‘Legitimate’ cat-killing?
By Gina Spadafori
November 26, 2006
Meant to post this follow-up in the L.A. Times about the birder arrested for killing cats in Texas (here’s the previous post):
Jim Stevenson says he is not the hate-filled serial cat killer he has been made out to be.
But if he was shooting the feral cats that roam the sand dunes of this picturesque Gulf Coast island, argues Stevenson — the founder of the Galveston Ornithological Society — he would be breaking no laws.
In his view, he would be performing a public service by saving the lives of beautiful birds at one of the nation’s best bird-watching locales.
“These birds, virtually all of them, are protected by state and local laws. Do we ignore what is happening with these stray cats, or do we finally stand up and do something about it?” Stevenson said. “Sometimes you get pushed to a point where you can no longer ignore a situation.”
I absolutely do believe that people should not allow their cats to roam. It’s for the cat’s safety, and it’s the responsible thing to do as far as your neighbors go. But of course, these are feral cats — domestic cats gone wild, and their wild-born offspring — and although trap-neuter-release programs are the best way of controlling these animals, I also believe that in some sensitive environments trapping to remove feral cats is a better way to go. I would prefer to see the animals then tamed and placed or at least moved to a less environmentally sensitive area. And I realize that some of them would have to be euthanized because they couldn’t adapt to new homes or locales.
But I absolutely disagree with the “open season on cats” approach, and I believe that feral cats are a convenient target (so to speak) for the frustration birders feel about problems they cannot control: Like the wholesale destruction of vital habitat on every continent (for timber and beef production) and the development of areas that used to be prime American birding areas.
Are you a cat-hater if you take your .22 out in defense of birds? Doesn’t really matter, I suppose, since not matter what else, you are breaking the law in most places. And if convicted, Stevenson — who admitted to killing other cats, but not the one he’s charged with now — will get two years in jail.
There are fifty to sixty million feral cats in the U.S. today. Added to the roaming pets, if each eats one bird a month that’s a billion birds. Trap, neuter, release to the wild to kill more birds is like using a net to turn the tide. Someone will have to do the responsible thing or our descendants will not hear birds singing.
Comment by BirdAdvocate — December 9, 2006 @ 3:14 am
I checked out your blog, and I’d bet you’re a member of the “shoot and shovel” club if this post is any indication.
The wholesale destruction of habitat and rampant development is a bigger problem than feral cats could ever be. I don’t see the cat-haters getting their knickers in a twist about that, though.
Everyone who blogs here advocates responsible stewardship of pets, which includes keeping cats indoors. But feral cats will never go away, no matter how many you shoot. That’s why managing colonies is a better option. Not to mention: Those feral cats are also killing a lot of species nobody wants, like rats and mice.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 9, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
“Not to mention: Those feral cats are also killing a lot of species nobody wants, like rats and mice.”
Many of the rodents and other animals feral and roaming cats are threatening are native species. You’d value the life of a destructive alien species over them?
You’d lose your bet I’m a shovel ‘n shooter. I bought a Havahart trap and take ferals to the humane society.
Comment by BirdAdvocate — December 9, 2006 @ 6:13 pm