Feral Dogs are as bad as cats say biologists.

[toppop52]

Here's an example..."Free-roaming dogs can especially cause harm on islands, where ecosystems tend to be vulnerable in the face of non-native predators like dogs. For instance, in the late 1980s, researchers found that a single German shepherd on the loose in New Zealand's Waitangi State Forest was responsible for killing up to 500 kiwis. The dog had a collar, but was unregistered, and its owner was not found.

In another example from 2006, 12 ownerless dogs were thought to be wiping out populations of the endangered Fijian ground frog on the tiny Viwa Island. The Fijian villagers' solution was to "befriend" the dogs by feeding them scraps of food. Ten of the canines were eventually tamed and shipped off the island and the remaining two were killed.

The researchers note that much of the scientific literature on the problems posed by dogs focuses not on conservation issues, but health risks to humans. While canine rabies has been eradicated in the United States, dogs are responsible for nearly all of the 55,000 rabies deaths that occur worldwide, mostly in Asia and Africa. And rabies can disrupt wildlife, too, the researchers said, noting that dogs have been blamed for spreading the disease among several other animal species in Africa, including the extremely rare Ethiopian wolf .

"Despite the increasing recognition of the potential problem dogs may create for wildlife, few solutions to conservation issues were offered by the literature reviewed, particularly to non-disease related problems," Hughes and Macdonald write. "Local people and authorities may be reluctant to undertake dog population management or control because of the close nature of dog-human relationships, aversion to the methods that may be used to remove dogs" — like poisoning and shooting the feral ones — "lack of adequate alternative care options, and perceived prohibitive costs of action."

Their research was detailed last month in the journal Biological Conservation."

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Sounds as if we have another species to add to the list with feral hogs. Vet told me to always wear protection when handling a wild hog carcus.

 

[creekbend]

When I was around 15 years old, I was rabbit hunting with my Father. Suddenly there appeared a pack of 5 wild dogs. I call them "Wild Dogs" because they were domesticated breeds that were running wild. They began to approach us, growling. As they move closer, we realized that their intentions were not friendly. My Father shot the Leader. The dogs only stopped momentarily and began running toward us again. Only after I shot the second dog, did the pack scatter. They were not scared of us in the least way. They were fearless.

 

[toppop52]

I was raised in northeastern NC and wild dogs were always something you had to watch for, more so at night while coon hunting or going to your still, LOL. But seriously, they were more a problem then than hogs, we had wild hogs but not a huge population and there were no coyotes there then. The few Red Wolves were no threat at all, black bears were a big fear but not much threat overall, very dangerous but not often confrontational, the occasional cougar was so rare as to hardly be thought of. An old weak bobcat could get testy when they were hungry and wanted the rabbit you just shot.

 

[DieselnHooters]

My black lab got loose twice, the first time it came back to the house with a snout full of porcupine quills = costly trip to the vet

the 2nd time I found him shot dead 20 acres from the house, I dont fault the shooter at all....stupid dog

 

[dmccarty]

When I lived in KY, there was at least one person killed by wild dogs.

When we were looking for buy land we were talking to a man who was at least 80 years old and who was selling some family land. The man was a chicken farmer and oh my word he stunk of chicken scat. :shocked: :laughing::laughing::laughing: The land he was selling was two parcels subdivided into 50 acres each. On parcel was farm land and the other had outbuildings and the farmhouse his father built around 1900. The seller was born in that farm house. As we talked the old man said that every year or so the farmers would get together and go hunting for wild dogs. They would wait until the wild dog population got to a be bothersome and then they would shoot as many as they could.

The timber agent we used to sell our timber was treed for hours by a pack of wild dogs when he was cruising timber down east. That was the last time he went into the woods without a pistol.

I have only seen a few dogs, both individuals and in packs, on our place and I always challenge the dogs. So far they have all been fearful and ran away without showing any aggression. If they had shown any aggressiveness, I would have shot them. More people are killed and injured by domestic dogs than coyotes and wolves...

Later,
Dan

 

[/pine]

They should trap wild dogs and release them in areas that have feral cats....when the cats have all been eaten shoot the dogs...

 

[boggen]

the issue, is *ugly* seen way to many "drop offs". and folks just letting there animals run free, to point it gets down to, just folks ganging up, and hitting the areas packed with ammo.

 

[turnkey4099]

Here, and it should be everywhere, dogs running loose should be fair game to be shot. I took several "dogs chasing my animals" calls when on dispatch. They seemed to be shocked when I told them to shoot them. "I can do that!!??". Yes indeed you can.

Best 'pay back' i had was 3 rotties that got loose, killed a kria and injured momma so bad she had to be put down. The landowner shot the dogs on the spot. Dog owner was contacted by deputy and told the ugly truth. That woman called dispatch, I answered and she asked if she could find out who the owner was. "ma'am, the deputy to who contacted you _was_ the owner".

Harry K

 

[dmccarty]

I am rereading the James Herriot books. These books are sorta autobiographical about a vet working in the Yorkshire dales in the UK starting just before WWII. There are a series of books and a TV series that started in the late 70's. If I had read the books earlier in life, I would have been a vet...

Anywho, there was a story I was reading last night about an couple who stopped their car near some sheep and let their Alsatian aka German Shepard Dog run loose. The GSD chased the sheep and danged near killed them all. The chase caused the sheep to pass out and only a quick injection saved them. I think it as Magnesium. The owner almost lost 50 sheep because the dog ran them. Of course the people and dog had gotten in their car and drove off leaving the mess for the sheep herder. The story was from at least 50 years ago.

Later,
Dan