Exotic species invade your yard-

[Normy]

I gave this thread this name to bring attention. I have had a HUGE problem with feral iguana's eating my expensive decorative plants for the past three years here in Fort Lauderdale. Now it turns out that escaped pets are not only eating my yard...they are chasing off game fish and they can even kill a person who inadvertantly brushes up against them!

I had a "Lionfish" as a pet for about a day in 1976. I was 10 years old, and a neighbor closed out his aquarium and since he and my mom were good friends...suddenly I come home from my 6th grade class and my 10 gallon is full of odd fish! My own pets were hiding under the rocks, totally unprepared for the onslaught from the newcomers. One of the fish was a "lionfish", which has spines going everywhere, and is poisonous. If you are stupid enough to try to grab something like this~

There was no way that 10 gallon could have successfully held all those fish. I knew it, but my mom didn't have a clue. Well, the tank had no top, and the first week 6 fish commited suicide by jumping out of the tank. One of them was the lionfish. Actually, he was the first. My mom, [of course....] was the person who told me that the fish had died. She did this by pointing out that he was laying dead on the floor behind my dad's chair in the living room. And of course since the aquarium was mine it meant that the fish was "mine", and the ***** told me that it was my job to remove it from the floor, dispose of it, and clean the carpet.

The reason the damn thing was in my aquarium to begin with was because she acquiesced and let Joan put her kid's fish in my tank. I KNOW my mom...I chose not to fight about this one.

Anyway, feral pets destroy natural habitats. Here's a lionfish write-up:

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"Top scientists are warning about an impending invasion of a poisonous fish into South Florida's waters.

The lionfish, a native of the Pacific Ocean, is both gorgeous and dangerous. Many people may have never seen a lionfish in the waters surrounding Florida, but that will soon change.

Scientists don't use the word "invasion" lightly, but that's exactly what they are predicting of the exotic-looking lionfish.

The poisonous tips on the lionfish's fins could present a danger to people who swim, dive or work in South Florida waters.



Related links
Danger areas of deadly lionfish Photo
Government's 'Have You Seen Me' flyer on dangers of lionfish to divers, fishermen & others
What to do if you get stung by a lionfish
From YouTube: Lionfish hunter Aquarium manager Anthony Bartolome said he has been stung five times by lionfish.

"It pretty much burns like fire," Bartolome said.

The pain from a lionfish sting lasts for about 15 to 20 minutes. The lionfish's sting is so serious it can send victims to the hospital and even kill them.

"There is no anti-venom for this," said Lad Akins, executive director of Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).

Experts are so concerned about the impending invasion of lionfish they are desperately trying to warn the public.

"They're also very bold fish, especially in this new Atlantic range where it appears that they have few, if any, predators," Akins stated.

Lionfish have no predators because they do not belong in the Atlantic Ocean. There is nothing here to eat them or stop them from eating Florida's reef fish.

When lionfish grow too big, aquarium owners begin dumping the fish right into the Atlantic Ocean.

Now they are breeding at a rapid pace, experts said.

Scientists and volunteers are feverishly trying to fight the invasion of lionfish.

To do this, they are studying -- and killing -- the lionfish, now found in both deep and shallow water.

Experts believe lionfish in the Bahamas and in Cancun, Mexico, will, as larvae, make their way to Florida on the ocean currents.

Once established, they will start destroying reefs and throwing the ecosystem out of balance.

This change will threaten the lobster, grouper, snapper and many more animals that call these waters their home.

New studies headed by Mark Hixon of Oregon State University are about to be published in a peer-reviewed science journal found one lionfish can deplete 79 percent of a reef in just five weeks.

That means coral ecology dies and algae takes over.

"You know the potential is there for it to be devastating," said Tom Jackson with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Jackson's job is to track invasive species and creatures that can sometimes change and destroy a vital ecosystem.

His personal opinion is it would be best to ban the sale of lionfish completely.

"In 2003, nearly 8,000 were imported to Tampa alone, 8,000. You only need 15 or 20 in one area to create a population," Jackson said.

Volunteers are being recruited to help stop the invasion of this species into the South Florida waters.

More articles

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[TimT]

Yes I have an exotic species that has invaded my yard..

I think there is fescue, zoysia,bluegrass, etc..... Pain in the ASS..... I have to deal with it every week in the spring and summer

[Super_Dave_D]

Oh no feral iguana's!!!! I sure hope they dont make it this far north!!! I would hate to see something compete against the deer and armadillos!!!! The deer eat every damn thing and the armadillos dig up the yard like crazy!!

[Jims5543]

I can loan you my son and his pellet gun for a few days to take care of that Iguana problem.


That Lion Fish thing is scary though I hope its a sensationalized article and not accurate.

[JV911SYDNEY]

Originally Posted by Normy

they can even kill a person who inadvertantly brushes up against them!

really...how???

Originally Posted by Normy

Anyway, feral pets destroy natural habitats.

+1 gagillion

huge prob here in aus with feral cats and foxes, cane toads etc etc ETC

rabbits and foxes were introduced so they could be hunted but the popluations got out of control...BIG TIME. we've had some success bringing the rabbits under control with various diseases and foxes with poisons

cane toads as yes appear unstoppable

[silverc4s]

Good remedy for deer eating your plants and flowers is to mix Tabasco sauce and water about 1:10 in a spray bottle and spray it on your plants every day or two. It won't hurt the plants and most critters won't eat it...

Note: No feral Iguanas here in Austin as yet, but I know this works with most mammals..

[masraum]

Originally Posted by JV911SYDNEY

+1 gagillion

huge prob here in aus with feral cats and foxes, cane toads etc etc ETC

cane toads as yet appear unstoppable

I saw a show on some of the feral animals that are causing problems in Aus. The Cane Toads in particular seemed really bad. They are poisonous and can kill local animals that try to eat them or pets that attack them. In the show that I saw, it said that they were brought in to eat the cane beetle. The problem is that cane toads are nocturnal and the cane beetle is diurnal. Someone didn't do their homework.

[TerryBPP]

I'm hearing that escaped Burmese pythons are taking over the everglades too. Pretty scary to think that there are 20' long snake out there along with alligators and skunk apes .

[carnutzzz]

Originally Posted by TerryBPP

I'm hearing that escaped Burmese pythons are taking over the everglades too. Pretty scary to think that there are 20' long snake out there along with alligators and skunk apes .

The skunk apes aren't so bad- keep to themselves mostly. I got stranded overnight in the 'glades and stayed-up late playing poker with a skunk-ape named "Maury". That guy could drink. Took me for $50 too.

[TerryBPP]

Originally Posted by carnutzzz

The skunk apes aren't so bad- keep to themselves mostly. I got stranded overnight in the 'glades and stayed-up late playing poker with a skunk-ape named "Maury". That guy could drink. Took me for $50 too.

Maury is good ape. Does my taxes.

[JV911SYDNEY]

Originally Posted by masraum

The problem is that cane toads are nocturnal and the cane beetle is diurnal. Someone didn't do their homework.

yep, plus the beetles live in the top of the cane where the toads cant reach them! the toads decided the local wildlife was tastier and easier to catch...they'll eat pretty much anything from other frogs/toads to rodents to dog food