To kill or not to kill? (2 Viewers)

michaelboustead said:

Does anyone know if any control program for feral cats has proved effective in reducing populations? Effective programs with other introduced predators? What changes beneficial and not? Guess I will try google

Probably not a good question, geography and reproduction rates probably vary result.

Mike

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Feral cats have been eradicated from various islands where they were annihilating endemic wildlife. North America is just a bigger island. Go on - you can do it - look at the Passenger Pigeon, IBWO, plains buffalo (almost - it wasn't inability to do it that stopped it), Great Auk........

John

Farnboro John said:

Feral cats have been eradicated from various islands where they were annihilating endemic wildlife. North America is just a bigger island. Go on - you can do it - look at the Passenger Pigeon, IBWO, plains buffalo (almost - it wasn't inability to do it that stopped it), Great Auk........

John

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I knew that Carolina Parakeet and Bachman's Warbler were extinct, not heard about the others.

Thought that Great Auk still existed in Britain and the population of Osprey have been thriving for decades.

I guess the method and consequences of intervening in the eco-system should be ignored. I sure my countrymen will use a humane and ecologically sound method or eradication. Perhaps if US increased the fox population it would solve the problem, worked in Australia- of I guess the fox was an introduced species.

Mike


Mike

Mike

Good points made by Jos. Look in any mirror and you see the most destructive being of all on the planet. After all we introduced cats into the ecosystems of the world in the first place.

I really put this one on the news as it seemed to me to show a double standard with the attempted protection of an endangered species at the expense of another living creature, albeit a 'feral' species bu smeone who could have used other means to protect the birds given his position in the local birding communtiy.

Also..I just want to point out out Mike that the fox was introduced into Australia and like so many other species there (Cane Toad, Rabbit etc.) has really been harmful to the local ecosystems. Anyway it was miximatosis that did for rabbits there in the end.

On the subject of killing off feral cat populations.it is possible, but the larger the area the harder it is and I am sure it wold never be sanctioned as too many pets would get caught in the crossfire.

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia the local authorites eradicated all feral dogs by rounding them up and simply dumping them in the desert..a rather unpleasant way to die. The local feral cats though remain untouched, as the prohet himself liked cats!

"Also..I just want to point out out Mike that the fox was introduced into Australia and like so many other species there (Cane Toad, Rabbit etc.) has really been harmful to the local ecosystems. Anyway it was miximatosis that did for rabbits there in the end."

I am aware that the fox is not indigenous to Australia. My comments were made in anger over the contents of some prior post-sorry.

I am conflicted by this thread, eradication of life (feral life), is probably beneficial (if the consequences are what we believe they will be), but I can't help but feel that is just more violence, and I am so tired of it.

michaelboustead said:

Thought that Great Auk still existed in Britain.


Mike

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!!!!!

John

Farnboro John said:

!!!!!

John

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?????????????

This is crazy

Mike

michaelboustead said:

?????????????

This is crazy

Mike

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Grreat Auk, the largest of the Alcidae and the only flightless one of recent times, has been extinct for over a century. The last ones were hunted down by Icelandic fishermen for collectors who were prepared to pay premium rates due to the rarity of the birds.

It is slightly less famous than the Dodo.

John

Follow up Article from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/magazine/02cats-v--birds-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

Not sure if the above will work. In any event, one week trial and two days of jury deliberation. Jury unable to reach a verdict and the case was dismissed. I presume that the District Attorney could re-charge, but this would be really unlikely.

Mike