I enjoyed the article “Beetle Warfare” (
HCN, 11/26/07). However, I disagree with Ruth
Hufbauer of Colorado State University when she says, “So we have to
hope that today, we have a pretty good understanding of what’s
going on, and that we’re not making mistakes that 50 years from
now, we’ll look back on and regret.”
In Houston, we have
tropical catfish in most of our bayous. In the Everglades, they are
trying to keep pythons from breeding and spreading. And in many
places the grass carp, or white amur, has become even more of a
problem than the European carp.
We are still making many
mistakes. The pet and nursery trade is allowed to bring in many
plants and animals that should remain in their natural habitat
across the ocean. Many are turned loose on purpose or escape and
cause problems.
It makes you wonder, “When will we ever
learn?”
Brandt Mannchen
Houston,
Texas
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Where have all the (exotic) flowers gone?.
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