Invasive animals can realy be a problem. Evenso it would be intresting to know which invasive species can be found in your area and which you already have seen. To start here a list of the southern part of the Netherlands which I've seen sofar : Siberian ground squirrel - a small group near the town of Tilburg Egyptian goose found in large numbers in many parts of the Netherlands Canadian goose also almost everywhere in the Netherlands Red eared slider found in almost every piece of water Monk parakeet a few colonies Ring-necked parakeet - numberous in the western part of the Netherlands Chinese ladybird common in many parts of the Netherlands I don't count rabbit and fallow deer with the invasive species althrough they actualy are but they are already living in the Netherlands for such a long period that they can be seen as native. Intrested in which species you have seen ( for the Florida- and New Zealand Zoochatters the list can become very impresive, I guess ).
Invasive animals... Here in Dorset we have Canada Geese and small numbers of Mandarin Ducks. Most people welcome the Mandarins, but some have a problem with Canadas. I do not understand how something that is beautiful, makes an attractive noise, and is good to eat can possibly be a nuisance. You just eat the surplus. 'Simples'.
10ha property 50km south-east of Melbourne Australia Fox, rabbit, black rat, house mouse, Indian myna, European starling, blackbird, spotted dove, goldfinch, carp.
Well, I'm surprised any of you, at least outside of North America, don't mention the American mink. It is THE worst invasive animal in my country. Several other foreign species are slated to be invasive, but few of them have done any real harm. The minks, however, certainly have.
- Argentine Ant in Liguria - Tiger Mosquito in the entire Italy - Harlequin Ladybird in the North and in Tuscany - Red Palm Weevil in the entire Italy - Colorado Potato Beetle in the entire Italy - Citrus Long-Horned Beetle in Lombardy - Red Swamp Crawfish in the Middle-North Italy and in Sardinia - Mosquitofish - Rainbow Trout in the entire Italy - Common Carp in the entire Italy - Largemouth Bass in the entire Italy - Blue Catfish in the Po river basin - Channel Catfish in the Po river basin and in Tuscany - Black Bullhead in the Emilia (not in Romagna) - Wels Catfish in the Po river basin, in the Adige river basin, in the Tiber and in the Arno - American Bullfrog in Mantova and Pavia - African Clawed Frog in Sicily - Red-Eared Slider in the cities pond - Eurasian Collared Dove in the entire Italy - Monk Parakeet in some cities park (i never see them in Turin, but a lot in Rome) - Ring-Necked Parakeet in Liguria, Pavia, Bolzano, Rome and Palermo - Common Rat in the entire Italy - Black Rat in the entire Italy - Eastern Gray Squirrel in the Northwest and in Umbria - Muskrat in the Northeast - Coypu in the entire Italy - American Mink in the North, in the Middle and in Sardinia - Raccoon Dog (rarely)
Grey squirrels are probably the most commonly seen in the UK but I also come across rats quite frequently in the city. Canada geese also appear to be everywhere (as already mentioned by FBBird) but I wouldn't regard them as pests in the same way as rodents tend to be. American mink are also a nuisance. There are two types of deer that I've seen in the wild that are also not natural inhabitants but they seem to do no harm (or none that I've noticed at least) which are muntjac and fallow deer. Living in central England I've never seen Chinese water, sika or reindeer which are now found in the wild in parts of the UK.
For the Netherlands I forgot ofcourse the Muskrat which is seen as a real danger for the dykes !! From the other lists I was unaware Italia had African clawed frog in the wild and for the UK I´d never heared of free-roaming Reindeer !
They're found in Scotland and I think that they're quite docile. I've seen a photo of one being fed by hand but I can't recall where, possibly a Lonely Planet travel guide?
-Brown Trout in Utah -House Mouse in Connecticut and New York -Green Iguana in Puerto Rico -Various feral domestics in Connecticut and New York (feral cats) and in Puerto Rico (chickens, horses, cats, and dogs) -*Zebra Mussel in Connecticut -various insects in Connecticut *While I've not seen them yet I know we have a severe problem with them in the lake by my house. The sad part is they weren't even here until some idiot dumped some into the lake about two years ago. ~Thylo
Rick Dove, Starling, European Rabbit (small feral population) all in Anchorage. The Coyote has naturally invaded the area in the last 100 years. Occasionally a Sitka Blacktailed Deer will make through the Chugach gauntlet of Wolves and Bears to the Anchorage area...they have not succeeded in establishing themselves. They come from a population introduced into the Prince William Sound area; I can recall three animals reported in the last eight years. Northern Pike have been introduced into some previously Pike free waters causing much Eco-disruption. Further afield Plains Bison, Roosevelt Elk, and Mountain Goats have been established in new areas. Every Summer were invaded by Legions of Homo Touisma, greatly disrupting local ecology. Thankfully, Anchorage at least, remains Rat free. Feral Cats are present, but they don't last long. California Sea Lions may be expanding into the Gulf of Alaska, naturally, no breeding yet.
Invasive Animals Forgot to mention Sika here; large numbers around Poole Harbour. I understand they were originally put on Brownsea Island by someone who didn't know that deer could swim. They are valuable for land management on nature rerserves around the harbour, and are also good eating,though not as good as Roe. Also forgot to mention Mink, which may be gradually being replaced by returning Otters. My understanding is that Otters clear out Mink. Neither is desirable if you're trying to keep ducks, although it is of course fashionable to like Otters. We have Fallow Deer as well in small numbers, which are probably not native.
In California feral pigs are huge problem in that they destroy ecosystems and breed like rabbits. Our avifauna is invaded by European starlings, rock doves, house sparrows, and various parrot species. Invasive plants are a great problem. Most of our native grassland has been replaced with European species. Our coastlines are heavily invaded by South African ice plant and our wetlands are choking with Arundo donax, and invasive reed from Eurasia. There are a couple other thousand invasive plant species beyond that.
I've heard mourning dove is pretty good. One I forgot to mention in my area is Eurasian collared dove. The game and fish has no bag limits on those birds. Have you ever tried goose or duck wrapped in bacon? That's pretty good stuff.
