Overpopulation (animals)

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Overpopulation is a scenario in which the population of a living species exceeds the carrying capacity of its ecological niche. While this term is most often used with reference to human beings, in its general form it includes overpopulation in any animal or vegetal species.

Overpopulation is not a function of the number or density of the individuals, but rather the number of individuals compared to the resources they need to survive. In other words, it is a ratio: population over resources. These resources include primarily drinking water and food, which also imply essential nutrients of the appropriate type, and suitable food sources for the species.

Besides the issue of overpopulation in wild species, human beings have introduced a different problem: that of artificially constructed populations (domestic pets, cattle, agriculture, etc.)

[edit] Wild animal overpopulation

In the wilderness, the problem of animal overpopulation is solved by predators. Predators tend to look for signs of weakness in their prey, and therefore usually first eat the old or sick animals. This has the side effects of insuring a strong stock among the survivors, and controlling the population.

In the absence of predators, animal species are bound by the resources they can find in their environment, but this does not necessarily control overpopulation. In fact, an abundant supply of resources can produce a population boom that ends up with more individuals than the environment can support. In this case, starvation, thirst and sometimes violent competition for scarce resources may effect a sharp reduction in population in a very short lapse (a population crash). Lemmings, as well as other less popular species of rodents, are known to have such cycles of rapid population growth and subsequent decrease.

Some animal species seem to have a measure of self-control, by which individuals refrain from mating when they find themselves in a crowded environment. This voluntary abstinence may be induced by stress or by pheromones.

In an ideal setting, when animal populations grow, so do the number of predators that feed on that particular animal. Animals that have birth defects or weak genes (such as the runt of the litter) also die off, unable to compete over food with stronger, healthier animals.

In reality, an animal that is not native to an environment may have advantages over the native ones, such being unsuitable for the local predators. If left uncontrolled, such an animal can quickly overpopulate and ultimately destroy its environment.

Examples of animal overpopulation caused by introduction of a foreign species abound.

  • In the Argentine Patagonia, for example, European species such as the trout and the deer were introduced into the local streams and forests, respectively, and quickly became a plague, competing with and sometimes driving away the local species of fish and ruminants.
  • In Australia, when rabbits were introduced (unwillingly) by European immigrants, they bred out of control and ate the plants that other native animals needed to survive. Farmers hunted the rabbits to reduce their population and prevent the damage the rabbits did to the crops. They also brought cats to guard against rabbits and rats. These cats created another problem, since they became predators of local species.

[edit] Pet overpopulation

A different overpopulation concern pertains to the population growth of domestic cats and dogs. In the United States alone, between 3 and 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized each year for lack of homes to adopt them, according to the Humane Society of the United States.[1] As a result, most humane societies, animal shelters and rescue groups urge pet owners to have their pets spayed or neutered to prevent the births of unwanted and accidental litters.

Pet overpopulation can be an ecological concern as well as a concern over animal welfare, with overpopulation occurring when there are more domestic cats and dogs than there are people wanting them as pets, independent of ecological carrying capacity. It is also a financial problem: Capturing, impounding and eventual euthanasia costs taxpayers and private agencies millions of dollars each year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.[2]

Although the term overpopulation is a generic term, true overpopulation means that there are actually more pets available than there are homes available. If one examines the numbers of homes which are seeking pets (as an example) and finds that 100 of those homes want pets which are, say, 1yr old and of a pure breed under 25 pounds, then to say that overpopulation exists simply because not all of the animals in a shelter will meet the desired criteria (1yr old/purebred under 25lb) is not exactly overpopulation. The fact that some shelters elect to kill animals is not necessarily indicative of overpopulation, as there is no standard for shelters reporting, tabulating, counting or categorizing their numbers/stats nationwide; in fact, it is not even known exactly how many animal shelters exist in the United States.

Overpopulation, then, is often used generically to refer to those pets that are not finding homes for reasons such as breed, temperament, age, health, or size. It does not necessarily mean there is no owner who desires a pet, but that there is no owner found which necessarily wants that particular animal at that time.

The welfare organization IFAW claims that where there's pet overpopulation, particularly in developing countries, dogs and cats suffer from neglect and abandonment, deplorable living conditions, insufficient or nonexistent veterinary care, and substandard practices. Such animals are victims of inhumane treatment, not only because of intentionally inflicted cruelty, but also because of poverty, lack of pet care knowledge, the absence of animal welfare legislation and enforcement, apathy, and unsubstantiated beliefs.

[edit] Sources and external links

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