Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

nafex - [NAFEX] Relocating wildlife

nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Lucky Pittman <lucky.pittman@murraystate.edu>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Relocating wildlife
  • Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 15:48:40 -0500

At 11:29 AM 08/30/2002 -0400, Gordon wrote:
I disagree on the relocation of wild animals from your place to someone else place so that they can share in your problems that you are trying to eliminate.


Most wildlife biologists and state Fish & Wildlife personnel are diametrically opposed to 'relocating' wildlife - at least those that are not considered to be 'threatened' or 'endangered' species. In some states, it is even illegal to do so.
I understand that many people are uncomfortable with trapping and killing vermin such as squirrels, groundhogs, and the like, and think that they are being 'humane' by simply taking them to a remote location and releasing them.
However, it may not be so humane as they'd like to think - but at least they don't die in their sight, or directly at their hands.

Relocated animals have to search out food sources in their 'new' surroundings - if this is a species that caches food for the winter, like chipmunks, relocation, particularly in fall or early winter, is a veritable death sentence.
Relocated animals also have to search out nesting/sleeping shelter in their new surroundings, which may be difficult, depending on time of year.
If the area they are relocated to is already at peak carrying capacity for that species, either the located animal is going to die a slow death due to starvation & exposure, or one of the previous residents is going to be displaced and die.
Relocating animals can spread diseases that may impact wildlife and humans alike. Take the raccoon rabies epidemic which has swept up the eastern seaboard, for example. Raccoons relocated from south GA or FL to W.VA carried the raccoon strain of the rabies virus with them, and it has spread like wildfire up the east coast and is now sweeping west across PA & OH.

All in all, it's much better to terminate such garden/orchard pests in a rapid, humane manner than to relocate them - whether to a remote, uninhabited area, or to a spot where they may be a nuisance to someone else.





Lucky Pittman
USDA Zone 6
Hopkinsville, KY





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page