Cats Kill...

Well, here I am again...going on about outside cats. I used to have cats (but have developed an allergy,) and yes, some were outside cats. But, that was before I learned better; and I just read some new data. Cats are an invasive species and reek havoc on native wildlife. I started getting a clue that perhaps I should contain my pet when my cat, Spike, decided beheading my neighbor's tulips was great fun. He went right down the row; jumping on a beautiful flower, pulling it down and kicking it apart with his back legs as he chewed the petals off. Oh my he had fun...and made my neighbor so mad! Rightfully so; I got just as mad when my other neighbor's dog killed and buried Spike. So yes, through the years I've decided cats do belong indoors and have found even a feral kitten will make a fine, indoor pet.

The following includes bits and pieces of a recent article that came to my attention. As you read, remember that there are more owned cats than feral cats...and some 47% of owned cats are allowed outside...where they hunt. Much analysis is based on each cat killing only eight birds per year...and I'm sure we all know pets who bring home far more dead birds than that...not to mention mice, voles, lizards, and bats. Yes...even well-fed pets make a huge dent in local flora and fauna.

(Washington, D.C., December 8, 2010) A new, peer-reviewed study report titled, Feral Cats and Their Management from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, has put the annual economic loss from feral cat predation on birds in the United States at $17 billion. The report analyzes existing research on management of the burgeoning feral cat population – over 60 million and counting -- in the United States.

Feral cats are domestic cats that have gone wild. They cause significant losses to populations of native birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians; can transmit several diseases such as rabies and toxoplasmosis; and may be a general nuisance. Cats are the definitive host of the parasite taxoplasmosis; the disease can affect the brain, lung, heart, eyes, or liver. Serious consequences are evident in pregnant women as well as the young, the old, and those with compromised immune systems.

"Communities seeking a solution to their feral cat problems need to consider the science on the issue and the well being of animals impacted by feral cats as well as the cats themselves. These other animals – birds especially – don’t deserve to die at the hands of a predator introduced into their environment by irresponsible pet owners. A humane decision-making process on this issue must also recognize that feral cats live short, miserable lives because of disease, other predators, severe weather and traffic hazards. Thus their life expectancy is about one third as long as owned cats,” said Darin Schroeder, Vice President for Conservation Advocacy for American Bird Conservancy.

Some of the many findings of the report include:

• Feral cats are invasive and pose a threat to native fauna and public health.

• Three separate studies showed that most feral cats (62 to 80 percent) carry the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis – a condition of special concern to pregnant women.

• Cats are responsible for the extinction of at least 33 species of birds.

• Feral cats kill an estimated 480 million birds in the U.S. each year (the study did not address the question of bird predation by owned cats. Studies suggest that there are 80 million owned cats in the U.S. and that 43 percent have access to the outdoors. Total cat predation on birds is likely around one billion birds per year, though some analysis suggest much higher figures.)

• Cats kill far more native wildlife species than nuisance (invasive) species.

• Cats will kill wildlife no matter how well they are fed; they kill for sport & play.

• The life expectancy of a feral cat is 3-5 years as opposed to 15 years for owned cats, which sometimes live well into their twenties.

Feral cats are prolific breeders and can produce up to five litters per year. Females give birth to 2-10 kittens per litter. The Humane Society estimates that a pair of breeding cats and their offspring can produce over 400,000 cats in seven years under ideal conditions, assuming none die.

About 60 to 88 million cats are owned in the US and 60 million more are feral. Outdoor cats pose a serious threat to native wildlife, particularly birds. While the loss of habitat is the primary cause of species extinctions, cats are responsible for the extinction of at least 33 species of birds around the world. Cats kill an estimated 480 million birds around the world (assuming eight birds killed per feral cat per year). Estimates indicate that between 500-000 and 8 million birds are killed by rural cats each year...not counting damage by urban cats.

Proponents of feral cats and those who insist their cats should be allowed outdoors, suggest that well-fed cats do not prey on wildlife. Research shows that cats maintain their predatory instincts, no matter how well fed they are. The diets of well-fed house-based cats in Sweden consisted of 15-90% native prey, depending on availability.

Cats are opportunistic hunters, taking any small animal available, such as pheasants, quail, grouse, turkeys and waterfowl. They also impact free-ranging chickens and other domestic fowl. Cat owners should be aware that feral cats also kill pet house-cats that are allowed outside.

Feral cats pose risks to public health and safety. Unlike owned cats that are required by law to be vaccinated; few feral cats are. Feral cats can transmit diseases to humans and other cats, including cat scratch fever, plague, rabies, ringworm, salmonellosis and taxoplasmosis. In fact, in 3 separate studies 62-80% of feral cats tested positive for taxoplasmosis...a disease of serious concern for pregnant women as well as older and younger members of the population.

As a cat owner who used to let cats roam, I had no idea that people have to fence cats out of their gardens and children's sand boxes for reasons other than just being a picky. Cats cause problems when they defecate in food-growing gardens, not to mention the unsightly damage they cause when murdering tulips. Seriously, even if you believe your cat doesn't poop in the kiddies sandbox, please consider what it contributes to in dead wildlife...for the fun of it.

Read the entire article is HERE. Photos from Wikipedia.

You know you're an avid birder...

...when you find yourself vacuuming up seed-shells from under your OUTSIDE bird feeders. [sigh]

I was doing that today...and ignored the fact that the inside of my house is in need, as well. But, I don't eat off the floor; birds do. Still, I seriously hope nobody saw me out there today. Being called the 'Bird lady' is one thing; being called 'just nuts'
is something else entirely!

Last season I bought a wet-vac for just this purpose; cleaning excess seed from underneath the bird feeders. This will lessen the possibility of infection and sickness; sometimes evident this time of year. Heck, Kevin Cook; local naturalist, is the one who suggested I try it. ..surely I'm not the only one, huh? He's a good guy, interesting as the dickens; you might enjoy reading him.

Of course, such cleaning may also lessen the possibility of some of the other creatures which come by in the dark of night. Ewwwwwwwwww... Of course, the larger critters come whenever they want; deterrents or no. The best thing to do when bears are up is either not to feed, or to bring in feeders at night. A bear that comes to bird-feeders will soon be a dead bear... Don't teach them bad habits, please!

Oh, one good thing that came out of looking

for such visitors is: I found someone who mentions a new product I need to research. The author of Birds and Such, discovered "Seed & Hull Digester." As far as I know, various enzymes are natural things, not poison; I have long used such things to help break-up sludge in a Koi Pond...they're great.

Carefree Enzymes makes the new product, as well as bird house and bird bath cleaners. Apparently it works a lot like the sludge-buster for koi ponds and protects birds from unwanted parasites and e-coli bacteria.

They say it is for birdfeeders, that "Grounds beneath feeders are highly contaminated from bird droppings, organic contaminants, parasites and e-coli bacteria from molded birdseed. A simple spray will remove these harmful contaminants. Birdseed, hulls and other organic materials are quickly decomposed, digesting them down into basic components that are easily absorbed into the environment. Treatment provides a clean environment for birds to scavenge freely."

Have you tried it? There is a wonderful explanation of how these sorts of things work here, but I found only one MSDS Sheet(for a different product (the bath cleaner.)) I've discovered the manufacturer doesn't sell the stuff themselves, and it looks like it costs $10-$20 for thirty plus ounces. It is to be mixed 25 parts water to one part digester. Looks like something I'd use.

And anything to keep these monsters at bay!

Photos from:

• Possum: http://www.mhlambert.com/critters/index.htm
• Rats: www.sundrymourning.com
• Skunk: http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Mammal/Striped-Skunk/Mephitis/mephitis.html
• Squirrel: http://www.birdfeederblog.com/bird-feeder-spillage-promotes-ground-foraging

Starlings: Invasive Problem

The European, or common starling, Sturnus vulgarisis native to Eurasia is here as a result of just 100 birds turned loose in New York; part of a plan, to establish
in the New World, each bird Shakespeare mentioned
in his writings. From those few birds we have approxi-mately 200 million birds which compete with native birds in all manner of habitat, nets sites and
food sources.

Starlings’ droppings not only cause sanitation problems, but are corrosive to paint and plaster and are a growth medium for a fungus that causes human respiratory disease. The birds themselves carry diseases that may be transmitted to humans, as well. And, large flocks pose a hazard to planes; starlings are responsible for the most deadly bird strikes in aviation..

It is for this reason that, in New Jersey, Utah and other states, as many as 650,000 starlings were poisoned last year alone, an all-time record for Washington. The most popular lethal tactic is a poison called DRC-1339, which is often sprinkled on french fries, a favorite starling snack. Within a day or two, starlings keel over from organ failure.

By their very numbers they have a negative affect on biodiversity through the large quantities of insects, spiders, snails and worms, lizards and frogs while driving native birds from these resources. They compete aggressively with native birds which nest in cavities. I have seen them drive out local Lewis’s Woodpeckers from their own nests; often destroying eggs and killing nestlings.

These birds transmit disease to domestic animals by contaminating food and water sources with their droppings. They impact crop production by decimating plants of fruit, especially berries and grapes and eating seed from grain fields and by pulling new sprouts right out of the ground.

It is for the agricultural reasons that a much better tactic has been undertaken…at least in my mind. Several wineries (grape growers) have taken to including the employment of falconers. Their birds do what the birds do naturally; hunt other birds. And what easier prey then a few hundred thousand starlings? Falconry is an age-old method of hunting involving a bird’s natural ability to stalk, pursue and generally harass birds much in the same way a cat plays with a mouse.

Unlike other birds that usually hide in bushes when a predator shows up, starlings flock together, not unlike a school of fish. And should they come upon a vineyard and see the threat of a patrolling falcon…they will fly away to find another place to feed.

Generally, the falcons don’t even hurt the birds; they are hand-fed before they fly. I just love this solution! Not only are fewer native birds exposed to poison, but nobody can harass the hunters as being inhumane. Wonder about the farmers who cannot afford their own falconers? I remember working at one of the tallest buildings in Denver during the time several Peregrine Falcons were raised and released as a method of
pigeon control.

All this points to: please give our native species a
leg up! Help them out by keeping their habitat viable and unbroken. If it is broken up…create new places
for native species to thrive. It can be done, and
given half a chance perhaps they can withstand the invading species.

Stunning imagery on YouTube: Starlings and a single falcon...through I never saw the falcon, I noticed the damned starlings never landed!



Here's a shorter clip. You can see the falcon and also that these birds don't land either!



Reference:

• http://www.northjersey.com/news/national/57621967.html
• http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112569465
• http://www.winebusiness.com/wbm/?go=getArticle&dataId=37015
• http://www.winebusiness.com/Archives/Monthly/1997/9705/bme9736.htm
• http://www.gisp.org/casestudies/showcasestudy.asp?id=82&MyMenuItem=casestudies&worldmap=&country=

Hawks on the Wildland-Urban Interface

Trichomoniasis is a disease that occurs in pigeons and doves…as well as in the birds who feed upon them. This especially includes urban Cooper’s Hawks and occasionally others such as Goshawks and, I would assume, Peregrine Falcons. This disease apparently does not trouble adult birds, but as many as 40% of young Cooper’s Hawks die from this disease!

Trich is spread in urban areas during the summer when water is limited and birds concentrate to drink. When diseased doves and pigeons drink at a water source, infected material washes from their mouths out into the water. It is a good idea to add a few drops of bleach to a birdbath regularly, or to empty, clean and sun-dry your birdbaths at least once a week.

Please click here to hear Prof. Bill Mannan of University of AZ give an excellent, short presentation of his and his students work regarding urban Cooper’s Hawks for the past several decades. It’s very interesting and quite well done.

I am curious as to whether something like this product would be a good thing? Would it work better than plain ol’ bleach? I recently read about another…but for the life of me I cannot recall the name. Has anybody experience with such additives?

I appreciate Bosque Bill for bringing this really interesting and important study to my attention. I’ve got a large bird bath which fills with snow that I’ve noticed pigeons drinking from on warm afternoons. I’ve been ignoring the thing way out in the middle of my yard (this time of year under a couple feet of snow) and generally frozen solid, as I provide fresh, clean water daily, in a smaller dish…closer to my back door. I plan to remedy the situation before I kill any young hawks!

I look forward to your comments and hope the information encourages folks to keep those feeders and bird baths clean.

Photos from Wikipedia.