It's a nice video, for sure. I'm not too convinced that this snake will surely wipe out the lizards, though - more often than not, an alternative equilibrium sets in. A predator without food is a dead predator. That doesn't mean it couldn't happen or that it's a good thing to have them, and the comparison with Guam should cause worry for sure. That being said, I doubt that eradication is achievable in this case. Just look at the habitat - it's so reminiscent of California deserts and full of shelter. Doing nothing is probably worse and they do show some interesting methods in the video, but there may be more useful ways to spend Life money? But, yeah, invasives are a hot topic. Habitat loss of native species is so much more boring. Acknowledging that rats and cats have created much bigger problems for centuries on Gran Canaria and elsewhere is too, I guess.
Another thing, the guy saying that we need to worry about the threat these snakes pose on frogs, needs to check his facts. The frogs are non-native and the snake is unlikely to eat them.
If crazy Dutchmen want to see a not-ugly-albino getula (the californiae split is still debated, as far as I know) "in the wild", I can buy them one in a shop at 1km from my home and release it in my garden so they don't have to fly all the way to the Canaries. Hey, wait a minute... wasn't that what someone did with Elaphe schrenckii?
Joking aside, I wish people got fined heavily for deliberately (or even by neglect) releasing animals.
I realise that what I wrote may be provocative. I'd love to read other people's opinions.
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 9:46 am
