Domestic Cats Kill More Small Wildlife Than Any Other Human Activity

[longknife]

Domestic cats are known killers, and when let loose they can do real predatory damage. Cats (Felis catus) can wipe out entire populations of native birds and small mammals such as mice, squirrels and rabbits when introduced to island environments. Eradication efforts have historically been implemented to remove these non-native predators from islands.

A new study shows that domestic cats can wreak havoc on the mainland as well. Researchers say un-owned cats kill far more birds and mammals than previously thought, making them the greatest human-related cause of these wildlife deaths in the United States.

Read more @ Domestic Cats Kill More Small Wildlife Than Any Other Human Activity : 80beats

Ohmagosh! Does anyone see PETA or the Sierra Club commenting on this? Lets go on a major hunt and round up all these killer cats. Put 'em up for adoption?

 

[mamooth]

They didn't show the methodology, and it doesn't make sense. Look at the situation. Feral cats came over with the original settlers. For centuries, they've been co-existing with the native birds, not wiping any of them out. Then just recently the cats have started wiping out the birds? Just what set the kitties off on this killing rampage, orders from the mother ship?

Cats are the scapegoats, the real culprit being habitat loss. Little secret, cats don't actually catch many birds because ... birds fly. My few were always much better at getting mice, voles, baby bunnies, grasshoppers, cicadas, a few snakes ... things on the ground. The few birds they could nab were almost always house sparrows or pigeons, which the killing of is an ecological good thing.

 

[whatever]

Yes, cats are always the scapegoat mamooth. They couldn't possibly know how much small wildlife or birds they kill. They belong here just like every other animal.

 

[Mr. H.]

I'd say wind turbines kill far more wildlife than cats.