In my own area (South Jersey), we have Dandelions (Brought over by English colonists as a food source in the 1600’s), Japanese Phragmites reeds (introduced in the 1850’s from Japanese packing material, supplanting the native Phragmites), Periwinkles (from England and Newfoundland, possibly hitched a lift on boat hulls in the 1850’s), Gypsy Moths (From Europe, don’t know when they first arrived, but they were quite the plague back in the 1980’s), and Japanese Shore Crabs (Transported in ballast water in 1988, now common), just to mention a few. 2 Rheas escaped into the Pine Barrens in the 1990’s and have been seen since, but not captured. The owner of a Tiger preserve got in trouble when a Tiger was reported outside her pens, although she steadfastly claims that it wasn’t one of hers. Dozens of Kangaroos have also been seen over the years.

We also have a number of birds that should either not be here or here only for a short time that now appear to be permanent residents. To mention a few- Herring Gulls (Migrated into area from New England in 1946, now common), Black-Backed Gulls (Migrated into area from New England in 1966), Canada Geese (Migratory, but began to stay later and later in the late 1970’s), and Brants (Migratory, they are supposed to fly north back to Canada in February. I can personally vouch for having seen 100 or so outside my work this morning. They may still eventually head back north, but so did the Canada Geese, originally). These birds compete with native and naturally migratory birds for food, and some, such as the Herring and Black-Back Gulls, can actually eat some of the smaller shorebirds directly.

Many of these smaller shorebirds are also dying off due to the elimination of their primary (In some cases sole) food source- Horseshoe Crab eggs. Historically, they have annually produced roughly 120 tons of eggs in the Delaware Bay region, with 40 tons being consumed directly by the birds in just a 3-month period. But we have lost 50% of our Horseshoe Crabs, roughly 11.5 million individuals, over the last 10 years to baymen, who chop up the females for use as bait. In that time we have seen a 70% reduction in many species of birds. The Red Knot is expected to become extinct within the next 5 years if nothing is done to drastically improve the situation. 5 years ago, their population stood at 150,000.

We are changing the world faster than we can understand it, and far faster than we can undo it, if that is even possible. We are remaking the world, but no one can say what form this new world will take, only that it is likely to be a far poorer and less diverse one than the one we think we know. How many cryptids will fall to this onslought before their existence can be confirmed?

(*) Mercifully.

Friend of mine spotted a 3 to 4 foot bright green lizard scampering across his front yard in Roseburg Oregon ~ later heard that it had escaped from a pet shop across the street ~ but they never found it ~ instant cryptid!