Isla Santa Catalina, Baja California
Devastating! That can be the result of the introduction of exotic or non-native species to any functioning ecosystem. Over the centuries the islands in the Gulf of California have suffered from exotic introductions, especially of man’s pets and pests. Brought to the islands in small boats, either with intent or by accident, the results have usually been a catastrophic reduction in population sizes and even in the number of species of the native flora and fauna. With introductions, the potential exits for extinction of native species, many of which may even be endemic to an individual island; that is, found nowhere else in the world.
Isla Santa Catalina, a pure gem in this vast and productive body of water, has seen its share of exotic pets and pests. Today, we saw the results of a management program funded in part by Lindblad’s Baja Forever fund and by the guests who contribute to the fund. In previous years, our visits to Catalina very rarely resulted in a sighting of the infamous, endemic and enigmatic rattleless rattlesnake. Now, we usually see one or more on each hike. Why? Probably because a program to eliminate feral house cats from the island has been successful. People do not live on the island, but the cats lived here, no doubt eating both young snakes and the native small mammals upon which the snakes depend for food. The rattleless rattlesnake appears to have made a remarkable recovery, for which we are grateful.
And the snake is not the only species to rebound. During our morning walk we saw literally dozens of desert iguanas, a few Catalina chuckwallas and numerous emerald-tailed lizards, each endemic to this isolated island. Like the snake, few of these were seen in previous years. Our objective now should be to keep this and all other small islands free of exotic species and functioning in a balanced, natural way.
Feeling warm after our morning outing, most of us cooled off in the ocean for our final scuba and snorkel session. We had experienced things in this past week that few people ever get to see. The astonishing variety of life in this desert and surrounding marine waters is something that every person should witness. Only by keeping things “natural” can we achieve this.
And nature did not fail us at the dinner hour. To the bow we were summoned, to witness an amazing group of short-finned pilot whales, accompanied by bottlenose dolphins. Was this a breeding exchange between the various family groups of pilot whales? Killer whales assemble into mixed pods to breed. Presumably pilot whales may do the same. Whatever, there could be no finer way to end a fun-filled week in the strange and mysterious place called Baja California.
Devastating! That can be the result of the introduction of exotic or non-native species to any functioning ecosystem. Over the centuries the islands in the Gulf of California have suffered from exotic introductions, especially of man’s pets and pests. Brought to the islands in small boats, either with intent or by accident, the results have usually been a catastrophic reduction in population sizes and even in the number of species of the native flora and fauna. With introductions, the potential exits for extinction of native species, many of which may even be endemic to an individual island; that is, found nowhere else in the world.
Isla Santa Catalina, a pure gem in this vast and productive body of water, has seen its share of exotic pets and pests. Today, we saw the results of a management program funded in part by Lindblad’s Baja Forever fund and by the guests who contribute to the fund. In previous years, our visits to Catalina very rarely resulted in a sighting of the infamous, endemic and enigmatic rattleless rattlesnake. Now, we usually see one or more on each hike. Why? Probably because a program to eliminate feral house cats from the island has been successful. People do not live on the island, but the cats lived here, no doubt eating both young snakes and the native small mammals upon which the snakes depend for food. The rattleless rattlesnake appears to have made a remarkable recovery, for which we are grateful.
And the snake is not the only species to rebound. During our morning walk we saw literally dozens of desert iguanas, a few Catalina chuckwallas and numerous emerald-tailed lizards, each endemic to this isolated island. Like the snake, few of these were seen in previous years. Our objective now should be to keep this and all other small islands free of exotic species and functioning in a balanced, natural way.
Feeling warm after our morning outing, most of us cooled off in the ocean for our final scuba and snorkel session. We had experienced things in this past week that few people ever get to see. The astonishing variety of life in this desert and surrounding marine waters is something that every person should witness. Only by keeping things “natural” can we achieve this.
And nature did not fail us at the dinner hour. To the bow we were summoned, to witness an amazing group of short-finned pilot whales, accompanied by bottlenose dolphins. Was this a breeding exchange between the various family groups of pilot whales? Killer whales assemble into mixed pods to breed. Presumably pilot whales may do the same. Whatever, there could be no finer way to end a fun-filled week in the strange and mysterious place called Baja California.
