From the book "Flyaway" by Suzie Gilbert
· The two greatest threats to songbirds are habitat destruction and outdoor cats.
· According to the American Bird Conservancy, there are 90 million pet cats in the United States, and according to one poll, only 35 % of them are kept exclusively indoors.
· During an eighteen-month period, a single cat roaming a wildlife experiment station killed over 1,600 birds and small mammals.
· Cats can have up to three litters of kittens per year.
· A study in a newsletter published by the California Academy of Sciences concluded that the combined population of outdoor cats kill more than 3 billion birds per year, and the study was conducted over ten years ago!
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Domestic cats are considered primarily responsible for the extinction of 33 bird species since the 1600s.
In New Zealand alone, cats were primarily responsible for the extinction of eight bird species and the eradication of 41 others from islands.
There are at least 90 million pet cats in the United States, and perhaps an equal number of stray and feral cats.
Help to educate the public on responsible pet ownership and in generating support for predator management projects.
Spay or neuter your cat at an early age before it can reproduce.
Do not feed stray cats and never abandon a cat you can no longer care for.
Conduct a Cats Indoors! campaign in your community. For free downloadable materials and more information, see http://www.abcbirds.org/cats.
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Cats are Serious Hunters
Scientific studies actually show that each year, cats kill hundreds of millions of migratory songbirds.
University of Wisconsin ornithologist, Dr. Santley Temple estimates that 20-150 million songbirds are killed each year by rural cats in Wisconsin alone.
Cats are a serious threat to fledglings, birds roosting at night and birds on a nest.
Research shows that de-clawing cats and bell collars do not prevent them from killing birds and other small animals.
Cats prey on these animals and birds whether or not they are hungry.
Feline predation is not "natural." Millions of backyard birds and other animals are slaughtered by cats each year.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Help
§ Discouraging Free-Roaming Cats
§ For healthy cats and wild birds, cats should not be allowed to roam free.
§ If you are unwilling to eliminate free-roaming cats, do not attract birds to your yard by putting out feeders, nest boxes and baths. Eliminating free-roaming cats is the best way you can "protect" your backyard birds from cat predation.
§ Responsible pet owners keep their cats indoors. Most local jurisdictions have enforceable leash laws for cats and dogs.
§ Work with your local humane society, veterinarians and state wildlife agency to enact and enforce free-roaming cat regulations.
· The two greatest threats to songbirds are habitat destruction and outdoor cats.
· According to the American Bird Conservancy, there are 90 million pet cats in the United States, and according to one poll, only 35 % of them are kept exclusively indoors.
· During an eighteen-month period, a single cat roaming a wildlife experiment station killed over 1,600 birds and small mammals.
· Cats can have up to three litters of kittens per year.
· A study in a newsletter published by the California Academy of Sciences concluded that the combined population of outdoor cats kill more than 3 billion birds per year, and the study was conducted over ten years ago!
___________________________________________________
Domestic cats are considered primarily responsible for the extinction of 33 bird species since the 1600s.
In New Zealand alone, cats were primarily responsible for the extinction of eight bird species and the eradication of 41 others from islands.
There are at least 90 million pet cats in the United States, and perhaps an equal number of stray and feral cats.
Help to educate the public on responsible pet ownership and in generating support for predator management projects.
Spay or neuter your cat at an early age before it can reproduce.
Do not feed stray cats and never abandon a cat you can no longer care for.
Conduct a Cats Indoors! campaign in your community. For free downloadable materials and more information, see http://www.abcbirds.org/cats.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Cats are Serious Hunters
Scientific studies actually show that each year, cats kill hundreds of millions of migratory songbirds.
University of Wisconsin ornithologist, Dr. Santley Temple estimates that 20-150 million songbirds are killed each year by rural cats in Wisconsin alone.
Cats are a serious threat to fledglings, birds roosting at night and birds on a nest.
Research shows that de-clawing cats and bell collars do not prevent them from killing birds and other small animals.
Cats prey on these animals and birds whether or not they are hungry.
Feline predation is not "natural." Millions of backyard birds and other animals are slaughtered by cats each year.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Help
§ Discouraging Free-Roaming Cats
§ For healthy cats and wild birds, cats should not be allowed to roam free.
§ If you are unwilling to eliminate free-roaming cats, do not attract birds to your yard by putting out feeders, nest boxes and baths. Eliminating free-roaming cats is the best way you can "protect" your backyard birds from cat predation.
§ Responsible pet owners keep their cats indoors. Most local jurisdictions have enforceable leash laws for cats and dogs.
§ Work with your local humane society, veterinarians and state wildlife agency to enact and enforce free-roaming cat regulations.
