Cause and effect or is it affect???? When the local person here in Buladean addressed the ginseng issue, he had obviously been challenged as well as rewarded for he had recently talked with several state forest and game officials who were visiting the area. He had overheard them addressing the ginseng issue blaming the locals for overharvesting. His interesting personal theory is that there are many more turkeys than there ever were grouse. The turkeys forage in large numbers, probably require more food than grouse, and clean an area when they move through it. But they are not spreading the ginseng seeds like the song birds for their craw/gizzard grinds the seeds up. The seeds therefore will not germinate for they have basically been destroyed for reproductive purposes. It sounds logical. However, that may not be the real cause. But an interesting theory. And one worth looking in to. Perhaps if ginseng is not reproducing like it once did it could be acid rain??? Look at the Fraser Fir on the Roan Mountain?? Certainly the locals are not doing that.. Yes, these pristine areas are being harmed in some way. But how??? What?? Why?? Tess Cumbie Buladean, NC =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================