![]() ![]() "Some people argue that cats are not impacting actual populations, they say they only take on the weak or sick," Rodewald said. However, a big part of the problem is cat owners who know their cats kill but still let them outside. I expect the majority would be concerned if they knew their pets were killing so many animals and that they would want to do something about it," Anderson said. "Cat owners obviously love animals, otherwise they wouldn't have a cat. Anderson said the problem is not unique to the Southern Tier and that the best hope to combat the issue is to raise awareness among cat owners and lovers. Rodewald, who lives in Ithaca, said that many people don't realize that their outdoor cats can roam miles away to wild areas and don't just stick to the backyard. A cat can kill a half dozen animals a day, and their range is enormous," Anderson said. "They have an instinct to kill things, even if they don't plan on eating it. Paul Anderson, president of the Cayuga bird club, said he has been greatly concerned by the damage he has seen done to bird populations in the area by cats. Even birds like robins and cardinals, backyard birds, are also frequently depredated by cats," Rodewald said. So around here, an oven bird, which is a common bird that nests on the ground, or an eastern towhee, are vulnerable. ![]() "Usually birds that nest on the ground and ones that nest in shrubs or smaller trees tend to be the most vulnerable. The average predator is lucky if that number hits double digits. In fact, many naturalists consider domestic cats to be the one of the most effective killers on earth, with thousands of species they can prey on. Now that predatory behavior is something that is hard-wired into them, so whether fed or not, many cats will still hunt," Rodewald said. "Cats were introduced into this environment by humans and they are very flexible in what they are able to hunt. Stray and feral cats are such effective killers that Amanda Rodewald, director of conservation science at Cornell University, said a recent study estimated that cats kill up to 4 billion birds and 22 billion small mammals nationwide. Beneath every kitten's adorable face and piercing eyes resides one of the most deadly predators in the natural world, one that makes some experts nervous for the native birds and small mammals that call the Southern Tier home. ![]()
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