I agree Mary Ann, this is how the terms have been used before in my experience as well, but I don't know that that means the useages were correct. In Pennsylvania, when I was living there last year, a number of plant species were listed as locally extirpated, but could be found elsewhere (say, parts of NJ, NY or DE), so weren't extinct. Just gone from PA.

And I just went to www.thesaurus.com and they do not list the word 'extirpated', only 'extirpate'. And although extinct and extirpate can have similar synonyms, they are not listed as synonyms for each other. They also list extirpate as a verb meaning "destroy" and extinct as an adjective meaning "dead". And Joe's contention (see below) for displacement is valid, as it is a verb meaning "moved" or "deposed".

So, I hope this clears up any confusion brought on when Joe tried to clear things up before. But that is not a slam on you Joe, as I appreciate the differing view that made me look up the two words online. So, IMHO, one can locally extirpate a species without making them extinct, but calling them 'displaced' may be equally valid, depending on the species in question. Clear as mud now? God I love the English language - makes things soo easy! LOL

Brett A. Wolfe
Seattle, WA (in San Joaquin Valley for summer 2005)
m_lincolnii at yahoo.com


Mary Ann Chapman <machapman at the-mkt-edge.com> wrote:
Joe --

For my thirty years of birding, I have always heard "extirpated" used to mean a species no longer occurred in a specified region (perhaps had been totally driven out?) as opposed to "extinct". Regional species lists frequently list species that are alive and kicking somewhere else but are "extirpated" in that region. I have always heard the Passenger Pigeon described as "extinct", never as "extirpated".

Mary Ann Chapman
Seattle

At 06:58 PM 6/6/2005, Joemeche at aol.com wrote:
All,

Someone has to step forward and put this thread into proper perspective. OK, I'll do it!
"Extirpation" means total loss or destruction or extermination; e.g., the extirpation of the Passenger Pigeon.
This discussion is more about species that have been displaced from parts of their historical ranges for one reason or other and the possibility of reintroduction. If the birds you're talking about have been "extirpated," we're not having this discussion. We cannot reintroduce that which has been extirpated, unfortunately.

Cheers,
Joe Meche
Bellingham, WA
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