09-22-2011, 04:34 AM
Fantastic post, Carey. And much more diplomatic than my reaction, kudos to you.
I forget that some post here and do not live on island.
Living on the continent is a different reality regarding wildlife. We just returned from three weeks on the mainland, New England and So-Cal and the biodiversity there is pretty staggering now that I'm accustomed to the Big Island.
I just keep thinking about how much a problem deer are on the mainland even in areas where there is hunting culture and healthy predation (where I'm from in the Midwest). To think what would happen on an island with only sport and game hunters to control the population isn't a pretty thought.
Especially when you add in the issue of trying to protect the native ecosystem. That is one area where I support the idea of "keep Hawaii, Hawaii".
I forget that some post here and do not live on island.
Living on the continent is a different reality regarding wildlife. We just returned from three weeks on the mainland, New England and So-Cal and the biodiversity there is pretty staggering now that I'm accustomed to the Big Island.
I just keep thinking about how much a problem deer are on the mainland even in areas where there is hunting culture and healthy predation (where I'm from in the Midwest). To think what would happen on an island with only sport and game hunters to control the population isn't a pretty thought.
Especially when you add in the issue of trying to protect the native ecosystem. That is one area where I support the idea of "keep Hawaii, Hawaii".