U.S. Makes War On Intruding Animals

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30453, 29 May 1964, Page 1

U.S. Makes War On Intruding Animals

(N.Z. Press Association? AUCKLAND, May 28. Every means should be used to eradicate exotic plants and animals from national parks and to protect and conserve the indigenous flora and fauna, said Mr M. D. Sutton, an American wild-life conservation authority, in

Auckland today. “We are waging a continual war against such animals as mongooses and wild boar in some of the national parks of the United States,” he said. “On the other hand, we go out of our way to conserve snakes, bears, alligators and other native creatures. “If 1 were to come across a rattlesnake on the road, 1 would move him to a position of safety. We carry sticks especially to handle snakes. “Snakes are food for owls and owls are food for other animals and so the balance of life is maintained. Let exotic animals into the parks and the balance is upset. “On Isle Royale, in Lake Michigan, a national park, is a herd of 600 moose. The number is being maintained by 21 wolves,” said Mr Sutton. “Neither the wolves nor the moose alter in number from year to year. A perfect biological balance is being maintained and we don't want to disturb it.”

Mr Sutton is a senior ranger of the United States national park services. He is visiting New Zealand for the first time to “talk shop” with New Zealand national park rangers

and conservation officers and to promote knowledge of the United States parks. While he is here he will visit national parks at Tongariro, Arthur’s Pass and Mount Cook.