spay and release - thoughts? - Erica1989

In this country, feral cats are heavily implicated in the decline and extinction of many native animals. This is because this ecosystem had no cats or cat equivalents until domestic cats came along (except for quolls, which aren't exactly terrific hunters). In my line of work, part of our licence agreement from National Parks and Wildlife Service is to humanely kill any feral animal we catch in one of our traps. Realistically, no one does it because if you're in the business you love animals and don't believe there is a humane way to kill them without anaesthetic overdose.

 So policy here is to kill feral cats. The only time spay and release is considered a valid tool for population management is for animals like foxes that hold territories. The idea is that a desexed fox will still hold a territory, but won't be contributing to the population. I don't know how effective it is, but that's the theory of it. Over here, mostly these animals are just baited, baited, baited. We have a poison that's deadly to non-natives but doesn't affect natives (at least, not herbivorous natives). I have heard rumours of developing contraception viruses for some feral animals, that can be passed on from animal to animal.

But, it's not as though feral cats are something new in the environment! They have been around for years. I have yet to see a shortage of opposums, birds, squirels, rats, mice, ducks, etc.

But that's not the case in other areas. I'm sure in a place with a low population of ferals who aren't doing much damage, a trap-speuter-releaser program would be fine. But when I take my dog on a 45 minute walk and routinely see anywhere from 3-5 ferals in that time period...something needs to be done. And I know these are not just somebody's "outdoor cats" because of their condition - matted coats, poor body conditions, usually scars or wounds. Some of them are friendly (there is one in particular who adores my dog...I have a feeling he was owned at some point) but most are true ferals and you can't get anywhere near them.

 Like I mentioned before, our F&W department here at Tech has reported a huge decline in ground nesting bird populations. I can't even remember the last time I have seen ducklings around, and the number of ducks in the various ponds around here gets smaller and smaller

We have a lot of livestock also around here, and cats will routinely infest hay barns. A few barn cats is all right, but when you have a ton of them, you get excrement all in the feed, you get possible disease transmission when they leave the remains of their kill in the hay, etc. Poultry farmers, as well as people who just keep backyards flocks, here as well are having an increasingly tough time keeping out these cats. In terms of being hit by cars....remember a cat running out on the road can cause accidents and human injury as well.

It really depends on where you live, and what the particular situation is like, I believe. A few tidbits of info:

Cats are said to be endangering populations of least terns, piping plovers, and loggerhead shrikes and marsh rabbits (in Florida). They have eliminated certain bird species on islands.

 They have spread feline leukemia virus to mountain lions and feline panleucopaenia (feline distemper)(Van Rensburg et al. 1987) to the Florida panther (Coleman et al.1996).

Cats may reduce prey of other animals of managerial importance (e.g., the raptors)

In Connecticut alone, cats are the third largest carriers of rabies. Nation wide, they are the domestic animal most frequently reported to have rabies

 A mating pair and their offspring can produce 600 cats in two years. (1000 female adults can produce 6000 kittens a year). The coyote, fox, and eagle are the only predators

whtsthfrequency

and their offspring can produce 600 cats in two years. (1000 female adults can produce 6000 kittens a year). The coyote, fox, and eagle are the only predators

[falls over]  OMG! I had no earthly idea! 

I know, its amazing. Even if, say, half of all these kittens die from disease or foxes or whatnot...that is still 300 cats in 2 years, 150 cats per year...from ONE mating pair.

Even if 75% of these kittens die, that's still ~75 cats per year, about 6 per month.

 Now, I LOVE cats...I really do....but sometimes....

Thanks for the link . It's interesting stuff. I'd love to see something like that in effect over baiting with poison and trapping.