Where Are The .22-250's When You Need Them?

[sledgemeister]

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1707992096001/prairie-dog-conundrum

"Endangered Species"? Are you kidding me? How do you "harass" a Prairie Dog?

We used to use straws on frogs but hey each to their own 

[alfsauve]

The Utah Praire Dog is "THE" keystone to the eco-system?   Hardly.   Maybe they're some of the rubble around the arch.   In addition they make the area around their habitat dangerous for horses who can break a leg stepping in the dog's borrows.

Here we have chipmunks, which are classified as non-game and non-pests.  Hence, while not protected under federal law, could get someone charged with the general misdemeanor of harassing wildlife.

Not that I'm advocating breaking the law, but when the varmints are close in, a good air rifle would be all that's needed.   I'm partial to my HW-77 in .22.  Oh, I didn't mean that I actually use it on anything but squirrels, in season of course, and starlings, crackles and rats.  Never never on anything else.

I wonder if that town get the go ahead to eradicate, if they'll offer a bounty?

[tombogan03884]

The Utah Praire Dog is "THE" keystone to the eco-system?   Hardly.   Maybe they're some of the rubble around the arch.   In addition they make the area around their habitat dangerous for horses who can break a leg stepping in the dog's borrows.

Here we have chipmunks, which are classified as non-game and non-pests.  Hence, while not protected under federal law, could get someone charged with the general misdemeanor of harassing wildlife.

Not that I'm advocating breaking the law, but when the varmints are close in, a good air rifle would be all that's needed.   I'm partial to my HW-77 in .22.  Oh, I didn't mean that I actually use it on anything but squirrels, in season of course, and starlings, crackles and rats.  Never never on anything else.

I wonder if that town get the go ahead to eradicate, if they'll offer a bounty?

I doubt they will.
It's only peoples homes and livelihoods being damaged, what is that when compared to the "keystone" rodent.  (sarcasm )

[mkm]

The Utah Praire Dog is "THE" keystone to the eco-system?   Hardly.   Maybe they're some of the rubble around the arch.   In addition they make the area around their habitat dangerous for horses who can break a leg stepping in the dog's borrows.

I wonder if that town get the go ahead to eradicate, if they'll offer a bounty?

I will be upfront about not being familiar enough with the Utah prairie dog and the prairie ecosystem it lives in to make a proper assessment of the situation.  That won't stop me from sharing my opinion. 

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportional impact on its community compared to its relative abundance.  The prairie dog seems to fit that description quite well, for better or worse in this case.  Keystone species really are essential for a properly balanced/functioning ecosystem.  They do things that other species don't/can't do but depend on for survival.  In many cases, these species are predators (a starfish Pisaster ochracceus in the Pacific NW is a classic example) but not always.  Diggers (gophar tortoises) and cavity makers (red cockaded woodpeckers) often fit the bill; as do some plants.

We've done too "good" of a job eliminating keystone and other species all over the country.  I think it's a bit arrogant of us to move into a wild area dominated by other animals only to get mad when they do what they do.  Too often, our first and maybe only "solution" is to kill them all.  Once they are gone, the ecosystem changes and gives us another problem to deal with that wasn't there before (Hypothetically in this case, the vegetation changes to something less productive and desirable, or coyotes start eating pets).  With that said, I also realize the importance of people living physically and finacially sound.  There has to be a better solution than either letting the prairie dogs run amock or killing them all.  What that solution is, I cannot say without more research and understanding of the situation.

As to bounties, I'm generally not a fan, especially with concern to native species.

Please note, I'm speaking of people in general and not a particular person.

[billt]

Didn't these idiots learn anything from the Florida alligator population? They "protected" them so well in the 60's, they've overrun the state, and become a danger to most every community in the process. Now they've even got a hit TV show that shows them trying to hunt down the population.

[Sponsor]

[santahog]

These things have had their own television show off and on now for years. They've got PR guys, lawyers, corporate sponsors.. I think this woman being interviewed would qualify as an agent..
So at this point, "their people will get with our people..." sheesh..
I quit talking about what I shot in the yard a long time ago..

[tombogan03884]

Didn't these idiots learn anything from the Florida alligator population? They "protected" them so well in the 60's, they've overrun the state, and become a danger to most every community in the process. Now they've even got a hit TV show that shows them trying to hunt down the population.

No they didn't.
That is the hallmark of the liberal mind, it never learns.
Whether it's cutting the military, spending like drunks on pay night, or anything else, they just wander through history doing the same stupid sh!t over and over and being surprised by the results.

[alfsauve]

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportional impact on its community compared to its relative abundance.  The prairie dog seems to fit that description quite well, for better or worse in this case.  Keystone species really are essential for a properly balanced/functioning ecosystem.  They do things that other species don't/can't do but depend on for survival.  In many cases, these species are predators (a starfish Pisaster ochracceus in the Pacific NW is a classic example) but not always.  Diggers (gophar tortoises) and cavity makers (red cockaded woodpeckers) often fit the bill; as do some plants.

Cool update on the science of ecology.    I still have a hard time with the idea of "keystone".  I think nature is a lot more resilient than that and no one species, man included, is "keystone".     Remove any species and the eco-system will adapt.  It may be different from what it was but it will adapt.     

[tombogan03884]

Cool update on the science of ecology.    I still have a hard time with the idea of "keystone".  I think nature is a lot more resilient than that and no one species, man included, is "keystone".     Remove any species and the eco-system will adapt.  It may be different from what it was but it will adapt.     

The mass extinction of the dinosaurs proves that.

[MikeBjerum]

Someone needs to look at the fact that these critters have grown to the point they are expanding their territory.  There out of the four main items in the story, the church play yard, the cemetery and the airport runway were all ok until the growth of the population overtook the properties.  The truck stop coming to town is the only new item.  I believe this fact proves that the prairie dog population can withstand a push back by humans without becoming extinct.

Let the people of the community control the furry little targets within their city limits and for a given radius around town.