What bugs/diseases/critters have ya'll seen that weren't around 30-40 years ago?

[ponytug]

American elm and American chestnut would be high on my personal list. A relative is working on both, better progress on elms, but the chestnuts only make it to about ten feet or so.

There American chestnuts here in the San Francisco region because they are so far away from other American chestnuts that they haven't died yet, and I hope that they don't.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Jstpssng]

American elm and American chestnut would be high on my personal list. A relative is working on both, better progress on elms, but the chestnuts only make it to about ten feet or so.

There American chestnuts here in the San Francisco region because they are so far away from other American chestnuts that they haven't died yet, and I hope that they don't.

All the best,

Peter

I planted two chestnuts this year, after reading about helping them survive a little longer by putting mud packs over the blighted section.
One of them was infected when it was delivered, and too small to try the method.

Another, separate but related topic is bring back species that have been gone from a system for extended periods; wolves, Panthers, heck, white tail deer in some areas, bison, ect

Then beyond that, bring back extinct species...

Also, "non natives" that have been in an ecosystem for 250-5000 years, think horses/burros, hogs, camels, axis deer, dingos. At what point do you say, "the ecosystem of 1525 is not the ecosystem of 2025, and removing hogs (or burros/mustangs/whatever) damages what is Now an established ecosystem

It's all complex.

I may have mentioned it before in the thread but earthworms aren't native.

 

[lman]

Another, separate but related topic is bring back species that have been gone from a system for extended periods; wolves, Panthers, heck, white tail deer in some areas, bison, ect

Then beyond that, bring back extinct species...

Also, "non natives" that have been in an ecosystem for 250-5000 years, think horses/burros, hogs, camels, axis deer, dingos. At what point do you say, "the ecosystem of 1525 is not the ecosystem of 2025, and removing hogs (or burros/mustangs/whatever) damages what is Now an established ecosystem

It's all complex.

The biggest difference in the ecosystem between 1525 and now is the addition of the invasive species called humans.

 

[paulsharvey]

The biggest difference in the ecosystem between 1525 and now is the addition of the invasive species called humans.

Yeah, no. Maybe a different group of humans than then, but humans have been almost everywhere. I mean, American south west, mustangs, burros. America South East, hogs; every where on earth rats. Even dingos arent native to Australia, they came with the aboriginals, like 20,000 years ago or whatever.

Point is, removing dingos from Aust is clearly going to have a negative effect on their system, as what is there now, is not what was there before dingos. You pull hogs out of the SE Us, and you likely damage the system, which has had hogs since 1500s.

 

[paulsharvey]

Also, a lot in the news lately here in FLa, black bears. FWC approved a limited lottery hunt, first time in about 10 years. It's not facing a population problem, its all political. Folks are suing to prevent the hunting.

Point being, if FWCs scientists are saying black bears are good to hunt, that means the pop is largely doing well, and recovered.

Maybe this thread is partly negative, but a lot of it is about natural recovery, and species rebound in much of the country.

 

[lman]

Yeah, no. Maybe a different group of humans than then, but humans have been almost everywhere. I mean, American south west, mustangs, burros. America South East, hogs; every where on earth rats. Even dingos arent native to Australia, they came with the aboriginals, like 20,000 years ago or whatever.

Point is, removing dingos from Aust is clearly going to have a negative effect on their system, as what is there now, is not what was there before dingos. You pull hogs out of the SE Us, and you likely damage the system, which has had hogs since 1500s.

I think it would be hard to disagree that Walmarts, Data Centers, subdivisions, highways, etc. have had a bigger impact on the environment than the species you commented about.

 

[paulsharvey]

I think it would be hard to disagree that Walmarts, Data Centers, subdivisions, highways, etc. have had a bigger impact on the environment than the species you commented about.

Yeah, they have. Im just pointing out not all of this is doom and gloom. We have done a really good job with conservation, and many many species are rebounding. With that, we dont always want to return to "pre-columbian" numbers for everything. I dont live in Texas, but if i did, im not convinced I want Jaguars returning; if I was in Cali, I wouldn't want to return to pre-columbian population of Grizzlies. Sure, im not completely against getting eastern woodland bison back, but i would not want to see numbers even in the 100,000 range, let alone the 1M+ estimated pre-columbian.

We have the gopher turtle, that is allegedly endangered, around here. Im not preaching for them to go extinct, but... they are a general pain when mixed with people; digging holes in pastures/fields, providing homes for snakes/rodents in their burrows, ect. So, if i could wave a magic wand and completely restore them; aint no way...

 

[paulsharvey]

I haven't "heard" of any major issues with the elk reintroduction, so im guessing that is largely going well. I know the populations are doing pretty well, and I assume no news on negatives is good news?

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I haven't "heard" of any major issues with the elk reintroduction, so im guessing that is largely going well. I know the populations are doing pretty well, and I assume no news on negatives is good news?

Unless you live in Virginia, the wildlife folks there declared the Elk a "Deer" and are eligible for white tail rules. Seems they don't want them there.

 

[MossRoad]

I wonder what an elk VS deer car collision would be in terms of damage?