Copperopolis and the surrounding foothills have had an eco-system that has flourished nicely for thousands of years . . . without us. Included in this eco-system are many animals and birds that have now become “pests” since humans have decided to inhabit “our” community.
I was recently in a conversation with a friend and I was listening to him complain that he was overrun by the squirrel population . . . the area where he lives backs up to open fields. I reminded him that we as humans have NO tolerance for the squirrel’s natural predator the rattlesnake so we had eradicated the area of rattlers. Bang that big snake on the head with a shovel!!! So it’s no surprise at the explosion of the squirrel population. No rattlers . . . lots of squirrels.
The solution . . . poison the little rascals!!! How simple . . . except for the fact that when poisoning squirrels, gophers, mice or other vermin you may also selectively take out your beloved Golden Retriever. Or God forbid a child . . .
Poisoning rodents is dangerous. Poisoned gophers for instance are an easy meal for our hawks and turkey vultures. After the hawk eats the poisoned carcass the remaining strychnine, zinc phosphide, diphacinone or bromadiolone work just as well on the bird.
Oh and the driving force of these creatures is to hunt food and feed new babies . . . there goes the red tail hawk population . . . and any coyote that eats the hawk’s dead poisoned carcass. And so on and so on down the eco-system line goes the poison.
All because we moved to the foothills and we still want pretty green lawns like we had down on the flatlands with no gopher holes.
If you really are going to poison rodents . . . first get a professional. Mr. Homeowner throwing out poisoned seed is just plain dangerous . . . I liken this mentality to leaving a loaded handgun on the patio table. Both kill when not handled properly and not necessarily what you want to kill.
Take a look at that beautiful bird the next time a hawk flies over your yard or sits perched on a power line . . . his ancestors have been living here successfully for thousands of years in “our” community and I want my great, great grandchildren to enjoy this wonderful site in the future.
By, Mike Shevlin
I hope that people take heed to your message, Mike.
ReplyDeleteI too have been over run by the squirrels in Copper, however being the parent of 5 seeing the squirrels reminds that there are no rattle snakes and very happy, so I live with the squirrels. Thank you Mike for making this point. I would rather have the squirrels then poisons around for my kids to get into.
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