4 ms·

Do wild animals even exist in the wild anymore? Edit: Wow, lots of down votes. I'm not being snarky. I genuinely ask. The term "wild" seems to have undefined s

by didibus 10y ago

Do wild animals even exist in the wild anymore? Edit: Wow, lots of down votes. I'm not being snarky. I genuinely ask. The term "wild" seems to have undefined semantics. Would a reservation park count as wild?

germinalphrase 10y ago
It's clearly a semantic argument - but there is a segment of the environmental community (often called the 'bright greens') that take the stance that we've already so drastically and universally affected the natural world that we must look to technological and social change to maintain a prosperous ecological system. Which is to say, no - there is no "wild" anymore. It's basically Steward Brands "we are as gods and have to get good at it".
- mjevans 10y ago
  We're at best demi-gods. Little squabbling toddlers that can't properly clean up their own messes. However yeah, we either have to get good "at it" or die off to let something else take our place (eventually).
JohnJamesRambo 10y ago
I get what you are getting at, but yes there are still massive amounts of Earth that are incredibly wild. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_density#/media/File:World_population_density_1994_-_with_equator.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_density#/media/File...
- dbcurtis 10y ago
  Incredibly wild, yes. Sustainably wild.... I have my doubts. As the climate changes, moisture and temperature norms in various habitats are going to change. What we have are islands of wild habitat, and without connections the flora and fauna will not be able to migrate as the climate norms migrate. The absolute number of acres is not the only consideration. I am concerned about the ability of Ponderosa Pine or cougars to migrate as necessary for survival, to name a couple of species.
  - dbcurtis 10y ago
    OK, what's with the down-votes? Down vote isn't for "I disagree", actually make a reasoned argument. Down vote isn't for "you don't share my politics". FWIW, I spend a lot of time in the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra foothills. I can see what is happening right before my eyes. I can see what the Ponderosa Pine on my own property are doing in response to stress. I can see the wildlife migrate through and can only imagine what happens to them as they try to cross a bridge from one wild region to another. I am blessed to be a steward of a parcel of wild land that can host mountain lion and other large fauna. Join me if you want to make a difference. We have islands of wild habitat. That is not an opinion, that is a fact. Wildlife and especially wild plants have a difficult time migrating from one wild island to another. Not opinion, that is an observable, measurable fact. HN has been getting out of hand lately -- getting down voted for making verifiable, factual observations is something that may be the accepted norm on SlashDot, but has no place here.
    - maxerickson 10y ago
      I downvoted you for capitalizing the D in slashdot.
protomyth 10y ago
Depends on what you mean and where you are. If you are talking the US and exclude national parks then you cut the number of animals living in the wild way down. I've seen a wild mountain lion and the only buffalo I ever saw wild wasn't supposed to be (and I'm pretty sure they are confined to ranches and parks for some fairly obvious reasons). There are enough wild hogs that they are a noticeable problem in some areas. Obviously, the animals inhabiting the oceans and seas have a totally different answer along with birds.

by didibus 10y ago

germinalphrase 10y ago

It's clearly a semantic argument - but there is a segment of the environmental community (often called the 'bright greens') that take the stance that we've already so drastically and universally affected the natural world that we must look to technological and social change to maintain a prosperous ecological system. Which is to say, no - there is no "wild" anymore. It's basically Steward Brands "we are as gods and have to get good at it".

mjevans 10y ago
We're at best demi-gods. Little squabbling toddlers that can't properly clean up their own messes. However yeah, we either have to get good "at it" or die off to let something else take our place (eventually).

JohnJamesRambo 10y ago

I get what you are getting at, but yes there are still massive amounts of Earth that are incredibly wild. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_density#/media/File:World_population_density_1994_-_with_equator.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_density#/media/File...

dbcurtis 10y ago
Incredibly wild, yes. Sustainably wild.... I have my doubts. As the climate changes, moisture and temperature norms in various habitats are going to change. What we have are islands of wild habitat, and without connections the flora and fauna will not be able to migrate as the climate norms migrate. The absolute number of acres is not the only consideration. I am concerned about the ability of Ponderosa Pine or cougars to migrate as necessary for survival, to name a couple of species.
- dbcurtis 10y ago
  OK, what's with the down-votes? Down vote isn't for "I disagree", actually make a reasoned argument. Down vote isn't for "you don't share my politics". FWIW, I spend a lot of time in the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra foothills. I can see what is happening right before my eyes. I can see what the Ponderosa Pine on my own property are doing in response to stress. I can see the wildlife migrate through and can only imagine what happens to them as they try to cross a bridge from one wild region to another. I am blessed to be a steward of a parcel of wild land that can host mountain lion and other large fauna. Join me if you want to make a difference. We have islands of wild habitat. That is not an opinion, that is a fact. Wildlife and especially wild plants have a difficult time migrating from one wild island to another. Not opinion, that is an observable, measurable fact. HN has been getting out of hand lately -- getting down voted for making verifiable, factual observations is something that may be the accepted norm on SlashDot, but has no place here.
  - maxerickson 10y ago
    I downvoted you for capitalizing the D in slashdot.

protomyth 10y ago

Depends on what you mean and where you are. If you are talking the US and exclude national parks then you cut the number of animals living in the wild way down. I've seen a wild mountain lion and the only buffalo I ever saw wild wasn't supposed to be (and I'm pretty sure they are confined to ranches and parks for some fairly obvious reasons). There are enough wild hogs that they are a noticeable problem in some areas. Obviously, the animals inhabiting the oceans and seas have a totally different answer along with birds.