Re: [RC] Wild Horses Letter in NY Times..on the mark - Barbara McCrary
I suppose it was the DFG that tried to
introduce turkeys into our area here in Santa Cruz County. Anyway, several
years ago there was a pair of them. Then we saw a chick. Now
there is only one left. Even farther back in time, we saw a Chukkhar in
the middle of the road one day. Then, a few days later we saw a pile of
feathers in the adjacent field. We have amazingly efficient bobcats around
here.
As for introduced species being terrible
pests, I'd like to tar and feather the individual(s) who introduced the wild
pigs into our neighborhood. But possibly our transient mountain lion, seen
occasionally, has helped reduce the population somewhat.
Subject: Re: [RC] Wild Horses Letter in
NY Times..on the mark
Hi, lets also not forget that our "wild turkey"is
only native to certain states. They are NOT native to Calif., and the
introduced ones are causing a heck of a lot of damage to both ecosystems and
crops.
Calif dept. of Fish and Game spent inordinate
amounts of $ to try to establish Eastern turkeys in Calif. When they did
not thrive, they then then tried Rio Grande Turkeys, which have proliferated
to the point they are a pest. All for the pleasure of sport
hunters.
Do you think there were any biological studies
beforehand to figure out what the impact on native plants and other birds
would me? NOpe....they were happily going along with their Turkey
release program until a lawsuit from Sierra Club and Native Plant Society
stopped them, thank god..
Do I put any trust in the Fish and Game
biologists? Not much.
Sorry that my analogy was not clear. The
ring neck pheasant was imported from china and let loose. We now hunt
and manage their populations often forgeting that they are not a native wild
animal like the turkey.
