Re: [Maine-birds] Long- tail Weasel

Ken, et al,
I feel a need to comment on this, because the idea that trapping native predators is good for prey is a simplistic and outdated philosophy.

It's just never that simple: in the case of Long-tailed Weasels, yes, they do eat some birds and their nests, but they also kill occasional nest predators such as chipmunks and Red Squirrels. They also hunt mice, including White-footed Mouse that is the primary vector of Lyme's Disease.

In other words, I don't think it's helpful - in fact, it may be rather counter-productive - to remove such native critters that play an important role in the balance of the food web.

Now, if you - or anyone else - truly wants to help songbirds, there is one simple thing you can do: trap (and do not release) the only non native, invasive predator that kills BILLIONS of birds each year. You all know the one I mean (but please send hate mail and off-line).

-Derek



Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 31, 2016, at 9:12 AM, Ken DiBiccari <kendibiccari@roadrunner.com> wrote:
>
> -----
>
> I forgot to mention that I also caught in my back yard, a Long-tailed
> Weasel in a Have-a- Heart trap.
> I know that Weasels kill song birds so I took him well away from my yard
> and released him in a safe place.
>
>
>
> Ken DiBiccari
>
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