Introduced fauna in the CRD

Jewels in Prior Lake: African fish thriving at local swimming spot
By Mike Kozakowski, VibrantVictoria.ca
http://vibrantvictoria.ca/?p=2908

View Royal’s Prior Lake, a popular swimming and fishing spot northwest of Thetis Lake off Highland Road, is now home to more than trout and minnow.
The surprising addition is native to the warm rivers, lakes and tributaries of west and northeastern Africa, and other than the fact that it is a freshwater specie, it has no business thriving in a much cooler aquatic environment. [...]

This makes you wonder just how many invasive species are living in our lakes and what their impact will be on local species.

European Rabbits, Eastern Cottontail Rabbits, Ring-necked Pheasants, Peafowl, Eastern Grey Squirrels...

From 1882 to 1920, at least 500 Ring-necked Pheasants were released at a number of locations in coastal and interior British Columbia. Some birds were imported from England, but most came from China. From this stock, populations became established and spread throughout suitable habitat, although many additional introductions were made to bolster local populations (see Taylor, E.W. 1959). Some introductions failed. Known pheasant introductions to British Columbia are summarized below. They are discussed by geographic area:

(1) Queen Charlotte Islands: Small numbers were released near Tlell from 1918 to 1920. Spalding (1966) indicates that early introductions were successful and that "a small population was started." By the winter of 1941-42 the Ring-necked Pheasant was "very common" (Cook, F.S. 1947). Thereafter, populations gradually declined. Small introductions were again made in the 1980s, but the population is not large and likely needs regular releases if it is to be maintained.

(2) Vancouver Island: The earliest introduction was at Victoria in 1882. Twenty birds were released, but all died. The following year, 25 pheasants were released at Esquimalt and, apparently, all survived. M. Williams (1964) suggests that pheasant populations on southern Vancouver Island descended from this stock. Populations increased and became well established on the Saanich Peninsula. Spring numbers there were estimated at 900 in 1966 and 2,300 in 1972; autumn numbers were estimated at 5,700 in 1966 and 14,300 in 1972 (Finnegan 1972). Recently, however, T.D. Hooper and Sars (1986) report an all-time low in 1985 based on crowing count indices. For example, an index of 10.8 for Saanich in May 1972 (Finnegan 1972) dropped to 3.3 in May 1985. This decline was attributed mainly to habitat destruction and pesticide use. In spring and autumn 1955, over 700 birds were released at 3 locations north of Victoria (Taylor, E.W. 1959): Duncan (204 birds), Nanaimo (204 birds), and Courtenay (308 birds).

Pheasants are funny because they seem to be one of those introduced animals that everybody loves to eat!