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Invasive Species

Did a search of the Message board, and did not find a thread specifically devoted to Bat infestations. I am always optimistic that the professional pest control people at my condominum have gotten the problem solved; I'll go a few days with no bats inside my residence and think they are finally sealed out by a netting which lets them get out but not back in. Well, last week, Thursday Morning, I woke up at 4 AM, to find one in the kitchen sink, covered it up and waited for the pro pest control guy to take it for rabies testing as required by government rules and reg. Thought I wouldn't see any more bats but Sunday night, found one in the toilet bowl. So far, no more inside my place. One Bat Enthusiast said he slept with bats in his bedroom, and it didn't bother him.

I love bats, an endangered, protected by law species, but . . .

I've slept with an old bat in the bedroom for years...
 
I don't like the sound of this one.

Scientists forecast where is the highly invasive fall armyworm to strike next
Staple and economically important crops throughout the world could be at serious risk if efficient measures are not taken soon

Date: January 9, 2019
Source: Pensoft Publishers
Summary: Known to be feeding on many economically important crops, including maize, sugarcane, beet, tomato, potato and cotton, the larvae of the native to the Americas fall armyworm moth already seem to present a huge threat to the world's yield. Moreover, it only took 2 years for the pest to establish throughout sub-Saharan Africa. A study looks into the factors and likelihood for it to spread to other regions and continents.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190109090927.htm
 
The coypu has arrived in Dublin.

Waterways Ireland has warned the public to be on the alert for a very “large invasive rodent” species which has been spotted along the Royal Canal in Dublin.

Sightings of coypu, a semi-aquatic creature with bright orange teeth, a long cylindrical tail, and webbed back feet have been reported near the Ashtown area of the canal close to Castleknock. The rodents, which can be up to a metre long and weigh up to 9kg, carry a number of diseases harmful to humans and domestic animals. Waterways Ireland has issued an “invasive species alert” and warned the public “not to engage” the animals or make any attempt to trap them but to report any sightings, with photographs where possible. ...

The “invasive alien species” originates from wetlands in South America, and is thought to have arrived in Ireland about five years ago. It is believed the animal was introduced as a novelty attraction to a pet farm in Cork but some escaped in 2014 and began breeding on the outskirts of Cork city. In 2016, 10 coypu were shot on the Curraheen river on the outskirts of the city. ...

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/env...-spotted-along-dublin-s-royal-canal-1.3834367
 
There was at least one more episode of a bat getting into my residenence, this one at about 3 AM. Spent 15 mins of so chasing it with a 10 foot pole, and, with all the windows open, it finally found a way out. That was the last time, I'm glad to say, and the work of the professionls, putting in netting that lets the bats get out but not back in, to the ceiling vents, has really solved the problem.
 
The Grimsby Gamera
https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/...FTMmzmCZbcvvqgfscgufEYzAGA4Nj6UX6_hN3TKjTaVlE

A giant North American reptile has been discovered by a four-year-old boy at a North Lincolnshire lake.

Mystery had surrounded why a number of tench at the Mesters lake, near Messingham, had been found mutilated or brutally killed in recent years - some with their tails missing and some with just their heads.


Nobody had a clue what or who was behind this, until four-year-old Connor Brocklesby recently discovered the truth.
 
The Grimsby Gamera
https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/...FTMmzmCZbcvvqgfscgufEYzAGA4Nj6UX6_hN3TKjTaVlE

A giant North American reptile has been discovered by a four-year-old boy at a North Lincolnshire lake.

Mystery had surrounded why a number of tench at the Mesters lake, near Messingham, had been found mutilated or brutally killed in recent years - some with their tails missing and some with just their heads.


Nobody had a clue what or who was behind this, until four-year-old Connor Brocklesby recently discovered the truth.
There're actually common in the Northeast US. They can approach 30 pounds and easily take off a finger.
When young we keep a small one in a large pail for a few. Us naught boys would throw in a dozen large crayfish. What a fight the snapper wouldn't quit until all the crayfish were dead (and they fight back). Remember we were only ~ 10 so this was quite exciting (certainly wouldn't repeat this now).
 
The Grimsby Gamera
https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/...FTMmzmCZbcvvqgfscgufEYzAGA4Nj6UX6_hN3TKjTaVlE

A giant North American reptile has been discovered by a four-year-old boy at a North Lincolnshire lake.

Mystery had surrounded why a number of tench at the Mesters lake, near Messingham, had been found mutilated or brutally killed in recent years - some with their tails missing and some with just their heads.


Nobody had a clue what or who was behind this, until four-year-old Connor Brocklesby recently discovered the truth.
That's an exceptional speciment (75 pounds) for a common snapper. Very common turtle over here. One about 8 - 10 pounds washed up on the neighbors lawn last week after heavy rain. Personally never seen one over ~ 30 pounds which is considered a giant in the northeast.
 
That's an exceptional speciment (75 pounds) for a common snapper. Very common turtle over here. One about 8 - 10 pounds washed up on the neighbors lawn last week after heavy rain. Personally never seen one over ~ 30 pounds which is considered a giant in the northeast.
Maybe its an alligator snapper.
 
Maybe its an alligator snapper.
The turtle shown has the shell type more typical of the common snapper. Those nasties things aproach 150 pounds (alligator snappers). The common snapper is one of the meanest - most_agressive animals I've encoutered.
When young a large snapper (25 to 30+) pounds slipped into a boat overnight to steal a fishermans bait. However it couldn't get out. Come morning the guys went to fish and found the turtle very angry and snapping at anything that moved. A man eventually grapped it by the tail while another another distacted it's head by getting it to bite a section of 2 by 4.
 
The turtle shown has the shell type more typical of the common snapper. Those nasties things aproach 150 pounds (alligator snappers). The common snapper is one of the meanest - most_agressive animals I've encoutered.
When young a large snapper (25 to 30+) pounds slipped into a boat overnight to steal a fishermans bait. However it couldn't get out. Come morning the guys went to fish and found the turtle very angry and snapping at anything that moved. A man eventually grapped it by the tail while another another distacted it's head by getting it to bite a section of 2 by 4.
I've kept both, nasty bugger and soft shelled turtles are bad tempered, agressive thigs as well.
 
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Florida residents urged to kill iguanas ‘whenever possible’

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Non-native iguanas are multiplying so rapidly in south Florida that a state wildlife agency is now encouraging people to kill them.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said people should exterminate the lizards on their properties as well as on 22 areas of public land. It did not say how civilians should try to kill them.

Iguanas are native to Central America, tropical parts of South America and some Caribbean islands. They were brought to Florida as pets or inadvertently on ships and have begun to flourish in the state, where the warm climate is perfect for them.

“Homeowners do not need a permit to kill iguanas on their own property, and the FWC encourages homeowners to kill green iguanas on their own property whenever possible,” the agency said.

Iguanas are not dangerous or aggressive to humans but they can dig lengthy tunnels, damaging pavements and building foundations. They can sometimes carry salmonella bacteria.

“Some green iguanas cause damage to infrastructure by digging burrows that erode and collapse sidewalks, foundations, seawalls, berms and canal banks,” the wildlife commission said. “Green iguanas may also leave droppings on docks, moored boats, seawalls, porches, decks, pool platforms and inside swimming pools.”

Another invasive species, the Burmese python, is wreaking havoc in the Everglades as they eat almost anything and have no natural predators in the US, except for the occasional alligator.
 
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Also very big pythons are on the hit list. People are making a living as python bounty hunters.

Wonder what they taste like ?

INT21.
 
Wandering wasp arrives in Warwickshire.

The first sighting of a species of wasp usually found in Southern Europe is believed to have been made on mainland Britain.

Sabina George, 79, spotted the Polistes Nimpha paper wasp at Compton Verney Art Gallery, in Warwickshire, and said she knew it was "something different". Steven Falk, an expert in pollinators, confirmed it was the insect, which is also found in west Asia. He said it may have been brought over accidentally on a plant or in a lorry.Mrs George visited the gallery on 21 September to view an exhibition when she spotted the wasp among the shrubbery.

"I knew it was a wasp, but I knew from the face something was different," said Mrs George, a keen amateur photographer from Kenilworth.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-49878547
 
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Glad to say the bats are long gone, but a few weeks ago, I was jogging, stopped, and looked back, and in the path I was jogging thru, was wha looked like a stick or a tree branch, then I thought it might be a snake. I looked closer, and, sure enough I had jogged over a snake with moccasin like markings, maybe a water moccasin or coopperhead, the markings being kind of a light brown. It was not coiled but straight, with its head held up, and not moving at all. I very carefully walked away from the snake, and have since been very careful when I do my jogging.
 
Glad to say the bats are long gone, but a few weeks ago, I was jogging, stopped, and looked back, and in the path I was jogging thru, was wha looked like a stick or a tree branch, then I thought it might be a snake. I looked closer, and, sure enough I had jogged over a snake with moccasin like markings, maybe a water moccasin or coopperhead, the markings being kind of a light brown. It was not coiled but straight, with its head held up, and not moving at all. I very carefully walked away from the snake, and have since been very careful when I do my jogging.
Usually the water moccasin is darkly colored (black) with brown stripes. However color can vary and on occasion the water moccasin has a lighter brown shade. They exist only in the southern states particularly Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. The copperhead has a wider range (but also has a mild temperament) and has been found as far north as Pennsylvania. A quick check at a North American field guide for reptiles (or Google?) could but Y at ease as to whether or not it was either of these 2 venomous snakes. Rather unlikely that these reptiles are spreading there range in the US, so I personally doubt there invasive species, but?
 
Yet another threat to bees - and humans:
Hornet news

Biggest ever nest of hornets found on Sark. Each one eats 50 bees a day. "Experts" are battling them (I'm envisaging something like a 1950s giant monster movie) to stop them spreading to the rest of Britain. I'm thinking with the climate warming up anyway, it's probably too late.
 
Each one eats 50 bees a day.
So that would be equivalent to a 150 lb human eating 7,500 lbs of meat a day. Impressive. Wasps are scary.
 
I saw this article some time ago and forgot to post it. My apologies if it's already been posted elsewhere.

It's interesting that there seems to be a way to both naturally combat (and reverse) the spread of the Grey Squirrel and also encourage the spread of the previously endangered Pine Marten in one fell swoop.

Return of pine martens could save Britain's red squirrels, say scientists

Areas with growing pine marten populations have seen grey squirrel numbers fall as they provide easy prey for the predators – unlike native reds, a new study shows

From the above article:

Adrian Vass, at the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, welcomed the new pine marten evidence and said it coincided with the development of an oral contraceptive that prevents grey squirrels from breeding

I don't know why, but my first thought on reading the above quote was; "just as long as they remember to take it!"
 
Watch out for the cuties.

Scientists are calling on conservationists to take the “charisma” of invasive species into consideration when managing the biological threat posed by them.The charisma of an invasive alien species refers to its popularity and its perception by society and the media.

The researchers outline their concerns in what they describe as a “concept and question” paper published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, saying these species may pose a threat to the biodiversity in the regions where they were introduced. Franck Courchamp, a researcher at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris who specialises in conservation biology and one of the study authors, told the PA news agency: “Biological invasions are considered the second cause of recent species extinctions, the current second threat to biodiversity, and the reason for an economic cost of hundreds of billions of dollars every year globally.”

He added: “We propose a claim that the charisma of species is likely to favour their invasion and we examine it under evidence of different aspects and processes with examples.”

For example, the researchers said, the arrival of the popular North American grey squirrel in Italy threatens the existence of the native red squirrel, but the emotive messages used by the media and animal campaign groups in response to a plan to control the population of the grey squirrel led to public opposition and long-drawn legal battles.

Meanwhile in the UK, the ruddy duck was adopted as the emblem of a birdwatchers’ club 50 years after it was introduced from North America, although numbers have reduced drastically in the recent years.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/break...g-invasive-species-scientists-say-992337.html
 
The Asian Hornet advances across Europe.

Since its accidental introduction in 2003 in France, the yellow-legged Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) is rapidly spreading through Europe. Both experts and citizen scientists keep on identifying the new invader spreading all over the Old Continent in the last decades.

In a recent study, French scientists led by Prof. Franck Courchamp at the Université Paris-Saclay and the CNRS, tried to evaluate the first estimated control costs for this invasion. Supported by the INVACOST project, their findings are published in the open-access journal NeoBiota.
Since its invasion to France in 2004 when it was accidentally introduced from China, the Asian hornet has been spreading rapidly, colonising most of France at an approximate rate of 60-80 km per year, and also invading other European countries: Spain in 2010, Portugal and Belgium in 2011, Italy in 2012, Germany in 2014 and the UK in 2016. In the recent paper, published in the open-access journal Evolutionary Systematics, Dr. Martin Hussemann from CeNaK, University of Hamburg has recorded the northernmost capture of the Asian hornet in Hamburg in September 2019.

These data show that the Asian hornet is spreading all around Europe faster and faster with every year, even in climatically less favourable regions. The rapid invasion of the species is not necessarily caused by human-mediated dispersal—the species can rapidly spread on its own—but nevertheless, it is not uncommon.

https://phys.org/news/2020-04-asian-hornet-invasion-europe.html
 
Researchers are now predicting the OOP lionfish is destined to become a permanent presence in the Mediterranean.
Invasive lionfish likely to become permanent residents in the Mediterranean

An invasive species first identified in the Mediterranean Sea just eight years ago is likely to become a permanent feature of the region, a new study suggests.

First seen off the coast of Cyprus in 2012, lionfish (Pterois miles) are now thriving and well-established in the area and across southern Europe.

However, the increasing densities observed over time - combined with the species' generalist diet and consumption of ecologically and socio-economically important fish - may result in further disruption of an already stressed marine environment.

The scale of spread would suggest the lionfish cannot be eradicated, with scientists writing in the Journal of Fish Biology suggesting the development of a dedicated lionfish industry could help manage the situation and lessen some of the species' negative impacts. ...
FULL STORY: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/uop-ill042720.php
 
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