http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/10-2006/cougar-predation-key-to-ecosystem-health.html This made me stop and think a bit. As much as I don't like the idea of wolves, cougars, and bears close by, they obviously have a tremendous NECESSARY impact, clear down to the loss of cottonwoods along the banks of streams. Who would have thought their presence has such a wide-reaching effect? Or that deer and elk do too? I always loved the local elk herd when I was in Colorado and hated to see them hunted, but we had almost no predators left, so obviously this was a right thing. Hunters do have an important function in the balance of nature. When we remove the predators, SOMEBODY has to assume their job or bad results do follow, as this article so clearly shows. A bit of a necessary reminder for me, because I hate to kill anything. Did enough of that as a Marine and surely did lose my taste for it. But the balance of nature is important to me, treehugger that I am. Rusty
I think the real message is in humans invading wild spaces. We need to learn to control our sprawl, or loose.
In our neck of the woods the deer population managed at too high of a level.. Many deer hang out in suburban areas, almost becoming semi domesticated... The wild deer in the woods are fewer in numbers, however the numbers are still high.. After the big timber cut around 1900 our forests grew back with lots of oak, after the climax trees were gone. (The White pines and eastern Hemlock) The oak forest has done well...However, very very few young trees make it. (The deer eat them) Same with our Northern White Cedar, virtually no reproduction.. Too many deer. We have a local healthy wolf pack, and our property is in their roam.. We only see them in winter on the ice usually... We can tell when they are working through the area.. The large Coyote pack disappears.. Our coyotes are big and very wild.. They take no interest in our chickens because they do not know what they are.. I am all for a natural balance. Our Black bear population is at record levels, Wolf density almost up to equilibrium... I love the Wolves, but I see them being used as a tool by anti hunting groups... With a balance and good management practices IMO everyone can be happy. ON
