Hi Shawn
I should not have assumed owl baiters would choose not to divulge that they used a live mouse to lure in their owl subjects. I should not have accused them of concealing the tactic. That was my mistake. I apologize for this. Insults will get me nowhere.
I read your entire post. So, I ask that you please read this entirely:
I am a wildlife biologist.
1. It is widely accepted that the loss of habitat is the primary cause of the depletion of species worldwide.
As a species' habitat becomes compromised or removed entirely, it gradually moves toward being listed (Species of Special Concern, Threatened Species and Endangered Species...in order of increasing seriousness). In effect, it is the habitat that becomes endangered...and then the species.
Some species are much more habitat-selective (specialists) than others (generalists) and so the specialists are much more susceptible to depletion.
2. And probably the next most detrimental factor to the gradual demise of natural systems is the introduction of exotic species (not native to the system) that eventually become a problem...and so, are labelled "invasives". I think it is safe to say that we did not anticipate how big a problem invasives would come in North America (and anywhere else). Invasive species are rapidly becoming the next "nail in the coffin" (if you will) to our natural systems.
Our native systems (worldwide) took millennia to develop....but are being destroyed in well less than 2 centuries. And there is no indication at all that this trend is going to change.
Of course, man is the principle vector in moving species around the world. In the 40 years I have been involved with learning and trying to understand problems regarding man and nature....the problem of man moving species into systems they are not native to....has increased dramatically. We have not educated the public to the scope of the problem (partly because we do not fully understand it ourselves) and it is now overcoming native systems and "simplifying" them (again, if you will); i.e.
The stability of a natural system is directly related to the diversity of its native species.
I am starting to see that the introduction of exotic species into systems that have already become fragmented by man....is a potential coup de grace.
Let me give what I think is shaping up to be an apt example that directly and very negatively effects my "home":
1. The non-park forests of Northern Maine are being ravaged by the wood-fiber industry like never before. I use "wood-fiber" because I do not know all of the types of products being made/marketed from these trees.
Ok, legally, the law supposedly assures that the days of large clear cuts are over (Maine Forest Practices Act). But we all know that these things are very "flexible" depending on who has jurisdiction and who is doing the interpretation of the Act. One only needs to look at most current satellite imagery of northern Maine and compare it to past imagery to see the increased ravaging of the northern forest (please Google Earth northern Maine and look at current images and also make the selection that shows several previous years). I like to call the areas left behind these wood cutting operations....slash fields. I remember that the slash fields were about 1 to 2 feet deep back in the 1970's when I first worked that area. Now, the slash fields are as deep as mid-thigh. With Google Earth, you can see the massive corduroy effect of the commercial cutting operations.
2. About 20 years ago, northern Maine forests were being harvested at a rate of about 25,000 acres a year (just as an example). Today, that rate has increased to maybe 750,000 acres per year. And there is nothing (at all!!!!) to indicate that this rate is not going to continue to increase. It will. It is my opinion that this cutting will continue until the wood industry has stripped every bit of profit that they can from that formerly old forest. Hey, they can. They own it.
3. What is happening to Maine's boreal forest is a complex story and one that we will never fully understand. But it is not good.
4. Asiatic Bittersweet (ABS) is an exotic that stands to destroy our native forest trees. ABS is most prevalent along major arteries of human movement; i.e. Interstate 295 and the Maine Turnpike. ABS is already well-established at far north as Newport Maine. I predict that in well less than 10 years ABS will become well established in the northern forests that have been ravaged (and yes, that is a completely fair word to use here). The conditions are perfect for the establishment of ABS in northern Maine because the forest is so open now and the system is very stressed from the super-intense cutting. After ABS becomes very well established it is going to be a mess that will require millions of dollars to correct and in fact, will probably never be able to be corrected.
This is just one example of the problems caused by exotic species. I use it here because it is going to greatly, negatively impact the quality of my outdoor experience in northern Maine for the rest of my life.
Shawn, it is getting late for me this evening. Because of my winter responsibilities, I see that I do not have time now to continue on with this. I think you can see where this is going. I will leave you with just a few things and then continue with this later: You mentioned the House Mouse. I did not know that this is the species that is being sold at pet shops for baiting owls. Is it? It is my understanding that the House Mouse (Mus spp.) is not native to North America (although it is very well-established). And this is my point. I assure you that our native owls are not discriminating as to what species of rodent that is being offered to them by baiters. Although I do not suggest that you are. But it does not matter what rodent species you use to bait owls with. You baiters could be feeding them rats from Africa (literally!) and they will kill and eat them.
Pet shops must not be trusted to self-regulate. Of course that comment sets me up for pet shop owners to be offended. But I am sorry; I know from personal experience that the comment is accurate. I am sure most are very responsible. But it is not their job to determine what would be detrimental to natural systems (if released) and what would not.
It is the responsibility of the Fish and Wildlife Agency in each state to regulate these pet shops. And I am sure many are not up to speed yet.
The spread of exotic species is an enormous problem.....and getting worse.
I have found a few references and will continue on with this issue after I take care of my responsibilities here and then get fully rested again. This all was quickly written and so I may have to correct a few things later.
For now.....thanks for tuning in.
Robert King
http://itsaboutnature.net