Rising Tide Images
Pardon the Intrusion
Beginning at the age of 10 months old, the female small Indian mongoose can produce up to three litters of two to five pups per year. Their reproductive habits and lack of natural predators in Hawaii makes these introduced opportunistic omnivores a significant invasive species and detrimental to endemic species, especially ground nesting birds. The mongoose was introduced to sugar plantations in the Caribbean in 1872 and in Hawaii in 1883 with the intent of reducing the rat population. Contrary to described behavior, I have also seen one climb a tree in search of food. Interesting mammals that are fun to observe and considered cute by many, but they were imported inappropriately into the Hawaiian island ecosystem. Venerated or reviled, they have a long history in literature and mythology. Pardon the intrusion.
Pardon the Intrusion
Beginning at the age of 10 months old, the female small Indian mongoose can produce up to three litters of two to five pups per year. Their reproductive habits and lack of natural predators in Hawaii makes these introduced opportunistic omnivores a significant invasive species and detrimental to endemic species, especially ground nesting birds. The mongoose was introduced to sugar plantations in the Caribbean in 1872 and in Hawaii in 1883 with the intent of reducing the rat population. Contrary to described behavior, I have also seen one climb a tree in search of food. Interesting mammals that are fun to observe and considered cute by many, but they were imported inappropriately into the Hawaiian island ecosystem. Venerated or reviled, they have a long history in literature and mythology. Pardon the intrusion.