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According to the American Bird Conservancy, domestic cats have caused 33 bird extinctions. Personally, I like birds more than cats. Birds are thinking, sentient creatures too.
"In the United States alone, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year. Although this number may seem unbelievable, it represents the combined impact of tens of millions of outdoor cats. Each outdoor cat plays a part."
https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoor...and-birds/
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You have to consider the way others think about these animals...
I do think about it. I have a long history of having pets.
But when feral animals (or pest animals) proliferate to many thousands in number, causing the problems that terracore and so many others have clearly explained, and the protestors become adamant that there shall be no population reduction, then we have a problem.
Also, Carolyn Drew's explanation of essentially being traumatized by viewing culling, yet continuing to go out day after day to view more culling* --to yet further personal stress-- does not seem like a healthy and rational behavior. *(yes she is trying to block the culling but concedes she is doing little more than watching)
She might be more effective and less stressed lobbying for legislative change.
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https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news...rule-turn/
I heard an interview about this on the radio today. With all of the rule changes to boats etc the guy being interviewed said that at public consultation sessions about 98% of the questions were about cats. There may really be something to the theory of cats affecting people's brains.
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It is pretty clear that toxoplasmosis does affect behavior in humans but since we are not part of the normal life cycle those effects are not reinforced through natural selection. People just get strange. To the degree that our brains work the same way as rats' brains there will be some similar behavioral changes. If a behavior does or doesn't help cats it is pretty much coincidence because humans have not been "in the loop" for anywhere near as long as cats/rats have. However increased risk taking and impulsiveness has been fairly well correlated with toxoplasmosis infection. Cat feeders are usually at odds with a large slice of society so a dose of impulsivity and recklessness fits right in.
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Sounds like the DLNR has finally taken a tentative step in the right direction. If I read this right they have officially prohibited feeding cats on state land, although they deferred a provision relating to disposal of feral animals. I wish I knew what that provision is. I think that they already have authority to dispose of said animals by any means necessary.
http://www.kitv.com/story/36326441/new-r...at-harbors
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It's too bad the funding isn't there to do an aggressive trap, fix and release plan for the feral cats, and an aggressive trap and fine of humans who are responsible for the ongoing feral cat problem.
Someone/s dumped cats at the Keaau transfer stn again....kittens to adults, despite the warning signs that a fine will be issued for animal abandonment. One adult looked like it had been well fed, belonged to someone, then got dumped there. An aggressive national campaign educating people about animal abandonment is necessary. The mentality that a feral cat can survive on their own has got to stop...barely survive is more like it under the most cruel conditions.
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Trap, yes. Fix, OK. Return, no. Especially no here in Hawaii but no anywhere. If you could wave a magic wand and sterilize animals without touching them that would be great but once you have a cat under your control, however that happened and for whatever reason, you should not abandon it again.
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Rat's climb trees and eat bird eggs. Cats do not eat bird eggs.
mella l
Art and Science Our Future
bytheSEA
mella l
Art and Science
bytheSEA
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but once you have a cat under your control, however that happened and for whatever reason, you should not abandon it again.
And perhaps ending up at the Humane Society instead and euthanized is considered more "humane" by some, than living in harsh conditions. No matter how you turn it, it's a sad situation. Last I heard, over a couple hundred cats and dogs are euthanized every month. I wonder how many cats and dogs are adopted every month.
IMHO, an aggressive educational campaign about feline sterilization and abandonment is key in making a difference.
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Goodness knows I don't consider the internet to be infallible but when I googled "Do cats eat eggs?" this was only one of many positive answers. So yes, cats will climb up into trees and eat eggs. I assume it is even more common if the birds are ground nesting.
http://net-results.blogspot.com/2010/06/...-eggs.html
quote:
Originally posted by mella l
Rat's climb trees and eat bird eggs. Cats do not eat bird eggs.
mella l
Art and Science Our Future
bytheSEA
