Posted on 08/05/2007 9:26:04 AM PDT by nuconvert
N.J. Town Targets Cats in Effort to Protect Endangered Birds
August 04, 2007
CAPE MAY, N.J.
Cats are as much a part of this seaside town's genteel culture as rainbow-colored Victorian bed-and-breakfasts, trolley tours and cocktails on the porch at sunset.
They're also suspect No. 1 in many deaths of the endangered piping plover, a fist-sized, white-and-brown fuzzball of a bird that has closed beaches and stopped development projects in the interest of protecting their habitat.
With only 115 pairs of piping plovers left in the state, the federal government may intervene on the side of the birds, which has set both fur and feather flying here. Cat lovers fear the roaming felines will be euthanized, while bird lovers are wary of a rare species being wiped out.
"This is a very emotional issue; this really is a cat town," said resident Pat Peckham. "I think they should leave the cats where they are. I'm a firm believer in letting nature take its course."
A cat's nature and its appetite for critters are just what have bird enthusiasts concerned.
Cape May is one of the prime bird-watching spots in all of North America; the World Series of Birding is held here each year. And with bird watching and related expenditures bringing in nearly $2 billion a year to New Jersey's economy, the feathers may win this fight.
The plovers, which breed on East Coast beaches during warm weather, build nest in sandy, open stretches of beach, making them and their chicks easy prey for a variety of predators, including foxes, gulls, raccoons and cats.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Excuse me but I know for a fact in the city of Buffalo alone...that there are so many dogs kept in fenced backyards 24-7 that kill tons of birds. THe owners brag about it. The dogs are all vicious and kept outside to guard their homes. Many many neighborhoods all over the country -—have dogs kept outside for that purpose-— to guard their homes. The dogs are good at catching and killing birds and do so in GREAT NUMBERS.
Ha!
A liberal idea I can get behind!
Who Knew?
While they are at it, they should do something about the dang geese!
How do you converse with someone who’s first statement is that you are ignorant? You don’t, because it’s a waste of time.
LIve on a real farm for a few years then come tell me all about feral cats.
Yummy - the more endangered the bird, the tastier they are.
Flying rats bump
I guess you’ve never seen cats hunt and kill birds.
susie
You’ll have to show me some proof. I’ve spent most of my adult life around dogs, especially bird dogs. It’s rare for a dog to catch a healthy bird. Let me let you in on a secret. Birds fly. Dogs don’t.
There, I was glad to help.
susie
Yeah, everybody on this forum used to live on farm. None of you was raised in town.
The only thing you know more than I do is how to be an obnoxious know it all. By the way, I know you weren’t looking to converse. Know it alls never do, they simply dictate.
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