to be as big a problem as some other species (I've just been doing some googling on the UK situation) but the problem with them is that they don't really have any predators in the UK and they breed quite rapidly so the numbers are growing pretty fast. They apparently are starting to do quite a bit of damage in the forests due to their numbers (through preventing growth or regrowth of the native plants by eating the shoots), which obviously affects the native wildlife adversely. They are also common in settled areas (entering gardens etc) and are at risk of being hit by cars (potential damage to both deer and driver). I imagine due to their small size they can live in areas that larger deer can't and so could cause problems (to forestry, gardens, etc) which otherwise wouldn't occur there.
I think some lynx should sort out the problem
I think some lynx should sort out the problem
I'm joking, but imagine how a few pairs of Coyotes would adapt to the U.K.! A more urban/disturbed environment adapted stand-in for Britain's extinct Wolves. Forget Brown Hares and Rabbits, Deer Species like Roe, Fallow, and Munjact would be just the right size to support a very healthy population of Song Dogs. Close enough to Wolves to be a valid replacement, if you consider that some accounts I've read say Britain's original Lynx died out thousands of years ago....though I think they were probably around at least till Roman times. Of course Wolves and Coyotes have several hundred thousand years divergence vis a vis British and Mainland Lynx populations.
alethionaut
Member
Haha I'm all for some more biodiversity in N.Ireland but I reckon they might draw the line at some carnivores =]
A few eagle owls escaped and are living in Antrim a few years back and there was uproar about that alone!
A few eagle owls escaped and are living in Antrim a few years back and there was uproar about that alone!
I Like Zoos
Active Member
In Leicestershire,UK we have grey squirrels,Canada geese and muntjac
antilio capra
Well-Known Member
spotted latternfly
zebra mussel
multiple fish
brown rat
black rat
rock dove
european starling
european rabbit(though they have become rarer and rarer)
zebra mussel
multiple fish
brown rat
black rat
rock dove
european starling
european rabbit(though they have become rarer and rarer)
Dr. Wolverine
Well-Known Member
I will list the ones I’ve seen
Rose ringed parakeet
Rock Dove
Brown Rat
Feral Cat
Masked Palm Civet
Mute Swan
Red Eared Slider
These are ones I haven’t seen
Barking Deer
Chinese Bamboo Partridge
Alligator Gar
Red bellied Piranhas
Snapping Turtle
Rose ringed parakeet
Rock Dove
Brown Rat
Feral Cat
Masked Palm Civet
Mute Swan
Red Eared Slider
These are ones I haven’t seen
Barking Deer
Chinese Bamboo Partridge
Alligator Gar
Red bellied Piranhas
Snapping Turtle
AndyJ08
Well-Known Member
In Alabama, these species have come to mind:
Feral hogs- in nearly all of the rural areas, throughout the whole state. The region around my childhood home of Talladega is a particularly favorite haunt of feral hogs.
Feral cats- in both the rural and urban areas.
Feral dogs- in both rural and urban areas, usually in poor and/or rough neighborhoods or towns.
European starlings- ubiquitous everywhere.
House sparrows- ditto (though incredibly fun to shoot when trying to take over my birdhouses meant for natives)
European-collared doves- Only present in some areas, but definitely present in decent numbers.
Common carp/grass carp- a problem throughout the state’s waterways, both natural and man-made.
Zebra mussels- quite possibly the closest thing to a non-bacterial plague. Seen in a few isolated lakes.
Feral hogs- in nearly all of the rural areas, throughout the whole state. The region around my childhood home of Talladega is a particularly favorite haunt of feral hogs.
Feral cats- in both the rural and urban areas.
Feral dogs- in both rural and urban areas, usually in poor and/or rough neighborhoods or towns.
European starlings- ubiquitous everywhere.
House sparrows- ditto (though incredibly fun to shoot when trying to take over my birdhouses meant for natives)
European-collared doves- Only present in some areas, but definitely present in decent numbers.
Common carp/grass carp- a problem throughout the state’s waterways, both natural and man-made.
Zebra mussels- quite possibly the closest thing to a non-bacterial plague. Seen in a few isolated lakes.
nutria / coypu - common in certain parts of our river
Prussian carp - ubiquos in all water bodies, has led to local extinction of crucian carp
Spiny-cheek crayfish - common in our river, caused local extintion of both native crayfish species
racoon - not yet in my local area but very soon (its population grows exlosively and moves east)
common racoon dog - pretty secretive animal, I´m yet to see it live or roadkill in my area
muskrat - has become rare
fallow deer - has recently become very numerous around my village, last week I almost hit two huge stags
mouflon - localy rare, common ca 30km west
european rabbit - absent in my area, patchy presence within 30km
Japanese sika deer - absent from my area, but its population booms and it´s getting near
common pheasant - present, feral population declining but hunters release thousands annually
Egyptian goose - recent arrival, started breeding within 20km
mute swan - ubiquos on our river during winter
mandarin duck - so far rare observations of single birds but might establish on our river
Canada goose - recently established within 50km as a breeding bird
stray cats - we dont have real feral cats, but low population of free-roaming animals and occasional stray/abandoned litter occur, situation is miles better than 15-20 years ago
Prussian carp - ubiquos in all water bodies, has led to local extinction of crucian carp
Spiny-cheek crayfish - common in our river, caused local extintion of both native crayfish species
racoon - not yet in my local area but very soon (its population grows exlosively and moves east)
common racoon dog - pretty secretive animal, I´m yet to see it live or roadkill in my area
muskrat - has become rare
fallow deer - has recently become very numerous around my village, last week I almost hit two huge stags
mouflon - localy rare, common ca 30km west
european rabbit - absent in my area, patchy presence within 30km
Japanese sika deer - absent from my area, but its population booms and it´s getting near
common pheasant - present, feral population declining but hunters release thousands annually
Egyptian goose - recent arrival, started breeding within 20km
mute swan - ubiquos on our river during winter
mandarin duck - so far rare observations of single birds but might establish on our river
Canada goose - recently established within 50km as a breeding bird
stray cats - we dont have real feral cats, but low population of free-roaming animals and occasional stray/abandoned litter occur, situation is miles better than 15-20 years ago
Mossman Joe
Well-Known Member
In Indonesia this is a particularly big issue that irks me quite a bit. For example these are just some of the invasive fish present/that have been found in Indonesian waters:
- Nile Tilapia*
- Red Devil Cichlid*
- Convict Cichlid*
- Midas Cichlid*
- Guppies*
- Mosquitofish*
- Mollies*
- Peacock Bass*
- African Sharptooth Catfish*
- Giant Snakehead* (!)
- Common Pleco*
- Bristlenose Catfish
- Three-spot Gourami (!)
- Asian Carp*
- Arapaima
- Red tailed Catfish
- South American Stingray (Potamotrygon)
- Walking Perch (!)
And unfortunately many others..
(*) Are species I have personally seen as invasives. I've opted to include some others as it highlights the sad condition of our local waterways.
Some, like Nile Tilapia and African Catfish were introduced as a food source and their continual reintroduction into native waters is still defended by some locals as it can still act as a food source.
Most are ornamentals that have been released into rivers. A few of these species such as Arapaima and Alligator gars are now illegal to keep in home aquariums.
Interestingly, some of these species are native to one part of Indonesia, but were introduced into parts where they are not native (highlighted in !). Giant Snakeheads originally found in Sumatra can be found in Java, while Three-spot gourami originally found in the islands of Borneo, Sumatra and Java can now be found in Sulawesi and Climbing Perch are apparently extending their range eastward, spreading as far as Papua New Guinea.
- Nile Tilapia*
- Red Devil Cichlid*
- Convict Cichlid*
- Midas Cichlid*
- Guppies*
- Mosquitofish*
- Mollies*
- Peacock Bass*
- African Sharptooth Catfish*
- Giant Snakehead* (!)
- Common Pleco*
- Bristlenose Catfish
- Three-spot Gourami (!)
- Asian Carp*
- Arapaima
- Red tailed Catfish
- South American Stingray (Potamotrygon)
- Walking Perch (!)
And unfortunately many others..
(*) Are species I have personally seen as invasives. I've opted to include some others as it highlights the sad condition of our local waterways.
Some, like Nile Tilapia and African Catfish were introduced as a food source and their continual reintroduction into native waters is still defended by some locals as it can still act as a food source.
Most are ornamentals that have been released into rivers. A few of these species such as Arapaima and Alligator gars are now illegal to keep in home aquariums.
Interestingly, some of these species are native to one part of Indonesia, but were introduced into parts where they are not native (highlighted in !). Giant Snakeheads originally found in Sumatra can be found in Java, while Three-spot gourami originally found in the islands of Borneo, Sumatra and Java can now be found in Sulawesi and Climbing Perch are apparently extending their range eastward, spreading as far as Papua New Guinea.
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
In where I live in Jakarta, invasive fishes are very prevalent. Most of these are released pets and farmed fishes that include tilapias, mosquitofish, goldfish, iridescent shark, African clarias catfish, and notably a abundant number of plecostomus.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
In Alabama, these species have come to mind:
Feral hogs- in nearly all of the rural areas, throughout the whole state. The region around my childhood home of Talladega is a particularly favorite haunt of feral hogs.
Feral cats- in both the rural and urban areas.
Feral dogs- in both rural and urban areas, usually in poor and/or rough neighborhoods or towns.
European starlings- ubiquitous everywhere.
House sparrows- ditto (though incredibly fun to shoot when trying to take over my birdhouses meant for natives)
European-collared doves- Only present in some areas, but definitely present in decent numbers.
Common carp/grass carp- a problem throughout the state’s waterways, both natural and man-made.
Zebra mussels- quite possibly the closest thing to a non-bacterial plague. Seen in a few isolated lakes.
Our Sparrows are struggling here in the UK, with more than 70% of the population gone since the 1970s. It's been a joy to find them breeding in the garden well this year. Though invasive in the US and of course potentially affecting the populations of native birds themselves, I must confess to a moment of sadness to find them considered as 'fun' to shoot.