Feral cats: Kill 1.3 to 4.0 billion birds annually;6.3 to 22.3 billion small mammals

[Art]

I have a large file of articles like this, because similar research has been conducted time & again over the last hundred yrs; their devastating impact on native wildlife is beyond scientific dispute, yet in many places bleeding hearts stifle all attempts by wildlife agencies to control them. (As with another destructive pest, feral horses, which drive native wildlife away from scarce food & water sources in the desert West; of all the federal boondoggles ever enacted into law, the Wild Horses Act tops the bill.)

And many of the cats doing this damage aren't truly feral, they're merely household pets allowed to roam free, but fed by their owners every day. A cat is driven to hunt by instinct, not hunger.

Some animals benefit from a big fan base. Almost all birds, horses, dogs & cats lead the list. Here horses are sacred, in other places they're more utilitarian and are widely used as food. It's good to have an effective lobby on your side if you're a person or a horse.

Clintonhater: Sea gulls benefit from two things - they are a native species and they're birds.

[clintonhater]

Clintonhater: Sea gulls benefit from two things - they are a native species and they're birds.

Coyotes & wolves are native species, but they don't get the legal protection the flying rats have. Once upon a time, their numbers were held in check by Indians & others who raided the islands were they often breed for eggs, but of course that's now illegal; far more gulls inhabit North America now than when the Pilgrims landed.

[Art]

Coyotes & wolves are native species, but they don't get the legal protection the flying rats have. Once upon a time, their numbers were held in check by Indians & others who raided the islands were they often breed for eggs, but of course that's now illegal; far more gulls inhabit North America now than when the Pilgrims landed.

there are a whole bunch of animals that don't get the protection birds do, in Texas that includes almost all reptiles, and most predatory mammals. Birds just have a great lobby, raptors in particular are untouchable; in fact kill a hawk poaching you chickens and get caught....it'll be at best a very expensive day.

In Alaska and Canada the harvest of seagull eggs by the indigenous people is still legal which of course does folks where you live no good at all.

[bruce]

Rule SSS must be applied when necessary. Shoot. Shovel. Shut Up. Sincerely. bruce.

[AZshooter]

In high school, a buddy lived in an old home on some former orchard acreage. It was located on the county line, and not claimed for coverage by either county services. It was good-looking property with the home and a couple more, in addition to vintage barns and structures. People leaving town would use it as a dumping grounds for their cats on the way out of town - some barely slowed down & tossed kitty out the car window. As a result, there were always cat roadkills in that particular area. There was also a large community of feral cats infesting a section of orchard and barns. My buddy's dogs were fed outside, but eventually were attacked by diseased and starving packs of cats. Neither county would send sheriff or animal services to remedy the wild cat population.

One Saturday morning my Dad got a call from my buddy's Dad. The plan was to meet up early Sunday morning for a big farm breakfast. Several friends were there to participate. At days' end we had shot several dozen cats, enough that they had to bury them all using a back hoe. My buddy's little brother was in charge of loading up the wagon with carcasses to be buried. We never got all of the cats, but significantly thinned them out. Nevertheless, the remaining cats took little time in re-overpopulating the orchard area. It was necessary to go out every 6 months to thin out more. None were very healthy looking, many scarred from fighting, all had fleas and parasites, and it was a big nd merciful favor to kill off most of them.

[SUPERX-M1]

Rural areas are ,indeed, a dumping ground for unwanted cats and dogs. The dumpers often dumped near a farmhouse, perhaps expecting that the farm would take the animal in. My aunt in Ohio was a soft touch, had no money, but always had over 10 cats and over 6 dogs-all abandoned. The cats were porch cats that were fed but that was all. No vet care, of course. Read that today, vet care feed etc is $1300 a year and for a dog over 1500. Neighbors cat vet bill was at least 800,other neighbor had two dogs struck by cars, 2 grand @. Pets are rec for older folks, many low income cant afford proper care. Small animal vets are a new thing, used to be large animal only. Animals had to pay their way.

[togor]

Member here of the "shoot and shovel club".

[clintonhater]

The dumpers often dumped near a farmhouse, perhaps expecting that the farm would take the animal in.

It's the dumpers who should be shot & shoveled.

[SUPERX-M1]

youtUBE has many vid on feral cats, rat hunting with pellet guns, hog hunting.

One from Australia said had huge prob- cats killing off unique Aussie wildlife.Said had est 8 million feral and 2.5 m domestic. Domestic cats usually run free day and night- and hunt. Est. 1000 birds and animals @ cat each year-minimum. Their prey include reptiles,such as lizards. Hunters culling cats get death threats and abuse from cat lovers. Neuter and release cats keep killing wildlife. If caught in live trap, pellet or 22 to the head while in trap. Drape trap with cloth while move trap to keep cats calm.

England restricts power of pellet guns to iirc 12 ft lbs. Some usa areas, restrict use of pellet guns, say in city limits.

Many of these ratters and pig and coyote hunters use night sights and thermal sights(expensive). Rat pelts not too valuable, coyote pelts used to be. Pork is good eating but cook to 145 or risk trichinosis. Bears also.

[kj47]

Agree with Bruce, the three s rule is the only way..