Mutant squirrels
By jwfarrimond
@jwfarrimond (4473)
April 25, 2009 2:57am CST
Here in the UK the native Red Squirrel has been totally decimated by the introduced American Grey, now though, there is a new "super squirrel" that looks likely to do to the gray, what the greys have done to the Red's. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20090423/tuk-nuts-at-dawn-britain-s-squirrels-fig-a7ad41d.html
1 person likes this
2 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Apr 09
That's a real shame about the red squirrels. This kind of thing tends to happen anytime a species of animal or bird from one country is introduced to another country. Long time ago, the common pigeon and starling was introduced here around the mid 1800s (from England...LOL)--anyway, the population of the pigeon has gotten way out of control and have taken over the natural birds territories so we see less and less of other types of birds (like bluejays, cardinals, robins etc.)
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
26 Apr 09
Yes, we have a big problem with introduced plants as well. Japanese knotweed and Giant hogweed being two such. We also have wild mink, decendants of animals who either escaped or where deliberately released by animal rights activists from fur farms. There are also coypu (fur animals again) which now have a large population in the East Angian waterways where they cause damage to river banks and retaining walls making floods more likely.
Countries like New Zealand and Australia now have VERY strict laws about the importation of any animal of vegetable materiels even extending to the dirt on travellers boots.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
29 May 09
Hi jwfarrimond! I have heard about this story before. It's amazing how much damage an "introduced" animal can cause a natural habitat of other animals. We have a plant here called Kudzu that threatens our natural plant life. It is a very aggressive ivy that grows fast and smothers trees and foilage. I think it was brought from Japan but I'm not sure.
