Nature's Balance

In a recent blog I described the tragedy of people releasing their snakes and other invasive creatures in the Florida Everglades. Their rapid explosion in numbers startled the rangers who monitor the glade. Last month there was a huge cold snap that lasted nearly 10 days. Temperatures reached lows in the upper twenties and early thirties. The Burmese Pythons and African Iguanas have died by the thousands. It was estimated that half of the invasive animals died during this time period.

This kill off did not eliminate any of these invasive creatures but shows that South Florida may not be a good place for these creatures to live and multiply. The fish population which also has been impacted by people dumping their pets in the wetlands caused concern. During the past weeks millions of non native fish have died. Vultures and gulls have been seen in numbers eating this veritable banquet in the glades.

These unwanted guests were reminded that this is not Burma, Ecuador or Africa. Specialists estimate that half the creatures and more than half the fish perished in the past month but were quick to say the worst is not over. These invasive creatures and fish have the ability to adapt over a number of generations and feel at home here.

Silver Carp, another invasive fish have taken over the Mississippi watershed and are only miles from the Great Lakes. This could be the worst case of an invasive fish species invading an area where it is not wanted. Besides the economic impact on the sports industry there is an unbalancing of the natural environment. We must be careful before dumping unwanted pets into natural habitat.