Information AboutFeral |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT FERAL | |
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) in Wyoming]] A feral organism is one that has escaped from Domestication and returned, partly or wholly, to its Wild state. Rarely will a local environment perfectly integrate the feral organism into its established Ecology . Therefore, feral animals and plants can cause disruption or Extinction to some indigenous species, affecting Wilderness and other fragile Ecosystem s. DEFINITIONS Next to the meaning of the word ''feral'' described here, from Latin fera, "a wild beast", the word has a second unrelated meaning, from Latin '''feralis''', "belonging to the dead", "funeral". Source: Nuttall's Popular Dictionary. Pub. Fredrick Warne & Co. Ltd. London and New York. Animals in St Kilda , Scotland - The sheep stock of this tiny island has been occasionally hunted rather than bred for many centuries.'']] A feral Animal is one that has reverted from the domesticated state to a stable condition more or less resembling the wild. Plants Domesticated Plants that revert to wild are usually referred to as escaped, introduced, or naturalized. However, the adaptive and ecological variables seen in plants that go wild closely resemble those of animals. VARIABLES Susceptibility Certain familiar animals go feral easily and successfully, while others are much less inclined to wander and usually fail promptly outside domestication. Degree Some species will detach readily from humans and pursue their own devices, but do not stray far or spread readily. Others depart and are gone, seeking out new territory or range to exploit and displaying active invasiveness. Persistence Whether they leave readily and venture far, the ultimate criterion for success is longevity. Persistence depends on their ability to establish themselves and reproduce reliably in the new Environment . Tenure of Domestication Neither the duration nor the intensity with which a species has been domesticated offers a useful Correlation with its feral potential. EXAMPLES OF FERAL ANIMALS ]]
s or Burro s in Nevada '']]
HARMFUL AND BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF FERALIZATION s, also known as pigeons --''feral'' animals who nonetheless live in close proximity to Human s'']] Ecological impact A feral population can have a significant impact on an ecosystem by predation on vulnerable plants or animals, or by competition with indigenous species. Feral plants and animals constitute a significant share of Invasive Species , and can be a threat to Endangered Species . Genetic pollution Animals of domestic origin sometimes can produce fertile hybrids with native, wild animals. Cases include the mallard duck, wild boar, the Rock Dove or pigeon, the wild cock (Gallus gallus), carp, and more recently salmon . Another example is the Dingo , itself an early feral dog, which hybridizes with dogs of European origin. On the other hand, genetic pollution seems not to be noticed for rabbit. There is much debate over the degree to which feral hybridization compromises the purity of a wild species. In the case of the mallard, for example, some claim there are no populations which are completely free of any domestic ancestor. Economic harm Feral animals compete with domestic livestock, and may degrade fences, water sources, and vegetation (by overgrazing or introducing seeds of invasive plants). Though hotly disputed, some cite as an example the competition between feral horses and cattle in the western United States. Another example is of goats competing with cattle in Australia, or goats that degrade trees and vegation in environmentally-stressed regions of Africa. Accidental crossbreeding by feral animals may result in harm to breeding programs of pedigreed animals; their presence may also excite domestic animals and push them to escape. Feral populations can also pass on transmissible infections to domestic herds. Economic benefits Many feral animals can sometimes be captured at little cost and thus constitute a significant resource. Throughout most of Polyneasia and Melanesia feral pigs constitute the primary sources of animal protein. Prior to the Free-roaming Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 1971, American mustangs were routinely captured and sold for horsemeat. In Australia feral goats, pigs and dromedaries are harvested for the export for their meat trade. At certain times, animals were sometimes deliberately left to go feral, typically on islands, in order to be later recovered for profit or food use for travelers (particularly sailors) at the end of a few years. Scientific value Populations of feral animals present good sources for studies of population dynamics, and especially of ecology and behavior (ethology) in a wild state of species known mainly in a domestic state. Such observations can provide useful information for the stock breeders or other owners of the domesticated ''conspecifics'' (i.e. animals of the same species). Genetic diversity Feral populations sometimes preserve or develop characteristics which do not always exist in the fully domesticated equivalent. Therefore, they contribute to domestic biodiversity and often deserve to be preserved, be it in their feral environment or as domestic animals. For example, feral species that are usually subjects of eradication in Australia or New Zealand are currently the subject of study to determine if there is a need for their preservation. Cultural or historic value American Mustangs have been protected since 1971 in part due to their romance and connection to the history of the American West. REFERENCES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS ''Note: Links that treat feral animals as a mere pest issue are the norm.''
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