I agree that making changes in habitats is one of the primary causes of
the decline in native species. But there are factors not so readily
apparent. A good illustration is what took place in the past in Hawaii
and in some cases still taking place. The introduction of the European
hare to Laysan Islands around the turn of the century by guano diggers
who left a few years later resulted in the hares (rabbits) consuming
almost all the vegetation. To such extent that the hares themselves
starved: the few that were left were eliminated by a scientific party in
l923, but not before two endemic species became extinct and two others
came extremely close to becoming extinct. At last count there were over
l60 species of birds introduced over a period of more than l50 years.
Some introductions took: some didn't, but they and the introduced
mosquito introduced a number of avian diseases to endemic birds to which
those birds were very subsciptable and some species became extinct.
Exotic birds are found in the recesses of rain forests. Studies are now
going on to determine if exotic birds are depressing populations of the
endemics. The European boar was introduced, and they are found
throughout the rain forests where they destroy not only much of the
native vegetation but cause rain ponds which serve as an excellent
breeding area for mosquitos. Introduced predators such as the mongoose,
domestic cats and dogs roaming areas far removed from urban areas are
very hard on the Nene (Hawaiian Goose) and almost exterminated them. The
flightless Hawaiian Rail is now extinct because of predators. Decades
ago the white man gave the native Hawaiian feather hunters (feathers of
certain species were much in demand by the Mois and other royalty) the
shotgun. Voila, extinction of other species of birds. The introduction
of domestic cattle, sheep, goats and Axis deer have raised havoc with
the forests with the result that other species of birds were nearly
exterminated as much of the forests were changed to grazing areas. The
only two native animals were the Hawaiian Monk Seal and a solitary
forest dwelling bat. Every other mammal has been brought in. One
example, however, is the destruction of old Hawaiian fish ponds by
urbanization with the result that a pitiful low numbers exist, and the
four endemic water birds have been severly impacted.
Endemic plants, insects, crustaceans have also suffered because of
unwise introduction. Hawaii has 3l species of birds which are on the
Federal list as being endangered, 263 endangered plants with more coming
on the line continually. The thing I'm emphasizing that you introduce a
foreign organism to a new environment, you never can be sure that it may
not be a disaster. Incidentally, Washington has a total of l9 species.
Hawaii is one of the 50 states the same as Washington. A word to the
wise should be sufficient. Don't be too damned provincial. What the hell
does a palooka like me know. I put in l6 years in Hawaii as a biologist,
refuge manager, administrator and endangered species coordinator. I
won't get into what occurred in the rest of the central and west Pacific
Islands because I see the hook coming to jerk me off the stage.
Eugene Kridler
Sequim, Wa.





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