Nation’s Mayors Asked to Stop Spread of Feral Cats

[XemaSab]

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation’s leading bird conservation organization, has called on the mayors of U.S. cities to stop the epidemic spread of feral cats that threaten national bird populations as well as scores of other wildlife. Letters were mailed to mayors of the fifty largest cities in the Unites States, urging they support responsible pet ownership and oppose Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs that promote the feeding of outdoor cats. You can download a copy of the letter here.

“Cat overpopulation is a human-caused tragedy that affects the health and well-being of cats, our native wildlife, and the public,” says Darin Schroeder, Vice President for Conservation Advocacy for ABC in a letter to the mayors. “Numerous published, scientific studies have shown that trap, neuter, re-abandon programs do not reduce feral cat populations, and that outdoor cats, even well-fed ones, kill hundreds of millions of wild birds and other animals each year in the U.S., including endangered species. Birds that nest or feed on the ground are especially vulnerable to cat attacks.”

“What few people seem to understand is that the domestic cat is an extremely effective predator that has been introduced by modern man into an environment whose species have evolved few, if any natural cat defenses. Non-native, well-fed, inoculated, healthy cats versus defenseless prey is about as fair in the world of nature as the proverbial shooting of fish in a barrel,” he said.

Studies indicate that there are 95 million outdoor and feral cats in the United States that kill at least 532 million birds, and possibly significantly more. Given the well-documented impacts of cat predation on wildlife, ABC urges the mayors to oppose TNR programs and the outdoor feeding of cats as a feral cat management option.

http://www.thebirdersreport.com/birds-in-the-news/nation%E2%80%99s-mayors-asked-to-stop-spread-of-feral-cats?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBirdersReport+%28The+Birders+Report%29

[tularetom]

They need to worry more about feral humans

And less about friggin cats.

[aquart]

1. So it's bad to kill birds but good to kill cats?

How many of those bird species are considered endangered?

[Chipper Chat]

2. Non-native birds are more of a problem.

They crowd out native American songbirds. My grandmother dies at 103 and she said when she was a little girl most birds were blue, red, and yellow. Starlings and sparrows are the biggest problem. They are both aggressive. Maybe the EPA, if it survives, can figure out a way to have a starling kill. On the good side, a cat will eat starlings and sparrows as well as bluebirds and wrens.

[Norrin Radd]

3. If it weren't for TNR, I wouldn't have two of my sweet cats

I've adopted (after they came to my door looking for food).

The tell-tale sign they are TNR is the cropped right ear:



And my other TNR buddy (facing the camera). She came to me with half a back right leg (she hops to get around), scarring in her ears, and needing surgery to remove her teeth which were nearly falling out. The vet said she had had a hernia, as well, during her years as a stray:





Her lack of teeth makes her mouth flatten when she rests her head:



Neither of them have the physical fitness to ever catch a bird.

[AsahinaKimi]

4. I sure wish people would stop DUMPING CATS in parks

Thinking, it can live off of nature. Most don't and they die. People who DUMP animals to live in the wild, should never again, be pet owners. Many Animal shelters now have FREE FOOD donated by people, so others who can not afford pet food, can have food for their animals. There were times when I ran out of money, and was glad to have the Animal shelter near by give me donated cat food.

[XemaSab]

5. TNR= re-dumping animals

:(

[ceile]

6. Is this from the Onion?

Stop TNR? Riiiight.

[Arugula Latte]

7. I know. Ridiculous.

TNR is a good alternative to a terrible problem.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

8. Any word on whether Sarah Palin will be hunting feral cats from a helicopter? n/t