Dec. 21–Managing invasive species of animals is not an easy job, something Will Ricks of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Game Management Division knows well.
When invasive wildlife is introduced into an area that is not its natural habitat, it is nearly impossible to eradicate, and poses huge challenges to resource managers, such as Ricks.
“There’s really not a place they don’t intrude,” he said.
Invasive species can be so damaging because without natural food sources and habitats, they must adapt to what is there.
In turn, that means the new habitat’s native species may not be prepared to deal with the additional competition or to bounce back from habitat destruction the invasive species may cause.
Feral hogs, Ricks says, offer, perhaps, the best example.
Whether it is on public or private land, Ricks says a herd of hogs’ propensity to root in the soil and feed heavily on native plants can throw off the ecological balance and food chain in an area.
In addition, the damage they cause to yards can lead to expensive landscape repairs for property owners.
Ricks says invasive wildlife in Glynn County comes in many forms, but four particular species tend to cause the most problems for property owners and resource managers, even if they are not species monitored and managed by DNR.
The annoying four:
1. Feral hogs — Considered to be one of the most problematic species in Coastal Georgia, hogs cause significant ecological and, in some cases, economic damage to public and private property.
The highly adaptable animals are extremely destructive in the way they wallow in the soil to keep cool in summer, because they lack a functional sweat gland. The wallowing can destroy large areas of land, killing crops and decimating native plants that other animals rely on for food. They also compete with native animals for food.
A non-native species to North America, feral hogs are believed to have been introduced in the 1500s by early European explorers, such as Hernando de Soto, as a food source. Those on St. Simons Island are probably descendants of hogs brought to the island in the mid-1700s by settlers of Fort Frederica and of pre-Civil War plantation hogs.
Managing feral hog populations is difficult, because hogs can produce as many as three litters a year, meaning populations grow exponentially. That is why hunting and trapping are the best methods for hog removal from an area.
Hunters are encouraged to take hogs in Georgia to help control populations. On private land, there is no closed season for hunting feral hogs and no bag limit, Ricks said.
2. Coyotes — Despite their image as a smaller cousin of the wolf, coyotes pose little threat to humans. They are mostly shy and timid animals that wish to remain unseen. But as coyotes become more and more tolerant of human interaction, they pose risks to small pets and small livestock and poultry.
Because of the territories in which they make their homes, coyotes can be difficult to control. As omnivores, coyotes are known to prey not only on small animals, but also to forage on native plant species and to disrupt natural ecosystems.
To avoid losing a small pet to a coyote, bring it indoors at night, as that is a coyote’s primary hunting time. If a pet must be kept outside, ensure that it is properly fenced-in for protection.
Like feral hogs, there is no closed season for hunting coyotes on private land.
3. Feral cats — Hunting feral cats is not legal, but that does not mean they do not create big problems for residents of the Golden Isles.
Ricks says his game management division is not in the practice of managing feral cats, but the negative effects they can have on small native mammal, reptile and bird populations is noticeable.
“Feral cats sometimes kill for fun, without consuming their prey,” Ricks said.
Feral cats also multiply quickly, so spaying or neutering household outdoor cats or keeping cats indoors can help prevent unwanted matings with feral cats.
4. Fire ants — An invasive species that is easy to overlook because of its tiny size, fire ants have long been problematic for many people in the Southern United States. Some estimates put the amount of money spent annually on medical treatment, damage and control efforts for the red, imported fire ant, in particular, at about $5 billion.
In addition to the nuisance fire ants cause in people’s yards and in agricultural situations, fire ants are a threat to young birds in their nests, especially those that nest on the ground, Ricks said.
Fire ants build large mounds, live in huge colonies and are known to swarm with painfully stinging bites.
Fire ants can be combatted with commercially available insecticides, but for bad infestations, a pest control company may be required, Ricks said.
— Reporter Michael Hall writes about public safety, environment and other local topics. Contact him at [email protected], on Facebook or at 265-8320, ext. 320.