Biocontrol
cwilcox | March 29, 2009One of the most controversial ideas in conservation is that of Biocontrol. The goal is to control invasive species or damaging pests by introducing predators/diseases/etc which kill them. Some attempts at biocontrol have been hugely successful. But others have been disastrous, like the introduction of Cane Toads.
Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) were introduced to a lot of places from 1840-1940 to attempt to control agricultural pests.
Cane Toad extent both native (blue) and introduced (red)
They were first unsuccessfully introduced into Jamaica to control the rat population. Then, a seemingly…