A Thought by Ben Hope
One wee vale of a valley I used to hunt was frequently rotary-hoed by wild pigs. Now there is an intense dislike of wild pigs by just about everyone. But what I noticed as pigs moved on from this shallow gully – a kanuka tree glade – the grass growth within a few to several weeks depending in the season, took on a whole refreshed look and within a month for two of the departure of the hogs, it was greening up beautifully with luxuriant grass growth.
I thought of this gentle shallow vale when I recently read a ”New Scientist” entitled ‘Snouting Around” in which a conservationist and author Benedict MacDonald wrote that “keystone species such as wild boar may be far better conservationists than humans. We must cherish them” he wrote.
Now this may be – or certainly will be – an uncomfortable truth he wrote.
Benedict Macdonald wrote that when he began writing his book “Cornerstones”, a book about how keystone species such as beavers, eagles and lynx once helped too shape Britain’s ecology, one thing became clear.
Reluctance
“We appear far more reluctant to admit that some animals profoundly enhance the habitats in which they live.”
In carrying out a 10 year old study in the Forest of Dean, he observed “boar act as nature’s excavators, but are possessed of an ecological finesse few credit them with, by rootling soon – turning it over in search of tubers, invertebrates and other subterranean goodies – boar rotate and reset the soil biome.”
“This aerates it, exposes it to a new generation of plant and tree seeds and creates complex microhabitats, including ponds, grassland glades and bear earth – the basis of a new floral life.”
He described how the army of nocturnal diggers had arrived and created seeming chaos with uneven soil, disrupted bulbs, broken flowers and smashed bracken.
“It didn’t look like the work of an animal possessed of ecological genius.”
Bird Bonanza
But the birds thought otherwise.Benedict Macdonald observed a procession of birds, always robins first, following in the boar’s wake because the pig’s actions had exposed vital earthy areas where the birds could find worms.
“Boars may be forest gardeners but no garden looks its best on day one. Like any ecological process it takes time. That said within a few months of rootling, the new soil will have already been colonised.”
Of course pigs generally don’t stay in the one place, once fed they move on.
Dog violets appeared in the spring after bringing in their wake colonies off small, pearl-bordered butterflies.
Later orchids and then foxgloves appeared.
“By opening up the soil, boar pave the way for many outcomes that ecologists could only appreciate if they returned to the same site year on year.”
Small ponds appeared bringing frogs while wild mint and grass burst into growth.
“Eventually these same diggings begin to sprout with trees—so beginning a whole new forest generation.”
“It doesn’t stop there”, he said.
Sowing Seeds
Benedict Macdonald said boars i.e., wild pigs “are one of the very few animals able to carry large tree seeds in their guts and then excrete them, intact, complete with a healthy dose of fertiliser.”
He continued that his argument would be that “we must cherish them (wild pig) and protect keystone species like them. Then, we will become the greatest keystone species of them all.”
Hmmmmm. I couldn’t help thinking of that kanuka glade.
There is no doubt – if we had our time again – we would be much more judicious about our introduction of exotic (as opposed to indigenous) species.
But we simply cannot wind back the clock.
That said, wild species introduced into New Zealand continue to have far, far more contemporaneous value than they are given credit for, by many.
In recent times, we have seen the concept of “Valued Introduced Species” gain credence .. and this is, of course, totally appropriate, in many cases.
The thing that is often overlooked – is we have a growing population.
And, like it or not, we must maintain a diversity of recreational activities to keep everybody amused.
Not everybody will play rugby, soccer, cricket, or netball.
And we certainly do not want everybody sitting inside on devices, joining gangs, taking drugs, or ram-raiding dairies.
Recreational hunting provides millions of hours of recreational activity, per annum.
It supports the acquisition, ownership, possession and use of billions of dollars worth of recreational assets.
It generates into the hundreds of millions worth of diverse economic activity per annum – from one end of the country, to the other. Vehicles, boats, equipment, technology, clothing, food, accommodation, transport, media, club membership, licensing, training, and so on – as well as of course firearms, and ammunition.
It supports our environmental, democratic, social, physical, mental, cultural, spiritual, and economic wellbeing, as a nation.
Hundreds of thousands of deer, chamois, tahr, and pigs are sustainably harvested, per annum. And it supports a focus that sees literally millions of other critters – possums, goats, wallabies, rabbits, hares, ducks, geese, feral cats, mustelids, rats, mice and so on – “taken care of”, each and every year.
All at no expense to the taxpayer (quite the opposite, in fact).
And all of which would add to the taxpayer’s burden of cost, otherwise.
Of course, any species that encroaches onto productive farmland must be population-managed.
There is no shortage of people keen to “do their bit”, and do more on that front .. if only we could resolve the issues around access.
Some barriers to access are geographical .. and these are a little trickier to resolve.
Other barriers are put up by landholders and land managers .. these should be easier, but often remain perplexing.
Yes – there are definitely two sides of the equation, to consider.
I fully agree with Benedict Macdonald’s view on wild pigs. They do more good than harm from what I have seen. Like all so-called wild animals, they all have a part to play in the ecosystem and there is no reason a crop can not be taken off each season. A crop that is an adventure to obtain and very rewarding. I liken it to shifting stock on one’s farm to a new pasture. We are very lucky to have this resource and we should use it to our best advantage. Pigs were used in HB to first cultivate the soil on a well-known Station when the settlement was made. I have watched many birds following the pigs and they can give them away at times just like the seagulls will follow a farmer’s cultivating.
Possums as well can be advantageous as they in their browsing habits can encourage growth the same as a when a home gardener prunes roses and encourages vigorous new growth.
Well of course by definition the good side is the slow pit roasted side then pulled, doused in Louisiana Cajun sauce on a big ‘ ole sesame toasted bun Lotsa cold beer. Grama Clarke baked beans on the side. Been there 11 yrs old, 1954,Parker Colorado US Hwy 83 south
Pity is people are too quick to class a wild animal as a pest. Sure management of numbers is needed but this article shows there’s plus and minuses. Far better to view wild animals as a resource and talk of “management” instead of negative words like “control”.
Of course wild pigs at lambing time, predating just born lambs can be a problem. But there’s much merit to them in other ways.
Stewart Hydes comment says everything I would wish to say on the matter. Very well said Stewart!
Let’s all get over this vilification of “introduced species”.
Members of different species are not required to stay in one place.
They always have and always will move about and become “introduced” to new territories.
If they adapt to their new environment, they survive and thrive.
If they do not adapt they do not survive in the new environment.
Some species came here themselves and others were brought by people of the past.
The people that “introduced” various species did so because they believed it wouod be beneficial for themselves and future generations.
Given the disasterous consequences of events like ice ages, that covered the country with ice, and volcanoes, like the Taupo eruption that covered most of NZ with volcanic ash, it is likely that most of the speceis we prefer to call native came here from somewhere else and are also “introduced”.
Our species was also “introduced” to NZ and we are not going to leave.
In fact we keep “introducing” more of us all the time whether this is good for the environment or probably not.
The domesticated species that outnumber the naturally living ones are also “introduced” but no-one advocates eradicating them even though damaging habitats and ecosystems to produce more of them probably causes more harm than all the ones we called “pests”.
The naturally living, free deer, pigs, possums, trout, salmon etc have been here for a long time and the ecosystems have adapted to their presence long ago.
Natural processes, like the availability of food, determine whether their nimbers will increase or decline.
Anyone that believe the rats and mice can be eradicated is deluded.
Members of these species are potentially beneficial for everyone because hunting, gathering and fishing are healthy outdoor exercise, enjoyable recreation and a source of healthy food we do not have to purchase and be taxed for purchasing.
Many people, including those we employ to work in our government, would prefer that we are required to pay for exercise, recreation, food and everything else because that generates more GDP, corporate profits and government tax revenue.
Restricting our access to things we don’t have to pay for serves their self-interests and this might be motivating them to deire the eradication of the introduced species that are called “pests” or “predators” because they are not domesticated or commercially beneficial for the “economy”.
The extinction of species is not usually caused by other species. It is primarily a result of habitat destruction or modification that occurs because of natural events or our insatiable desire to access and exploit natural resources and use them to produce consumer products.
If we really want to conserve nature and the natural habitats of so called “native species” we ought to stop blaming the other species and pay attention to what we are doing.
Our culture of consumerism makes us all keep buying more and more stuff that we do not need and cannot afford and then disposing of it so that the elite and influential people in businesses and governments can get more of workers wages and salaries to “grow the economy”.
Their proposed solution for every perceived problem (real or imagined) is to require us to buy more and newer goods and services that we do not really need and cannot afford to pay for.
This entire Predator Free NZ agenda is really about making us all pay to eradicate the living things that we have free access to for healthy outdoor recreation and food.
The notion that we have to eradicate these beneficial creatures at a huge financial cost to presumably “save some birds” is totally ridiculous and irrational like cutting off our noses to spite our faces.
The methods that are being used are costly, toxic, inhumane and wasteful and useless because THEY DO NOT WORK and are also killing the species that we are told they are supposed to protect.
If we really want to conserve and protect our natural resources for future generations we would be better advised to
Stop allowing more people to come here,
Stop foreign owned enterprises from buying our land and exploiting our natural resources.
Stop destroying natural habitats to make more money
Stop buying consumer products we do not need and cannot afford to pay for.
Stop pulluting our ecosystems with toxic chemicals and
Appreciate the benefits of healthy outdoors exercise, recreation and free natural food.
Blaming the pigs, deer, possums and other species for our own foolishness is not the answer.