Endangered Species eat one another
Yesterday (Sunday 3/24),
the
Santa Cruz Sentinel had
an article about Orcas vs Otters:
... research from UC Santa Cruz scientists suggests man's actions
a quarter-century ago is just now wreaking havoc on the food chain ...
Orca whales are devastating the Alaskan sea otter population, the
researchers say, because man hunted the whale's traditional prey to
near extinction. To really help the otter, and restore nature's
balance, man must consider doing the previously unthinkable.
Before the middle of the 20th century, the great whales formed the
bulk of the Orcas' diet. Roughly half a million of those great whales
were killed between 1940 and 1976, so the adaptable Orcas aimed
at smaller prey -- sea lions and otters.
Reminds me of the similar issues at Wilder Ranch -- saved from
development in the 1970's, partly because of finding an endangered
species of snake there. Another property nearby was saved from
development partly because of finding an endangered species of
frog. That frog is one of the main prey species for that snake.
Seems like we get in over our heads almost any time we try to
manage ecosystems.
10:45:31 AM
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