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Lynx reintroduction
On Sat, 02 May 2015 22:45:30 +0100, Bob Hobden wrote:
Interesting reintroduction planned for specific areas, it's worked in some other areas of Europe and we certainly need something to control the Deer. http://www.lynxuk.org/ -- Regards Bob Hobden Posting to this Newsgroup from the W.of London. UK In all the comment, there has been very little about the predator/prey cycle. If there are a lot of prey, then the predators breed and expand because of an "unlimited" food supply. At some point the number of predators rises enough that they no longer have a guaranteed food supply and they compete for the remaining prey. The prey population drops dramatically because they are being over predated/consumed, and then the predators starve and die off in turn. The pressure is then off the prey, who start to breed again and expand in numbers. Rinse and repeat. However in one part of the cycle you have a large number of starving predators with little or no natural prey - this is always assuming that the Lynx is a good little wild pussy and only preys on the deer you are hoping to control. [Having seen a black fallow deer very recently, anything that can tackle that can tackle most farm animals and domestic pets.] So before championing the return of Lynx and wolves you have to be very sure that when they are over populated and starving they will not be a threat to farm animals, domestic pets (including small ponies), and humans of small stature and tender years. Unless, of course, you are prepared to actively cull the excess population of predators. Which does have some similarity to culling the deer. In my limited experience, introducing one species to directly control another species usually has unexpected/unintended side effects. Predators adapt to the available prey, not just to the one you want reduced. Then again, why not ask New Zealand if they would like some free Lynx. I understand that they have major problems with wild deer as well as wild boar and opossums. I'm sure they would be very grateful for the gift. Cheers Dave R -- Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box |
#2
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Lynx reintroduction
In article ,
says... -- Regards Bob Hobden Posting to this Newsgroup from the W.of London. UK In all the comment, there has been very little about the predator/prey cycle. If there are a lot of prey, then the predators breed and expand because of an "unlimited" food supply. Much depends on the reproductive habit of the species. According to http://www.lynxuk.org/lynx.html European lynx produce just one litter of 2 or 3 kittens per mother per year. Janet |
#3
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Lynx reintroduction
In article ,
David wrote: On Sat, 02 May 2015 22:45:30 +0100, Bob Hobden wrote: Interesting reintroduction planned for specific areas, it's worked in some other areas of Europe and we certainly need something to control the Deer. http://www.lynxuk.org/ In all the comment, there has been very little about the predator/prey cycle. If there are a lot of prey, then the predators breed and expand because of an "unlimited" food supply. At some point the number of predators rises enough that they no longer have a guaranteed food supply and they compete for the remaining prey. The prey population drops dramatically because they are being over predated/consumed, and then the predators starve and die off in turn. The pressure is then off the prey, who start to breed again and expand in numbers. Rinse and repeat. However in one part of the cycle you have a large number of starving predators with little or no natural prey - this is always assuming that the Lynx is a good little wild pussy and only preys on the deer you are hoping to control. No, that is a common error. That CAN happen, but predators more often stabilise the populations. The point is that unpredated herbivores increase until their population exceeds the winter food supply, whereupon many or most of them starve to death. That is what kills a lot of red deer in the Highlands. [Having seen a black fallow deer very recently, anything that can tackle that can tackle most farm animals and domestic pets.] They are a lot smaller than almost all cattle. But lynx aren't really a predator of them, anyway - more of roe deer and hares. Yes, they would kill young or weak fallow. So before championing the return of Lynx and wolves you have to be very sure that when they are over populated and starving they will not be a threat to farm animals, domestic pets (including small ponies), and humans of small stature and tender years. Well, that isn't a problem elsewhere in Europe, except occasionally for sheep. No, a lynx wouldn't tackle a pony and have never been known to attack humans. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
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