After seeing so many disastrous results as a result of introductions,
I'm dead against them.

Of course there are cases of accidental introductions as witness the
Brown Tree Snake in Guam which have exterminated all but a few native
birds. The estimate now is that there are close to 2 million Snakes on
that island and trying to control them is like trying to bail out the
ocean with a teaspoon. Maybe a method will be forthcoming to control
them, maybe not.

The introduction of mongooses to Hawaii to control Black, Polynesian and
Norway (Brown) Rats in sugar cane fields was a disaster, too. The
mongoose is primarily diurnal and the rats nocturnal. Oh, if they came
across a nest of rats, they would do what they were supposed to do. But
being hungry, they turned to other prey. The flightless Hawaiian Rail
(Moho), among things.

Rats. Introduced accidentally by ancient Polynesians and the Black and
Norway rats accidentally by the ships of seafarers like whalers and,
dare I say it, those carrying missionaries. Black Rats being climbers,
preyed on the nests of native birds. Also preyed on the beautiful small
land snail (whose scientific name Achitnella means little jewell) of
some 500 species. Brother Rat eliminated close to 250. Then there was
the snail Euglandia introduced somehow and they also prey on the endemic
snails. I could go on and on.

There will be more accidental introductions with the rapid means of
transportation like the airplane, commercial and military, coming from
all over the world. It is impossible to inspect thoroughly baggage,
cargo and planes and ships. Military planes and ships? Forget it. Then
the tourist, ah, the tourist, trying to sneak in prohibited animals and
plants. When you catch them, they trace your genealogy back to worms.
Just ask them; better yet, don't ask: don't tell. You damned Federal
beauracrat ****!!!!!!#####You leech on the public payroll, there's you
tax eaters hassling us taxpayers., I pay your salary! (And they were not
only men)

Man, the Naked Ape, has monumental conceit. He drinks when he's not
thirsty, eats when he's not hungry, breeds at all times of the year and
kills his own kind by the millions.

Some years ago a fellow wrote to our regional office saying "Dear sir.
Please send me a mongoose, and while your at it, please send me
another." He didn't know the plural for mongoose. It is not mongeese but
mongooses. I daresay he's not alone.
Eugene Kridler
Squirm, Wa.