[NatureNS] Cats - and birds - in NS

DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed;
From: James Churchill <jameslchurchill@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2013 10:16:37 -0300
To: naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects

Index of Subjects
--001a11c2ec9a7f0cab04ea1d612b
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

hi folks,
Here is third attempt at sending this. First two attempts did not make it
through, maybe related to links I had included. I've taken those out and
described how to get to links by Google search terms (sorry that's
inconvenient, and apologies if this gets posted multiple times)

---

Hi folks,

On information morning, cape Breton, this morning there was a news story
about the number of domestic cats in Kings County, NS, that are impounded
and the proportion of those that is subsequently euthanized.
(Google:"Euthanized
cats in Kings County upset animal activists")

At the end of the article above there is a statement suggesting that money
should be invested in trap, neuter, release programs and education about
benefits of spaying/neutering.

This story comes on the heels of a recent article released in the
Canadian journal Avian Conservation and Ecology estimating that the number
of birds killed annually in Canada by owned and feral cats is
probably somewhere around 196 Million (Google:  "Estimated Number of Birds
Killed by House Cats (Felis catus) in Canada") - a number that puts
mortality by cats far above any other anthropogenic source of bird
mortality.

For some context on how many birds this represents see Partners In
Flight estimates of bird species populations in Canada (Google: "PIF
Population Estimates Database welcome" and click on "To begin querying the
database, click here" halfway down the page). For example, there are
estimated to be approximately 20 million Black-capped Chickadees, 140
million American Robins, and 13 million Chestnut-sided Warblers in Canada.

Given that the negative impact of cats on bird populations is becoming
increasingly measurable and NS's cat overpopulation crisis is receiving
more and more attention (is it), the search for solutions to both is not
that far off (is it?)

As a resident of Kings County, myself, i am concerned that if there is not
attention brought to the plight of birds (and other wildlife) at the hands
of cats, then we will soon begin to see support sneak in for initiatives
that attempt to improve welfare of cats but without consideration for the
well being of our native bird (and other wildlife) populations.

This is not a call to arms against cats or those who devote themselves to
cat welfare;  animal welfare is paramount to any naturalist. Just a call to
arms about promoting fact- and science-based decision making and doing our
best to make sure that the nature story makes the news too (how?).

I imagine that the above news article on cat euthanasia will spark a
significant amount of opinion and anger - and maybe prompt a change in
where those cats end up. What would be our position?

Cheers,
James

-- 
James Churchill
Kentville, Nova Scotia
jameslchurchill@gmail.com
(902) 681-2374

--001a11c2ec9a7f0cab04ea1d612b
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"ltr"><span style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px=
">hi folks,=A0</span><div style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:1=
3px">Here is third attempt at sending this. First two attempts did not make=
 it through, maybe related to links I had included. I&#39;ve taken those ou=
t and described how to get to links by Google search terms (sorry that&#39;=
s inconvenient, and apologies if this gets posted multiple times)</div>

<div style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div s=
tyle=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">---</div><div style=3D=
"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div><font face=3D"=
arial, sans-serif">Hi folks,</font><div style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-ser=
if;font-size:13px">

<br></div><div style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">On inf=
ormation morning,=A0cape Breton,=A0this morning there was a news story abou=
t the number of domestic=A0cats in Kings County, NS,=A0that are impounded a=
nd the proportion of those that is=A0subsequently=A0euthanized. (Google:&qu=
ot;<span style=3D"font-family:arial;font-size:small">Euthanized cats in Kin=
gs County upset animal activists&quot;)</span></div>

<div style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div><=
font face=3D"arial, sans-serif" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-=
size:13px">At the end of the article above there is a statement suggesting =
that money should be invested in trap, neuter, release programs and educati=
on about benefits of spaying/neutering.=A0</font><br>

<div style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div><=
font face=3D"arial, sans-serif" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-=
size:13px">This story=A0comes on the heels of a=A0recent article released i=
n the Canadian=A0journal Avian Conservation and Ecology estimating that the=
 number of birds=A0killed annually in Canada=A0by owned and feral=A0cats is=
 probably=A0somewhere around 196 Million (</font>G<font face=3D"arial, sans=
-serif" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">oogle:=A0=A0&=
quot;</font><font face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Estima</font><font face=3D"ari=
al, sans-serif" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">ted N=
umber of Birds Killed by House Cats (Felis catus) in Canada&quot;) - a numb=
er that puts mortality by cats far above=A0any other anthropogenic source o=
f bird mortality.</font></div>

<div style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div><=
font face=3D"arial, sans-serif" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-=
size:13px">For=A0some=A0context on how many birds this represents=A0see=A0P=
artners In Flight=A0estimates of bird species=A0populations in Canada (</fo=
nt>Google: &quot;PIF Population Estimates Database welcome&quot; and <font =
face=3D"arial, sans-serif" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:=
13px">click on &quot;</font><span style=3D"font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&=
#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-hei=
ght:18px">To begin querying the database, click=A0</span><font face=3D"aria=
l, sans-serif">here&quot; halfway down the page).=A0For example, there are =
estimated to be approximately 20 million Black-capped Chickadees,=A0140 mil=
lion American Robins, and 13 million Chestnut-sided Warblers=A0in Canada.</=
font></div>

</div><div style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div>=
<font face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Given that the negative=A0impact of cats o=
n bird populations is becoming increasingly measurable=A0and NS&#39;s cat o=
verpopulation crisis is receiving more and more attention (is it), the sear=
c