Posted on 10/28/2018 9:37:50 AM PDT by hiho hiho
Invasive species can be ruthless. Surprisingly, they can also be adorable.
When non-native plants, animals, and pathogens are introduced into a favorable new environment, they can sweep through the ecosystem and threaten the survival of the native flora and fauna. They also wreak havoc on the economy. From Burmese python to Asian carp, efforts to eradicate or control invasive species cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $138 billion per year.
But in one notable case, humans have been happy to make an invasive species feel at home. We're talking about cats: one of the most prolific invasive species in history.
The National Wildlife Federation defines invasive species as any kind of living organism — an animal, plant, seeds, even bacteria or fungus — that is not native to an ecosystem and causes harm. It turns out that domesticated cats have no native range. Originally bred from wild cats and introduced to North America by European colonists, domesticated cats are now listed as one of the top 100 invasive species worldwide by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Domestic cats are directly responsible for the extinction of a number of animal species around the world, including 33 bird species. In the U.S., the popular pet is estimated to kill over 1 billion birds and over 6 billion other small animals every year. While the biggest threat are currently posed by feral cats — domesticated breeds that don't have an owner and aren't socialized to humans — even common house cats that are well cared for and fed will hunt and kill if let outside.
Cats also transmit diseases. In 2014, of the domestic animals that contracted rabies, which can then be spread to the local wildlife and humans, roughly 60 percent of them were cats.
Like nearly all invasive species, cats also have rapid rates of reproduction. Females can start breeding at just 6 months old and can breed every 4 months, producing up to 12 kittens every year. In just the last 40 years, the number of domestic cats across America has tripled. While it's difficult to get an accurate count of feral cats, estimates suggest that today there are at least 30 million of them roaming our streets and neighborhoods. An additional 40 million pet cats have regular access to the outdoors.
There are some simple and effective solutions to help minimize the harm domesticated cats pose to local wildlife. Spaying or neutering the pets helps keep the cat population under control. Keeping cats indoors will prevent them from preying on birds and other small animals in the area.
Ironically, one of the hazards some cats face in the wild comes from another invasive species. In Florida, non-native Burmese pythons, bred as exotic pets, got loose and multiplied in the Everglades; their population grew rapidly in the wake of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Today, they number in the tens or even hundreds of thousands, and Burmese pythons are encroaching into suburban areas — where domesticated cats make easy prey.
This was used in one of my stat classes to show the difference between causation and correlation.
A higher percent of older women in neighborhoods correlated with fewer songbirds. Old ladies didn’t kill songbirds, but they had increased cat ownership over the general population, and the cats were the cause.
Never had a cat until the past year. Since Jack came in the house, I haven’t seen a scorpion since. For some reason over the past few years, we’ve seen huge rise of those evil critters. He’s quite the hunter, so I think I’ll keep him around. I don’t even mind the feral guy that comes in the evenings to browse around the yard.
yep...
My 15-month old precious pussycat I adopted when she was about 7 weeks old is still trying to kill me.
Yes we have cats
They have all been “Dekittified” through the years
They are very effective at rodent control
Around here outdoor cats are prey as much as predators. Coyotes, foxes, fisher cats, and larger wild cats regularly dine on outdoor domestic cats.
Feral cats are very efficient hunters and can be self-sufficient. Feral dogs will kill small animals they can catch but more often are scroungers, dependent on carrion and human garbage.
Yes, I despise those too... Good riddance! Some areas of Phoenix are inundated with roof rats...thankfully I’m not in that rat race...
We used to have tons of whippoorwills. I haven’t heard one in a decade or so around here. I wonder if it’s all the cats, one lady down the road used to feed a ton of them. Whippoorwills nest right on the ground.
Freegards
Those kill numbers of course grossly exaggerated—as are most advocacy stats.
It is true that birds have pretty much been vacated from suburban America—but that is the doing of Homo Sapiens, the much more destructive invasive species.
Bingo!
Cats have souls far beyond their size, etc.—beyond, as well, their canine cousins.
I’ve said it before - in the suburban areas where I’ve lived, the biggest killers of songbirds have been other birds - especially crows.
Correlation is not causation. Older folks in the neighborhoods also suggest, for example, older suburbs closer to the urban ring.
(Data also only as good as its gathering...)
Hmm - have one of those invasive species sleeping on couch next to me
Should I be scared ……??
Now we know what killed off the dinosaurs.
So, what’s the problem? Fewer “songbirds” crapping all over the place and fewer mice and rats spreading disease works for me. Cats have been in north america since at least the 1700s as sailors kept them on boats to stop the spread of diseases like the Black Death. Were it not for cats finally killing the rat carriers that spread it, the bubonic plague would have wiped out all of humanity. Give the smooth killer in your backyard another scratch between the ears today and say thank you for saving all of our lives.
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