Posted on 06/02/2009 3:03:35 PM PDT by JoeProBono
I’m trying to get to bedrock on conflicting assertions and policies related to free-ranging cats and songbirds. The American Bird Conservancy has posted a new video criticizing an array of programs across the country through which well-meaning animal lovers “trap, neuter and release” feral cats. Search the Web for “ trap, neuter, release” or “ feral cat coalition” and you’ll find such efforts from Indiana to Florida to Washington State. The idea is that, once sterilized, populations of wild cats will slowly decrease on their own accord by attrition. The video, and other experts on bird-cat interactions, strongly dispute this, noting that in some cases enduring communities of feral cats are a magnet for cat owners seeking a place to dump their unwanted kittens or cats.
(Excerpt) Read more at dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com ...
The problem of cat versus bird is as old as time. If we attempt to resolve it by legislation why knows but what we may be called upon to take sides as well in the age old problems of dog versus cat, bird versus bird, or even bird versus worm. In my opinion, the State of Illinois and its local governing bodies already have enough to do without trying to control feline delinquency.For these reasons, and not because I love birds the less or cats the more, I veto and withhold my approval from Senate Bill No. 93.
When cats raise songbirds by the thousands in factories so that they can be consumed for lunch at will without any overall reduction in their numbers or diversity, then the situation might be analogous.
Do you take the same ‘hands off’ attitude towards coyotes eating cats?
Our kitties generally bring their catch in alive. It amuses them to let them go & watch US chase them. Certain garden snakes have gotten so use to the routine they actually curl up in my sweetie’s hand as he carries them back outside.
We have 6 indoor cats, all adopted from the roadside. It's all we can handle. There are 4 in the yard at this time, I'll shoot them as soon as I get a clear shot, but it isn't something I enjoy.
There’s my buddy. He’s been keeping the locals and drop offs from bothering me and the local birds for years. I know where the yotes live and could actually trap them out of the area if I wanted to for 20-30$ a hide...But I like them.
I agree with you. I love birds. I love cats. But animals do kill other animals.
When my cats misbehave, I remind them that were it not for me they would be living outside eating bugs and birds.
Birds have posted lookouts! Cats Beware!
Psst. Are they packin'?
In my front yard, the raccoons and the rabbits forage at the same time. I don’t think raccoons would do the trick.
How’s that working for you?
We can’t repeal the law of the food chain. Birds exist to feed predators. All the little predator-fodder animals are cute as they can be. I love watching the grinnies, bunnies, ground squirrels (”baby” squirrels — they aren’t babies), tree squirrels, possums, etc. that forage around here, but they’re there to feed the raptors, coyotes, and yes, the cats. Birds are as reproductively prolific as cats and all the other animals that eat them. I got over my shock about this issue a long time ago, and now the sight of a raccoon with a grinny in its mouth is kinda gross but does not send me into a tizzy. Anymore.
Anyone with a bad “feral” (dumped) cat problem should start taking license plates and reporting the perps to the police, the pound, and their local humane society. People who dump cats are extraordinarily cruel and thoughtless. They shirk their Godly duties of dominion over the animals. Dominion means careful husbandry, not do what you want to these wonderful creatures.
LOL!
Mockingbirds are my favorite. OK, not my favorite today, my favorite this moment is the mother mallard and her four babies who just walked down my KCMO suburban street on their way I guess to the creek down the hill.
Some people think “Bambi” was a documentary.
No. A better solution would be to force people to do the right thing and quit breeding pets on purpose and make it mandatory to get them spayed and neutered. Start at the beginning.
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