Scorpions, parakeets and turtles have all been found living wild in the UK, according to a new study.
The study, led by the University of Hull, studied sightings and population numbers for creatures introduced into Britain over the last 150 years.
It found 13,000 yellow-tailed scorpions and between 30,000 and 50,000 ring-necked parakeets in south-east England.
About 10 coatis, which are also known as Brazilian aardvarks, and about 20 snapping turtles were also found.
The coatis, which are members of the racoon family and hail from North America, are thought to be living wild in Cumbria.
The snapping turtles, also from North America, are believed to be living in parts of Kent, London, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
The scorpions originate from north-west Africa and southern Europe and the ring-necked parakeets come from Africa and Asia.
Report author Dr Toni Bunnell, of the University of Hull, said it was thought some of the animals had originally been kept as pets but were released when their owners could no longer look after them.
"If you get enough turfed out in the same area and they can survive and the habitat suits them, then you have got a breeding population. That seems to be what's happening."
She added that other species were thought to have escaped from private collections.
The report was commissioned by the Eden television channel.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/humb ... 365422.stm
Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Any strange 'roo sightings?
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Dam you have uncovered my plan to take over the world.
My armies of small cute and some not so cuddley cretures were to infultrate every part of the country and when everyone is looking down at them I move in and take over.
CURESES FOILED AGAIN
My armies of small cute and some not so cuddley cretures were to infultrate every part of the country and when everyone is looking down at them I move in and take over.
CURESES FOILED AGAIN 
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Should have used bunnies, they're cuter ...and more evil! :twisted:
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Which species will be the cane toads of England? Which will integrate so seamlessly (and inoffensively) that people hardly notice that they weren't always there?
Predictions?
yrs,
rubato
Predictions?
yrs,
rubato
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Then there are the pythons that are invading our southern states.
I expect to go straight to hell...........at least I won't have to spend time making new friends.
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Humans.rubato wrote:Which species will be the cane toads of England? Which will integrate so seamlessly (and inoffensively) that people hardly notice that they weren't always there?
Predictions?
yrs,
rubato
OH wait...
Sometimes it seems as though one has to cross the line just to figger out where it is
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
rubato wrote:Which species will be the cane toads of England? Which will integrate so seamlessly (and inoffensively) that people hardly notice that they weren't always there?
Predictions?
yrs,
rubato
Interesting question....
Of course the gray squirrel is one that has a long history of being invasive and destructive within the UK.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
No one has noticed the Cape Buffelow in Scotland have they?
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Evidently the Badgers in Scotland have not been faring so well...
Sometimes it seems as though one has to cross the line just to figger out where it is
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Lots of people have been growling at them..
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Aardy runs wild in the UK!!
Since we've decided to allow cougars to overpopulate to the point that they are eating more people in the past 15 years than they did in the prior 150 maybe we can re-introduce jaguars and grizzlies to Calif? Really spice up those wilderness experiences. If they make it to suburbia it will really help with that childhood obesity problem.
yrs,
rubato
yrs,
rubato