Invasive Skunks?

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Bit of a shower thought that occurred to me: in the real world, skunks are indigenous to North America and don't have a European equivalent the way, say, badgers do. While I know Golarion's not a one-to-one transposition of our world, it makes sense that skunks would be primarily from Arcadia, so any skunks in Avistan or Garund would probably have been brought over. Would that mean skunks are technically an invasive species? They don't have many natural predators in the first place, yes, but in a land where there's nothing like them, they'd have even more of an advantage!

Was toying with the idea of playing a druid with a funny skunk companion, but now I'm thinking they'd have to be a visiting Arcadian, keeping their odorous friend on a tight (metaphorical) leash to keep them from being part of the problem!

[Kavlor]

First, I assume that Ancient Aztlan will be responsible for their introduction, given its role as the dominant power during that era.

Second—yes, technically they would be an invasive species, but I wouldn't consider that a global problem. By that, I mean that "invasive species" typically refers to those whose spread has been facilitated by humans. Yet, even without human intervention, the dispersal of species—the displacement of one by another, and the subsequent extinctions—is a perfectly normal occurrence in the history of Earth's biosphere; skunks, in and of themselves, hardly constitute a problem of global magnitude. Especially since skunks, in terms of their ecological niche and potential predators, are actually quite similar to the badgers and raccoons that are native to Europe.

Seriously—we have wild hippos in Colombia; *that* is a problem—not skunks in Avistan.

[TheTownsend]

An invasive species refers specifically to one that harms its new environment, typically by being over-adapted to a region without the predators that evolved alongside it or the harsh conditions it developed around, resulting in overpopulation and/or depletion of native resources.

If the skunks are running rampant because Avistani wolves are completely unadapted to their defensive spray and they're overhunting certain small animals, they're invasive. Otherwise its just an introduced species.

[The Raven Black]

Kavlor wrote:

First, I assume that Ancient Aztlan will be responsible for their introduction, given its role as the dominant power during that era.

If they were introduced to Avistan more than ten thousand years ago, I do not think they qualify as invasive species anymore.

[The Raven Black]

The Raven Black wrote:

Kavlor wrote:

First, I assume that Ancient Aztlan will be responsible for their introduction, given its role as the dominant power during that era.

If they were introduced to Avistan more than ten thousand years ago, I do not think they qualify as invasive species anymore.

And I am now thinking maybe, on such a big timeframe, we should consider Dwarves and Orcs as colonial powers.

[Kavlor]

The Raven Black wrote:

Kavlor wrote:

First, I assume that Ancient Aztlan will be responsible for their introduction, given its role as the dominant power during that era.

If they were introduced to Avistan more than ten thousand years ago, I do not think they qualify as invasive species anymore.

I understand your point, but I am not to blame for the fact that the terms currently employed in science are ill-suited for discussing such hypothetical situations and timeframes. Likewise—as is often the case in history—the definition of a "native population" is not tied to rigid, unambiguous criteria, but rather to an individual's political convictions, double standards, and hypocrisy. Regrettably, we currently lack any terminology that is more precise or unequivocal.

[AceofMoxen]

Kavlor wrote:

First, I assume that Ancient Aztlan will be responsible for their introduction, given its role as the dominant power during that era.

I hope they also introduced the tomato bath, or else...ouch.

[Phillip Gastone]

No doubt Varisa(sp) is the source of those herds of 30-50 feral hogs.

[shepsquared]

They wouldn't be the only species to show up somewhere that doesn't fit the irl equivalent - thylacines/tasmanian tigers can be found in the River Kingdoms and kangaroos are found in Garund and Casmaron.