Preventing Strays from Killing Birds?

[Idk a good username]

Hello! I've been here just a few times before, but since I was last here, I joined as a volunteer of my counties SPCA! We are trying to set up a TnR program, with our first focus being the stray cats on the college I attend. I have been trying to Garner support since in the past, the school has been uncooperative with the strays (threatening fines for feral cat shelters and if you are caught feeding the cats, stuff like that).

Many members of the faculty have been supportive. However, reaching out to the enviromental science department, the professor pointed out how with TnR, the biggest issue she sees is the fact that cats killsongbirds and other wildlife.This honestly was not an argument I considered in regards to TnR. The SPCA and I both believe it is best to return the cats to their original environment since other cats will take their place if they are relocated, and overall cats stand less of a chance when relocated. But, if they remain on campus, the point the professor made was that they are being returned and allowed to kill birds and other wildlife, if that makes sense. I couldn't find any full proof way to preventthe strays from killing wildlife online aside from relocation, butwith that, they would just kill wildlife in another area.

Overall, I have come at an impasse. Has anyone found ways to prevent strays or ferals under their care from killing birds? Are there any scholarly articles supporting TnR on the local environment rather than just the number of strays?

I hope this all makes sense.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hello
Tell that particular professor that your group will find a way, with shiny items hanging in trees or whatever you believe will work in this situation, to keep the birds away from the cats so that the bird-killing opportunity doesn't present itself. Same with the wildlife.

You could also ask this person if they are involved with/invite them if not, this program;
Lights Out Program

 

[fionasmom]

Outdoor domestic cats and wildlife: How to overrate and misinterpret field data - PMC
Wildlife and Community Cats: Fact vs. Fiction
Wildlife impacts of free-roaming cats: Estimates vs. evidence
Some of these articles, while you will have to wade through them, may help. They bring up points about cats easily killing sick or old birds, and about the huge reproductive rate that these bird populations have. Many people see the latter as a fixed number, so therefore cats are diminishing a dwindling population.

Trap, Neuter, Release
This article takes the other side and might be useful as you prepare your defense for the cats

Cats are not just bird killers. They also control the less desirable rodent population. Yes, rats are very cute and fascinating pets, but not the ones chewing the electrical wiring in walls.

 

[Kflowers]

A quick search on Google can help you feel better about the number of birds killed by cats, which are usually the elderly or ill birds. 67 million Healthy birds killed by pesticides in the US every year ( Wildlife, Pesticides and People.) According to the Guardian 600 million birds are killed by skyscrapers in the US every year.
Cornell raises that number to 1 billion ( Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds | Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology )

A Year of Helping Birds: Avoid Harmful Pesticides — Chicago Bird Alliance

Neonic Nation: Is Widespread Pesticide Use Connected to Grassland Bird Declines? | All About Birds

psw_gtr191_1065-1070_mineau.pdf

 

[Idk a good username]

Thank you all! Just skimming the articles it seems like there are some good points to be made. I'll definitely use them in my point against the professor.

I don't think she is completely against TnR like many of the other higher ups in the school, she is just concerned where cats, in their nature, WILL kill birds. There is no arguing against that. It's more just how much damage they do, and how to prevent them from killing birds if possible.

If I can get her to back TnR though, I think convincing the higher people at the college will be easier given her background and simply the fact that she has a doctorate in environmental science and knows what she is talking about LOL

 

[fionasmom]

Alley Cat Allies has a lot of information on their site about TNR and the reasons it works. It is even possible to contact them for help if they are able to respond.

Home