We are short a lot of the predators that used to thrive on these islands, it may be that cats actually fill that gap.
(I don't have cats, but I do think they are unfairly demonised, even the RSPB acknowledge that there is no evidence they are responsible for declines in bird numbers)
We are short a lot of the predators that used to thrive on these islands, it may be that cats actually fill that gap.
(I don't have cats, but I do think they are unfairly demonised, even the RSPB acknowledge that there is no evidence they are responsible for declines in bird numbers)
Methinks the RSPB is afraid of upsetting its donors. I wonder if there was a predator which preyed on domestic cats , folk would so blasé about those?
It never fails to surprise me as to the denial of the carnage caused by cats by those who keep them.
My neighbour truly believed their cat 'never killed anything'.
I showed them dozens of images of it with lizards and slow worms hanging out of its mouth when it devastated our garden populations. They asked me if I wanted a mauled lizard back one day, claiming it was their dog attacked it, it was covered in small puncture wounds typical of a cat mauling.
Straight denial of what is entirely obvious. If we release non-native predators into the wild, they cause utter carnage to species that are not evolved to cope with them. Basic ecology and there is ample scientific data collected worldwide to prove it without the slightest bit of doubt.
Sad case that in the UK organisations such as the RSPB play politics and are not really interested in common garden species, just subscriptions from cat owning animal lovers, so have blatant misinformation on their website.
The truth is in the Marra book, cats are killing birds and other creatures in their billions every year. It's really quite unimaginable, but entirely true.
Domestic cats kill for fun. It's a simple as that.
Exactly. From my observations the most damaging cat was a well fed cat kept in at night. It killed from morning to night in our wildlife garden, it could not have been hungry, it was simply killing all day to occupy itself.
We feed the birds but the birds eat the caterpillars. We squash the greenfly. Some kill (or maul or decimate if you want to be more emotive) slugs and snails, many eat meat, wear leather etc. In short, we all have motes in our eyes.
I wonder if there was a predator which preyed on domestic cats , folk would so blasé about those?
There is a predator which preys indiscriminately on domestic cats, livestock and wildlife of all kinds. It is called a motor vehicle. And yes, people are blase about them. Most people can't imagine living without one.
Posts
(I don't have cats, but I do think they are unfairly demonised, even the RSPB acknowledge that there is no evidence they are responsible for declines in bird numbers)
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I wonder if there was a predator which preyed on domestic cats , folk would so blasé about those?
I showed them dozens of images of it with lizards and slow worms hanging out of its mouth when it devastated our garden populations. They asked me if I wanted a mauled lizard back one day, claiming it was their dog attacked it, it was covered in small puncture wounds typical of a cat mauling.
Straight denial of what is entirely obvious. If we release non-native predators into the wild, they cause utter carnage to species that are not evolved to cope with them. Basic ecology and there is ample scientific data collected worldwide to prove it without the slightest bit of doubt.
Sad case that in the UK organisations such as the RSPB play politics and are not really interested in common garden species, just subscriptions from cat owning animal lovers, so have blatant misinformation on their website.
The truth is in the Marra book, cats are killing birds and other creatures in their billions every year. It's really quite unimaginable, but entirely true.