tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post4999234583450251795..comments2024-03-26T22:16:26.572-04:00Comments on Terrierman's Daily Dose: New Zealand's Feral Spree KillersPBurnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05781540805883519064noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-16793900062873810392018-05-30T15:41:00.650-04:002018-05-30T15:41:00.650-04:00God, this is depressing. I’ve had the same argumen...God, this is depressing. I’ve had the same arguments, locally and online, with cat owners who are defiantly ignorant about the damage their outdoor felines do. Even when confronted with substantial data (indeed, in spite of it), the bias persists.LRMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12489475842507956497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-84563227951982367922018-05-29T17:04:54.528-04:002018-05-29T17:04:54.528-04:00Oh yes, New Zealand bats will forage on the forest...Oh yes, New Zealand bats will forage on the forest floor, making them quite vulnerable to cat predation. Trap/neuter/release isn't helpful with protecting bats from cats, as a neutered cat may still kill a lot of bats in its lifetime. Eliminating cats, as distasteful as it is, is the best way to protect these bats.Garnethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00708117591028699227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-11106936617556864782018-05-29T17:01:20.266-04:002018-05-29T17:01:20.266-04:00I agree - not putting cats on there does defeat th...I agree - not putting cats on there does defeat the purpose of the whole thing as cats can be very effective predators. I have visited New Zealand (including offshore island bird sanctuaries) and some of the birds there are simply not afraid of mammals. I had a few Weka and a small robin walk right on my feet. Cats can easily decimate bird populations, especially when said birds are not adapted to the presence of cats.<br /><br />I like cats and have two but keep them inside. One is actually a friendly stray I kept upon failing to find an owner. I had her spayed and vetted. However, when it comes down to cats vs endangered birds, well...the birds have to come first, as there's certainly no cat shortage going on but a lot of New Zealand bird species are vulnerable or endangered. Feral cats aren't pets and should be treated as feral wild animals. That can mean having to control their numbers in some instances. Feral cat lovers can round them up and keep them in enclosed colonies if they want to save them that badly. Garnethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00708117591028699227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-57781802346099632412018-05-29T14:28:02.750-04:002018-05-29T14:28:02.750-04:00Unfortunately, Predator Free New Zealand is too ti...Unfortunately, Predator Free New Zealand is too timid to put cats on its kill list. I don't really blame them, though exclusion of cats defeats the purpose of Predator Free. Cat lovers are many and they go bonkers when you suggest anything that has a hope of eliminating farel cats. I've gotten nasty comments on FB for voicing the opinion that people should keep their cats indoors.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14389321571689128858noreply@blogger.com