Posted on 07/08/2009 11:10:33 AM PDT by Red Steel
(Washington, D.C. July 2, 2009) Coyotes regularly feed on outdoor cats, according to a scientific study Observations of Coyote-Cat Interactions by Shannon Grubbs of the University of Arizona and Paul Krausman of the University of Montana published in the Journal of Wildlife Management. The researchers tracked coyotes in Tucson, Arizona and observed 36 coyote-cat interactions, of which 19 resulted in coyotes killing cats.
Other studies have found that approximately 13% of a coyote’s diet consists of cats. However, during this study, in the 45 instances when coyotes were observed feeding, 42% of the meals were cats. The researchers concluded that any cat outside is vulnerable to coyote attack, and recommended that cat owners keep their cats indoors.
This finding raises questions about Trap, Neuter, and Release programs (TNR) that catch feral cats, neuter them, and then release them back into the wild. American Bird Conservancy has consistently raised concerns about TNR programs because these cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year and also because TNR programs do not provide a humane solution for the cats themselves.
“Well-meaning but misguided TNR practitioners are creating unsafe conditions for domestic cats by releasing them back into areas where they may become prey for coyotes and other predators,” said Darin Schroeder, American Bird Conservancy’s Vice President of Conservation Advocacy. “Providing an all-you-can-eat buffet for coyotes is not a sensible solution and we urge states and communities to reject this inhumane approach to the feral cat problem and require responsible care of pets and the removal of feral cats from the wild.”
Despite this risk of predation, TNR has been adopted in areas with large coyote populations. Arizona’s Maricopa County, which is the fourth largest county in the country with nearly four million people, has adopted TNR.
“County officials are wrong when they say TNR is an effective and humane solution,” said Schroeder. “The truth is that TNR fails to eliminate cat colonies, and instead perpetuates many of the problems these colonies create, including the predation of birds and other wildlife, risks to human and wildlife health, and public nuisance. Feral and free-roaming cats kill hundreds of millions of our nation’s birds each year, putting additional pressure on the populations of many species that are in decline.”
American Bird Conservancy recently produced a new, short film “Trap, Neuter, and Release: Bad for Cats, Disaster for Birds,” which reveals how Trap, Neuter, and Release is failing to substantially reduce cat numbers despite advocates’ claims, and is contributing to the deaths of millions of birds each year including endangered species.
FAST FOOD!!
Sadly we cannot feed irresponsible cat owners to those cayotes.
Another result of the study:Cats are slower than Roadrunners.
Corrected version: However, during this study, in the 45 instances when coyotes were observed feeding, 42% of the meals were cats. The researchers concluded that COYOTES LIKE THE TASTE OF CAT.
Coons will also eat young cats.
Forrest Gump
What’s the big deal. Everyone who has lived in coyote country for any length of time knows that cats are coyote chow.
How big a grant, AKA taxpayer money, did they get for the study?
Apparently, so do the Chinese.
Perfect example of how two problems create one solution.
TNR issue is resloved, coyotes are no longer hungry.
So will owls. We’ve lost two cats to owls over the last few years. But fortunately, our positions for a wacky short-haired domestic and compact black fluffy cat that goes, “wunk!” when you pick it up were filled pretty soon after that.
Oh brother....those bird people with their little bird brains.
Does this mean the researchers stood by and watched 20 pet cats being killed by coyotes?
Why ALL my pets are inside pets unless I have them outside on a leash.
*sheesh*
Fails to note Coyotes just as frequently dine on small to medium sized dogs. They really don’t care which it is.
Now what can we feed the cat owners to.
Well, they sure have an agenda. I wonder how they feel about the removal of feral spotted owls and snail-darters from the wild.
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