Snak heads, mute Asian swans, and Zebra mussels, Oh my!

[cheerful_deviant]

Tumbleweeds were first reported in the United States around 1877 in Bon Homme County, South Dakota, apparently transported in flax seed imported by Ukrainian farmers. Within two decades it had tumbled into a dozen states, and by 1900, it had reached the Pacific Coast.

~A~

What I want to know, is did you look that up or did you just know it off the top of your head. (If you just knew it then I want you on my team next time I play Trivial Persuit)

 

[ABSTRUSE]

What I want to know, is did you look that up or did you just know it off the top of your head. (If you just knew it then I want you on my team next time I play Trivial Persuit)

I'm a vault of useless knowledge.....lol. Actually I looked it up, for some reason it piqued my interest! Now we all know the answer, so that's one less lifeline used on the Millionaire show!

~A~

 

[CharleyH]

Fall of Woodcocks
A Flight of Swallows
and
The Pace of Asses

all seem like reasonable titles for my next story.

Thanks P

 

[OldnotDead]

Re: Snake heads, mute Asian swans, and Zebra mussels, Oh my!

I can't help it, I keep finding these odd stories and am compelled to share them.

In shame, Perdita

Attack of the Killer Fish WA Post editorial, May 23, 2004

THEY LOOK LIKE aliens from a science fiction movie. Their reputation -- a killer fish that breathes air -- is appealingly ghoulish. But the discovery of three northern snakeheads in the waters of the Potomac has implications far beyond the tabloid headlines they inspire. . .

The fish has the potential to destroy some or all of the Potomac's other fish and to take down fishing and tourist businesses as well. Worse, there is almost nothing state officials here or anywhere else can do about it, except ask anglers to kill them.

. . . A pair of bills making their way very slowly through Congress would mandate controls over the exotic fish trade and establish standards for ships carrying foreign ballast water as well. If it serves no other purpose, the latest snakehead scare should force politicians to focus harder on the damage that exotic plants and animals can do to native species, whether they get here accidentally or on purpose.

The important thing to pick up here is that the problem is not wildly exotic animals, but some fairly 'normal' ones that when introduced into a foreign environment has the capability to totally dominate.

I have a Koi pond and know that some other Koi owners will occasionally release their fry into natural ponds rather than let the mature ones eat the babies. This is not good. Koi are omniverous and can survive through northern winters with little problem. They are voracious eaters and leave little plant life alone unless extremely well fed.

Another serious problem is a relative of Koi, the Grass Carp. Imported from China, mostly, they are a boon to the rural landowner that has a pond overrun by European Millfoil. They are only legal in this country if they have been sterilized and cannot reproduce. Hopefully no one is going to bring in 'breeders'.

Another problem with watercourses is the desire of some backyard gardeners to mess with natural streams - damn them up, turn them into ponds and landscape them. It seems like a nice idea, but then whatever you put in the pond, it's eggs, seeds, larvae, etc - wash through and out into the local environment. At the very least, fish waste becomes a source of significant ntirogen causing more algae and other undesirable plant growth downstream. The East is much more prone to this as the abundance of water puts less community focus on what individuals are doing with natural waterways.

It's fun to have interesting pets, but no matter what they are, there are responsibilities that go with them. Support the stores that provide responsible education and responsible ownership.

 

[OldnotDead]

I've heard of the snakeheads and the zebra mussels, but not the mutant asian swans. . . .

They are MUTE swans, hence their attractiveness. If they were to mutate, I guess they could get voice boxes <G>

Part of the problem with Canadian Geese is that landowners imported a non-migrating species which have become dominant. Our Chesapeake Bay hunting friends complain that too many of the migratory ones have 'intermarried' and no longer come visit in the winter.

And the golf courses, public ball fields and stadiums do not make for the best hunting grounds.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

They are MUTE swans, hence their attractiveness. If they were to mutate, I guess they could get voice boxes <G>

Part of the problem with Canadian Geese is that landowners imported a non-migrating species which have become dominant. Our Chesapeake Bay hunting friends complain that too many of the migratory ones have 'intermarried' and no longer come visit in the winter.

And the golf courses, public ball fields and stadiums do not make for the best hunting grounds.

LOL.....I noticed I put that in afterwards, thanks for calling me on it. I guess I have to go research them now!
I'll give myself a whack to the head with a tackhammer....lol.

 

[Guest]

Abby, you were probably thinking of the mutant Asian pigeons on The Simpsons. P.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

... the problem with Canadian Geese is ... landowners imported a non-migrating species ... too many of the migratory ones have 'intermarried' and no longer come visit in the winter...

They must learn to take I-75 like the rest of the Canadians.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Abby, you were probably thinking of the mutant Asian pigeons on The Simpsons. P.

Probably......lol.