Thread: Northland deer (again)

Originally Posted by imaca

Deer aren't predators though

I don't think anyone suggested they were???

Originally Posted by MB

I don't think anyone suggested they were???

Its called predator free NZ but apparently includes possums, rabbits, goats and deer. While these are pests, they are not predators (despite DoCs photoshopping a possum with feathers in its mouth.....)

There are only two ways I can see that would actually get us to the end goal....and both are cases of cure is worse than the disease.

1) Bio control- Modifying a disease or similar to target a specific species. Sounds promising ....until you put thought into it....This is how we got mustilids (released to hunt rabbits which were their natural prey in the homeland - but quickly found our natives easier to catch and eat...) and how we nearly got mountain lions to control deer (until a local pointed out deer run faster than sheep and mountain lions have a hankering for easy mutton too...)
The real big problem with this genetic control however is much scarier than a new import. The hard part is getting a disease or similar to target a specific species such as possums. BUT once this is done, it is much much easier to alter it to target something else.....deer goats etc...now if it gets into the wrong hands you can add people to that list and you have changed a biological control into a WMD....And no one wants this.

2) total reset / clean slate- wipe out every living thing in an area the start again with a clean slate reintroducing the native flora and fauna making sure the undesirables stay out but lets face it, what we have now is already better than that solution......even with the pests...

What does really get my goat though is we have Tahr listed as a pest by the likes of twigs n tweets, but this population is probably the only healthy population of tahr left in the world.....If we get rid of them, they will likely be an endangered species as their current original population is in decline. Similar with possums....They are protected in Aussie....if Ozzie really wants them, they should come and get some- our population is healthy and thriving......