Tiny Boidae
01-10-16, 08:04 PM
This is not a discussion I hope I'd have to have with anyone on this site, but an alarming number of people around the world have no idea how delicate a scale nature is, or how it would affect them. Too often you see those commercials who give voices to the cute and fluffy animals, and not long ago I remember the NBA advertising the protection of large, endangered African mammals such as rhinos and elephants. This is fine and dandy, but it's much harder for people to donate money towards the protection of reptiles, fish, and insects. I'd like this thread to be an eye opener as to how snakes are important to not only the environment, but our economy and health as well.
Back in 1993, Southern Australia was knee-deep in trouble as an infamous plague swarmed farmers. Mice populations had exploded preceding weather patterns that brought in what could have been millions of dollars in crops, triggering a swarm of rodents to flood the countryside.
The mice destroyed crops and property, as well as endangered the health of the people who came in contact with them. The balance was upset, and this was the result. There was virtually no competition for the rodents, with too few of predators or grain-munching animals to help right the scale, their numbers added up quickly. One video in particular was heavily publicized, which was a home video released by Ann Venning opening the door to her barn. Mice were piled at least a foot high, and were pouring out of the doorway as water might. Inside, they were so desperate for food that the pigs were being eaten alive, and, as she commented later, "It was just the worst thing I've ever gone through and I think if it ever came again I would probably move away permanently or burn the farm."
(BBC Two - Nature's Weirdest Events, Series 1, Episode 1, The mouse plague (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00msr3y)
A link to a video depicting this event)
It wasn't until the government stepped in and dispersed rat poison via plane that the problem slowly dissipated. It killed the rodents, but did an equal amount of harm to other wildlife in the area as well as potentially poisoning any nearby water. The damage was already done though, with 500,000 tons of wheat eaten by the rodents and, on top of that, they'd caused approximately $96 million dollars worth in damage. Additionally, the mental and physical trauma placed on those who were affected by the plague caused hospitalizations and cases of rumored suicides.
More recently, in 2011, a similar plague of mice hit Southern Australia again, although this time farmers were more prepared to deal with the oncoming onslaught. This time around, it caused around $300 million dollars in damage as the rodents chewed through equipment, homes, and food.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCOorXAjVno
Australia is infamous for its mouse infestations, but lesser incidents also have recently occurred in China, Germany, and California to name a few. The damage, both in health and economical perspectives, is astonishing. All the time I hear "Well if snakes were gone mice would be everywhere" when arguing for the snake's benefits, although I've never seen anyone bring up incidences where mouse populations have exploded, and without them it's hard for other people to gauge the legitimacy of their worth. So, in a hypothetical situation, if all of the snakes were suddenly erased from the world, you'll have bigger problems than buying your next handbag.
Back in 1993, Southern Australia was knee-deep in trouble as an infamous plague swarmed farmers. Mice populations had exploded preceding weather patterns that brought in what could have been millions of dollars in crops, triggering a swarm of rodents to flood the countryside.
The mice destroyed crops and property, as well as endangered the health of the people who came in contact with them. The balance was upset, and this was the result. There was virtually no competition for the rodents, with too few of predators or grain-munching animals to help right the scale, their numbers added up quickly. One video in particular was heavily publicized, which was a home video released by Ann Venning opening the door to her barn. Mice were piled at least a foot high, and were pouring out of the doorway as water might. Inside, they were so desperate for food that the pigs were being eaten alive, and, as she commented later, "It was just the worst thing I've ever gone through and I think if it ever came again I would probably move away permanently or burn the farm."
(BBC Two - Nature's Weirdest Events, Series 1, Episode 1, The mouse plague (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00msr3y)
A link to a video depicting this event)
It wasn't until the government stepped in and dispersed rat poison via plane that the problem slowly dissipated. It killed the rodents, but did an equal amount of harm to other wildlife in the area as well as potentially poisoning any nearby water. The damage was already done though, with 500,000 tons of wheat eaten by the rodents and, on top of that, they'd caused approximately $96 million dollars worth in damage. Additionally, the mental and physical trauma placed on those who were affected by the plague caused hospitalizations and cases of rumored suicides.
More recently, in 2011, a similar plague of mice hit Southern Australia again, although this time farmers were more prepared to deal with the oncoming onslaught. This time around, it caused around $300 million dollars in damage as the rodents chewed through equipment, homes, and food.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCOorXAjVno
Australia is infamous for its mouse infestations, but lesser incidents also have recently occurred in China, Germany, and California to name a few. The damage, both in health and economical perspectives, is astonishing. All the time I hear "Well if snakes were gone mice would be everywhere" when arguing for the snake's benefits, although I've never seen anyone bring up incidences where mouse populations have exploded, and without them it's hard for other people to gauge the legitimacy of their worth. So, in a hypothetical situation, if all of the snakes were suddenly erased from the world, you'll have bigger problems than buying your next handbag.