Sally Blanchard considers the issues

Over the last several hundred years when man has been exploring his world, his presence in new lands has been disastrous for nature and the environment. Humans brought their domesticated animals and stowaway vermin. The intentional and unintentional introduction of non-native species such as hogs, cattle, sheep, rats, and non-native birds created havoc with the balance of nature in the new lands. For example, did you know that both the House Sparrow and the European Starling were brought to America by a man who wanted every bird that Shakespeare wrote about in this country? They occur coast to coast now and compete with native birds for nest sites in tree cavities. Native peoples have always hunted the food sources in their environment, but with explorers came new people, more sophisticated weapons, and most often, a disregard for the indigenous traditions that had often allowed animals and humans to survive together.

From the beginning of time, explorers to new lands always brought their own animals and plants and took some of the animals and plants from new worlds back home. Some, like the extinct Great Auk and Dodo were captured and used for food for the long voyage, and others were taken home as samples of their new scientific discoveries. But few survived the arduous trip. Many of these discoveries went into botanical and zoological collections, but this was also most likely the beginning of the pet trade.

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