.223 Rem and prairie dogs (gophers)

[Art Eatman]

Before this degenerates into any squabble about good/bad, first read about the natural controls of prairie dog populations which no longer exist as they once did. The black-footed ferret is a good starting point. Raptor numbers is another. A third would be that of coyote control favoring livestock, against no control for prairie dog predation.

Complex. "I feel" or "I think" serves no useful purpose for farmers and ranchers--or for those who shop at the grocery store.

 

[short barrel]

I wonder who kept them in check before Europeans invaded the west.

Guess what? There was no need. They are not an invasive species. We are.

Warm and fuzzy? Yep, that's me. To the devil with crops and cows. Too many species have been wiped out or all but wiped out for the sake of a stupid stinking cow.

 

[Art Eatman]

Aw, now, short barrel, you mean to tell me that you would deny the pleasure of the good eats at a hamburger joint or a steak house? Snatch the milk right out of a baby's mouth? No more ice cream?

Oh, the horror of it all!

Next thing you know, somebody will say that we should let the moles and rabbits eat all they want from Granny's Garden. They were here first, right? Who needs veggies, anyhow?

 

[Davek1977]

They are not an invasive species. We are.

However true that may be, there is no going back at this point, and as such, things will need to be done differently to control populations than before the dawn of man. You can wax poetic about how things should be or would be ideally if we didn't exist, but I prefer to dwell inn the reality of the hand we've been dealt and play my cards accordingly.

I'm no biologist and cannot tell you what they might do for the system that will work fine without them being shot.

Ok, so you don't know WHY we shouldn't kill them, despite the reasoning given by those that have some experience in the area, but you know we shouldn't? That's a unique position to take, if I do say so myself.

 

[Art Eatman]

Eh, well, that horse won't go any farther, no matter how much we beat on it.