HTML Copyright © 2001-2003, awsltd.netTHE THREAT OF INVASIVE SPECIES
A meeting was held by the National Invasive Species Strategy (NISS) Project on 6th February at Mackerel’s Restaurant in Dundas Town, Abaco, where Stacey Moultrie gave an address to over three dozen concerned citizens.
Ms. Moultrie defined invasive species as non-native pests, weeds and pathogens which could lead to the loss of native species and resources. She pointed out that the US has spent over $71.4 million to contain water hyacinths, just one species.
On the Casuarina, or Australian pine, she noted that eradication of a single tree would cost the Bahamas government $600. The Casuarina releases toxins into the soil and prevents the growth of competitive plants. In hurricanes the shallow-rooted Casuarinas topple easily and create problems. It was pointed out that in isolated areas of south Abaco it was only the Casuarina that gave beachside relief from the sun.
Of course, the subject of dogs came up. Ms. Moultrie reminded the company at hand that a woman had been killed by a pack of dogs last year in Nassau. An estimated 80,000 stray dogs inhabit New Providence. The breeding of dogs is allowed even though the indeterminate Staffordshire terrier (Pit Bull) is otherwise banned.
Jill Wells of Pepperpot Farms (which has, not due to Jill, a magnificent stand of 30 foot tall Brazilian pepper trees at its entrance) pointed out that many exotic species were not very invasive and cast doubt on some species in a handout list from NISS, notably guava and sapodilla.
The discussion got serious when the word raccoon was mentioned. It was reported that as many as five raccoons at a time have been observed at S C Bootle High School trash cans in Coopers Town. Introduced from Grand Bahama, raccoons have made their way steadily down the slim portion of Abaco. Once they reach south Abaco they will find the nesting Bahama parrots.
Chairman for the evening David Knowles said that a programme needs to be implemented very soon because the raccoons introduced a very serious situation. Not only were raccoons a danger to parrots, they carried rabies.
It was suggested that coon dogs from the US could be imported to help in controlling the pest but Dr. Bailey, the local veterinarian, said that Coon Dog Paralysis would probably cause problems in the island canine community if introduced. There was general consent that Potcakes could easily be trained to become surrogate coon dogs until someone noted that two potcakes had been killed on Abaco by a single raccoon in a confrontation.
Chris Bergh of the Nature Conservancy in the Florida Keys was one of the last contributors to the meeting and he urged Abaconians to destroy what was already invasive on the island and urge Customs to take stringent measures to prevent any further introduction of aggressive exotic species. David Knowles had previously mentioned that he had heard people had foxes and exotic snakes as pets on Abaco.
The meeting came about because the British and Bahamian governments were looking for local input before implementing a programme to address the invasive species problem and it is believed that the evening on Abaco afforded a strong contribution to the project.