Post #395,126
9/29/14 10:41:56 PM
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World wildlife populations halved in 40 years - report
A hard thing to 'average'.
The global loss of species is even worse than previously thought, the London Zoological Society (ZSL) says in its new Living Planet Index.
The report suggests populations have halved in 40 years, as new methodology gives more alarming results than in a report two years ago.
The report says populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish have declined by an average of 52%.
Populations of freshwater species have suffered an even worse fall of 76%.
Severe impact
Compiling a global average of species decline involves tricky statistics, often comparing disparate data sets.
Seen from space, man-made stuff is all grey. It's dead, Jim.
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Post #395,139
9/30/14 11:31:10 AM
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Yea, but there are still too many raccoons . . .
. . here in the "Urban Forest".
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Post #395,146
10/1/14 2:55:31 AM
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To their credit (they're still wanton-killing creeps)
they've evolved (mentally) sufficiently to apply their acrobatic talents within our artificial environment, figuring out lots of latches, high-wire entries into attics etc.
Were they not such murdering bastards, they's be admirable, no? (kInda like a %certain of bipeds, one might say.)
At least (too) while we can't grok why they're murderous--they don't claim they're doin it for Jeebus or Alllah; does that merit any points?
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Post #395,150
10/1/14 6:26:30 AM
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Think cats can take them as Next Dominant Species?
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Post #395,159
10/1/14 10:10:15 AM
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Nope.
The cats on our deck defer to Mother Raccoon as she raids their food bowls. Regards,
-scott
Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
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Post #395,161
10/1/14 10:14:25 AM
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Not a chance.
Raccoons are bigger, meaner, have much better manipulative skills and at least rudimentary organizational skills.
The only advantage cats have (if separated from the humans they depend upon) is that they can run faster.
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Post #395,163
10/1/14 10:22:58 AM
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Plus they're already bipedal.
Regards,
-scott
Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
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Post #395,195
10/2/14 1:53:31 AM
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Perfect timing, that!
Just last night, as my motion detector beeped I saw just a flash of one scooting by in that Mode; for a few sec I thought it something New! on the scene. Took a bit to see that This raccoon was goin tip-toes. I note that the eyes seem more slanted--a hybrid in the mix?
Most of the ones here do the quadra-hump-bump (they have big butts, which is why they can't jump very well: some set-up feeding stations for ferals which require a modest leap for a cat/Rocky Raccoon can't follow.) My gravel-throwing countermeasures seem to have reduced their forays--especially when I score one hard on that big butt: have had a week or more of their absence.
I also don't see them ever in daylight, usually deep dusk or later.
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Post #395,207
10/2/14 11:01:50 AM
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Around here, they're usually a little before dawn.
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Post #395,152
10/1/14 7:48:52 AM
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Heh
"Too many" is a problem that will solve itself when the urban forest ceases to provide sufficient food for the raccoon population or a predator appears that enjoys the taste of tender raccoon fillets.
There probably aren't enough, if they're still multiplying.
Stop complaining and start predating!
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