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Scott Ryan's avatar

This reminds me of a much older story told by Alfred Crosby in his fantastic book, "Ecological Imperialism," which was part of a larger theme of his books exploring how Europeans came to dominate the world.

He told of sailors dropping off pigs and cows on islands and new lands as they explored so that later expeditions could harvest the feral descendants for provisions.

Of course, our enlightened age, with an ever-growing list of extinct species, can only wonder what creatures didn't even get the dignity of being cataloged before following the dodo into oblivion.

But then, if we didn't have canned and dried goods to load into motorized transportation to drive on paved roads to well established destinations, our perspective of these adventurers would no doubt be more charitable.

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David B. Williams's avatar

Yeah, we have done, and continue, to do some unwise things.

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Tom Capobianco's avatar

Why trout in all the lakes? Is it all about fly fishing in WA? Are trout native to the Cascade's lakes? But a good story anyway. Many states have this stocking of lakes for fly fishing. Yes I don't fly fish.

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David B. Williams's avatar

Yes, it's all about fishing. No, no trout, or any fish at least at the high lakes of the Cascades, due to glaciation. I go quite in depth of this story in the book.

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Sue Moon's avatar

Great story!

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Katt's avatar

This reminds me of Idaho Fish and Game relocating beavers via airplane and parachutes: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/22/450958213/watch-long-lost-parachuting-beaver-footage-from-1950

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Roger Lippman's avatar

WDFW is behind the times with its air-drops. When will they start using Zoom, like everyone else?

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David B. Williams's avatar

Good point!!!!!

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Enid's avatar

So many sad tales and ideas. Possibly confirming suspicions of the survival of the human species.

Also very interesting and entertaining, thank you.

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