Invasive v. Native species was Humane Society : What a hoot!

December 12, 2005

Wow, this sounds like an incredible bird! And that

brings up another question. Perhaps they were

reintroduced since they were originally wild? But

when does reintroducing a species become like

introducing an ivasive species? After 300 years the

native wildlife has had time to adapt to living

without the owl. If it were re-introduced (just for

example) after all that time, what impact might it

have? How long does one wait before reintroducing an

extinct or rare animal to its original habitat? When

does the flora/fauna change so that the reintro is

like an invasion? Just some thoughts. This is a

beautiful bird, thanks for sharing! I'd love to see a

real one.

--- peter hurd <swpgh01 wrote:

> Here in the U.K. we have the resurgence of another

> large predator not seen for over 300

> years................The European Eagle Owl. It is

> capable of taking cats , dogs, lambs, rabbits, small

> deer, any other bird it chooses ( except the largest

> raptors ). It seems that again this is a man made

> problem, probably collectors releasing them when

> they got too big or bored with them etc. It is

> estimated that there are over 20 pairs wild in this

> country, with one pair nesting on MOD land in North

> Yorkshire for years in a secret location.

> They are a magnificent looking bird, with a loud

> distinctive hoot. Unfortunately, it could be a

> threat to other native owls ( preying on them , and

> competing for food )

> Origin: Native; extinct in Britain since

> 18th century except for occasional European

> vagrants. Size: 65 - 70 cm. Females are larger

> than males and can weigh up to 4 kg (9 lbs).

> Description: Largest owl in the world. Tall,

> upright. Prominent ear tufts, large orange eyes.

> Habitat: Forests, woodland, rocky and mountain

> areas. Young: One or two eggs hatch after 35

> days, start to fly after eight weeks and fully

> independent after six months. Nest In a rocky

> crevice lined with a few feathers. Diet:

> Carnivorous; small mammals, but can take anything up

> to the size of a fox or small deer.

>

> The Valley Vegan................

>

> Susan <oceanfest_2000 wrote:

> Cats may be contributing to that, but also there

> is

> the problem of invasive species. We have Starlings

> and English Sparrows, for example; they are not

> native. They compete with native species for food

> and

> nesting and the native species decline. Also, the

> Grey Squirrel here is not native and the Red

> Squirrel

> is. I rarely ever see a Red Squirrel anymore. The

> Grey is more aggressive and takes over. The whole

> invasive species thing is fascinating and you could

> probably find alot of information online if you were

> interested. With global trade, species have easier

> access to global transportation, for instance. The

> bilge water in cargo ships carries many sea

> creatures

> from one part of the world to other parts where they

> may then become invasive (when the bilge is emptied

> in

> the new port).

>

> --- jo wrote:

>

> > I can only speak for the UK. We have over 8

> million

> > cats here, and the bird population is going down.

> >

> > Jo

> > -

> > linda

> >

> > Sunday, December 11, 2005 4:33 PM

> > Re: Re: Humane Society

> >

> > I volunteer in a program for feral cats (it is

> > nation wide and you might have it there too) where

> > we trap feral cats, neuter/spay them, give them

> > shots, clean their ears, and other medical needs

> and

> > then return them to their colony. We try to find

> > homes for the young kittens who are more amenable

> to

> > living with people and we watch for cats thought

> to

> > be feral but aren't and can be adopted after some

> > resocialization. There are people who undertake to

> > feed the cats daily at their colonies, make sure

> > they have water, provide a shelter and watch for

> > problems. It is a really cool program. If these

> cats

> > are taken to the humane society they are put down.

> > You can't tame the real feral cat...not the same

> as

> > a stray cat or a cat that once upon a time had a

> > home. These are usually second generation strays.

> > Thanks to all of the loving human beings who toss

> > them. However, this program contains the feral cat

> > population, is humane and I think really

> wonderful.

> > Even within the group of people who help at the

> > shelters are many who say that these feral cats

> > ought to be caught and killed. They contend they

> > kill innocent birds and other small animals. When

> I

> > point out that it isn't the cat's fault they have

> no

> > home, but the doings of people who have tossed

> them

> > out at some point in time. These cats are truly

> > remarkable though, but after having been

> > domesticated for thousands of years they can't

> > survive for long without human assistance.

> > linda

> > -

> > jo

> >

> > Well done. Let us know how you get on. I have

> > noticed that many people

> > extend their feelings on animal cruelty only to

> > dogs and cats, and birds

> > rarely come into this.

> >

> > To send an email to

> > -

> >

>

> >

> > a.. Visit your group " " on the web.

> >

> > b..

December 13, 2005

It sure is a beautiful bird. I dont see it being too popular with farmers though do you? The Valley Vegan.................Susan <oceanfest_2000 wrote: Wow, this sounds like an incredible bird! And thatbrings up another question. Perhaps they werereintroduced since they were originally wild? Butwhen does reintroducing a species become likeintroducing an ivasive species? After 300 years thenative wildlife has had time to adapt to livingwithout the owl. If it were re-introduced (just forexample) after all that time, what impact might ithave? How long does one wait before reintroducing anextinct or rare animal to its original habitat? Whendoes the flora/fauna change so that the reintro islike an invasion? Just some thoughts. This is abeautiful bird, thanks for

sharing! I'd love to see areal one.--- peter hurd wrote:> Here in the U.K. we have the resurgence of another> large predator not seen for over 300> years................The European Eagle Owl. It is> capable of taking cats , dogs, lambs, rabbits, small> deer, any other bird it chooses ( except the largest> raptors ). It seems that again this is a man made> problem, probably collectors releasing them when> they got too big or bored with them etc. It is> estimated that there are over 20 pairs wild in this> country, with one pair nesting on MOD land in North> Yorkshire for years in a secret location.> They are a magnificent looking bird, with a loud> distinctive hoot. Unfortunately, it could be a> threat to other native owls ( preying on them , and> competing for food )> Origin: Native; extinct in Britain since> 18th century except

for occasional European> vagrants. Size: 65 - 70 cm. Females are larger> than males and can weigh up to 4 kg (9 lbs). > Description: Largest owl in the world. Tall,> upright. Prominent ear tufts, large orange eyes. > Habitat: Forests, woodland, rocky and mountain> areas. Young: One or two eggs hatch after 35> days, start to fly after eight weeks and fully> independent after six months. Nest In a rocky> crevice lined with a few feathers. Diet: > Carnivorous; small mammals, but can take anything up> to the size of a fox or small deer.> > The Valley Vegan................> > > Susan wrote:> Cats may be contributing to that, but also there> is> the problem of invasive species. We have Starlings> and English Sparrows, for example; they are not> native. They compete with native species for food> and>

nesting and the native species decline. Also, the> Grey Squirrel here is not native and the Red> Squirrel> is. I rarely ever see a Red Squirrel anymore. The> Grey is more aggressive and takes over. The whole> invasive species thing is fascinating and you could> probably find alot of information online if you were> interested. With global trade, species have easier> access to global transportation, for instance. The> bilge water in cargo ships carries many sea> creatures> from one part of the world to other parts where they> may then become invasive (when the bilge is emptied> in> the new port).> > --- jo wrote:> > > I can only speak for the UK. We have over 8> million> > cats here, and the bird population is going down.> > > > Jo> > - > > linda > > To:

> > Sunday, December 11, 2005 4:33 PM> > Re: Re: Humane Society> > > > > > I volunteer in a program for feral cats (it is> > nation wide and you might have it there too) where> > we trap feral cats, neuter/spay them, give them> > shots, clean their ears, and other medical needs> and> > then return them to their colony. We try to find> > homes for the young kittens who are more amenable> to> > living with people and we watch for cats thought> to> > be feral but aren't and can be adopted after some> > resocialization. There are people who undertake to> > feed the cats daily at their colonies, make sure> > they have water, provide a shelter and watch for> > problems. It is a really cool program. If these> cats> > are taken to the humane

society they are put down.> > You can't tame the real feral cat...not the same> as> > a stray cat or a cat that once upon a time had a> > home. These are usually second generation strays.> > Thanks to all of the loving human beings who toss> > them. However, this program contains the feral cat> > population, is humane and I think really> wonderful.> > Even within the group of people who help at the> > shelters are many who say that these feral cats> > ought to be caught and killed. They contend they> > kill innocent birds and other small animals. When> I> > point out that it isn't the cat's fault they have> no> > home, but the doings of people who have tossed> them> > out at some point in time. These cats are truly> > remarkable though, but after having been> > domesticated for thousands of years they

can't> > survive for long without human assistance.> > linda> > - > > jo > > > > Well done. Let us know how you get on. I have> > noticed that many people> > extend their feelings on animal cruelty only to> > dogs and cats, and birds> > rarely come into this.> > > > > > > > To send an email to> > - > > > > > > > >>> > > > > > a.. Visit your group "" on the web.> > > > b..