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My go is for the Buzzard, it would sure as hell make desert trips and heat waves seem a lot less worrying and paranoiac.

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[-] Foreigner@lemmy.world 85 points 3 weeks ago

The only animal I think is truly worth eradicating is the bedbug.

Every other insect from the mosquito, to the tick is an incredibly important source of food (especially protein) for other animals, especially in places with very harsh conditions where other insects struggle to survive. I used to hate and fear insects but now I know they all have their place.

All, except the bedbug. These things are specifically designed to hunt us and pretty much only us. They have precious few predators, much less predators that rely on their existence. They deserve obliteration.

[-] BryyM@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

I like your answer as its way more thought through than what most people tend to answer when questions like this is asked, like I wish seagulls would just die out as the niche they have is doing what other species are doing in an obnoxious way. I do recognise that this would likely have ramifications that I don't know about though, so I wouldn't want resources used to actively eradicate them.

[-] SkybreakerEngineer@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

The Tick is not a source of food, he is a source of JUSTICE

[-] wattanao@fedia.io 4 points 3 weeks ago

Ticks, sure, plenty of things to eat them and they're only a problem a few times of year here. But I think the ecosystem will survive the removal of mosquitos, even if some animals might suffer for a while or perish as well. Flies come close to the amount of annoyance I receive from the mosquito, but not close enough. I hate them so much, my perception of what seasons I like and hate is entirely dependant on if mosquitos (and other bugs) are around more often.

In the same way you've learned to tolerate bugs, I used to be fearful of spiders, though I never hated them. Nowadays I love to see a spider making itself at home in my room, the kitchen, the porch, the basement, etc. A bug trap installing itself at no cost to me, what could be better?

[-] Foreigner@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago

I totally get the animosity towards mosquitoes. I spend a lot of time birding in swamps and often leave with no fewer than 20 giant bites (and another 10 from fucking horseflies). I used to be in the same camp as you, until someone explained to me that mosquitoes are one of the few species that can survive in places where conditions are harsh, and they're food not just for land dwelling or airborne animals, but also aquatic species. They're also important pollinators, especially males since they feed on nectar and not blood.

Eradicating them 20 or 30 years ago would have probably been fine, since other insects could benefit from less competition and likely take up those niches. Today however, insect populations are literally collapsing all around us, and it's only getting worse. There is less and less food available for those on the bottom of the food chain, and the effects are going to trickle up all the way to us. Mosquitoes may be one of the few species able to ride out the apocalypse we're currently wreaking on nature.

I think local eradication is still important around human populations, especially for disease-carrying varieties. But leave the rest of them alone. We've levelled enough destruction on ecosystems. Save that energy for the true villain - bedbugs.

[-] SuiXi3D@fedia.io 51 points 3 weeks ago

Mosquitos. Dad died from a bite, got West Nile virus as a result of it. I’d give anything to have him back.

[-] Malyca@lemmy.zip 5 points 3 weeks ago

I'm so sorry for your loss. I agree, mosquitoes are what I would choose.

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[-] jaemo@sh.itjust.works 31 points 3 weeks ago

Sorry that's fucking gross. OP wants to walk through a world of rotting meat and unscavenged carcasses. Seriously. Read up on what happened to vultures in India when they gave all their cattle Diclofenac.

Cultures might not be pretty but they are fucking awesome and entirely necessary. Why peeps gotta hate on the cleaning staff I don't know.

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 16 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

How decline of Indian vultures led to 500,000 human deaths

Also vultures are beautiful.

My sweet girl Zsa Zsa.

And there is the King Vulture.

Bearded Vulture

Egyptian Vulture

[-] noxypaws@pawb.social 5 points 3 weeks ago

Bearded vultures swallow bones, often shattered after they drop them onto rocks from great heights, but sometimes whole. They are so badass.

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Very awesome! Some quick reading says the bones are actually their primary diet. They'd often rather have the bones than the meat. Talk about a biological niche.

And it can chomp down some huge looking bones!

[-] MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 weeks ago

King Vulture looks like a kid coloured it, just pure chaos.

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

😆

I will say, it does make me feel like I'm a bit on the boring side being fairly monochromatic.

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[-] oopsgodisdeadmybad@lemmy.zip 6 points 3 weeks ago

I agree, but got different reasons.

OP went with "less paranoic" as their barrier of choice, whereas the "tick" and "mosquito" choices are actual posts that are dangerous.

Personally I fall in the mosquito camp. I don't know if anything depending on them specifically. And even if there is, I'm ok with sacrificing them too.

[-] MolochHorridus@piefed.social 28 points 3 weeks ago

Humans. We destroy everything.

[-] akunohana@piefed.blahaj.zone 26 points 3 weeks ago
[-] Kennystillalive@feddit.org 24 points 3 weeks ago
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[-] finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world 21 points 3 weeks ago
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[-] TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com 19 points 3 weeks ago

Oh no, vultures are great.

For me—probably ticks.

[-] Bronzie@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago

Was looking for this before commenting. They are terrible creatures full of dissease. I'd pick them to be banished to hell instantly.

Then I could finally got hammocking in shorts without a full body inspection every evening.

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[-] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 3 weeks ago

What is worrying about a buzzard? Are you a small rodent?

[-] Malyca@lemmy.zip 18 points 3 weeks ago
[-] gasgiant@lemmy.ml 16 points 3 weeks ago

Don't want to get rid of a good scavenger like the buzzard. They really help the ecosystem. Particularly with population and disease control.

[-] SaorSol@startrek.website 13 points 3 weeks ago

Humans or at the very least Epstillians

[-] starlinguk@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago

Ticks. One of the most dangerous animals in the world.

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[-] agentTeiko@piefed.social 12 points 3 weeks ago

Humans and I'm not joking maybe Neanderthals would have coexisted with the planet better and we would not be going through the 6th Anthropocene mass extinction event.

[-] massive_bereavement@fedia.io 4 points 3 weeks ago

Not all humans are like this, it's our shared industrial and postindustrial civilization.

I wonder what the world would be like without humans?

[-] Furbag@pawb.social 9 points 3 weeks ago

Fuck ticks.

[-] betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

Bigfoot, of course. This reign of terror must come to an end.

[-] RBWells@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

I love vultures so much! Nature's garbage crew.

I will have to go with palmetto bugs, sorry guys you freak me out so bad and I think there are other bugs that turn leaves into dirt without being nightmare fuel.

[-] Nuerion@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

def humans we suck

[-] prole 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Carrion birds are extremely important to our ecosystems.

Edit: apparently "buzzard" in the US usually refers to vultures, which is what I was thinking of.

[-] tigermountain@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago
[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 7 points 3 weeks ago

Possums, in NZ.

Here they are a scourge. They're introduced and outcompete or prey on native birds.

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[-] fullsquare@awful.systems 7 points 3 weeks ago

tapeworms and parasitic roundworms as a category

[-] rmuk@feddit.uk 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Ugh. Easy. The St Barnabus Mite (they call them Wringlers in the US, I think). Hate, hate, hate them. Nasty, relentless, ethereal, bitey little shitlords, and they're so resilient they turn up everywhere. They can fuck right off.

Edit: Holy shit, it worked!

[-] Tabooki2@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago
[-] PonyOfWar@pawb.social 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

My go is for the Buzzard, it would sure as hell make desert trips and heat waves seem a lot less worrying and paranoiac.

I'm not sure I understand that one. What's the connection between buzzards and heat waves? Why do they make you worry? We have a ton of them in Germany, pretty cool birds and not dangerous unless you're a mouse.

I guess if I had to pick one, it would be ticks. But I'd rather not remove any, because whatever animal you remove may have devastating consequences on the entire ecosystem.

[-] snoons@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 weeks ago

Why wish? It happens every day.

[-] massive_bereavement@fedia.io 6 points 3 weeks ago

Wait.. Buzzard as in buteo buteo? What did they do to you?

[-] jdr@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 weeks ago

As a rotting corpse I live in constant fear of buzzards.

But ya the only buzzards I know chill on dumpsters and fly in lazy circles. I blame Disney for and negative portrayals.

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[-] buzz86us@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Screw worm and mosquito

[-] slazer2au@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Emus. Stupid flightless birds.

[-] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 7 points 3 weeks ago

Still bitter about losing that war?

[-] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

And finally be rid of those stupid Liberty Mutual ads? You might be on to something.

[-] RodgeGrabTheCat@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

The Orange Crybaby.

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this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2026
49 points (100.0% liked)

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