| Radio programs for the week of 5 May 2003 |
For more information: University of Florida Conservation Clinic Conservation Clinic Report: Feral Cats in Florida, Legal and Policy Considerations |
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News in Florida's environment is filled with stories of non-native
plants and animals disrupting native species. But a new study makes that
claim about domestic or once-domestic cats that roam wild. Concern over
Feral Cats... I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment. New research says feral cats and cat colonies are a major threat to
wildlife and that existing laws prohibit their existence. That's big news
as Florida is home to as many as 10 million feral cats. Law student Pamela
Hatley compiled the data after hearing the concern of a government
biologist helping restore a population of beach mice... |
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Some estimates say the United States has as many as 60 million feral cats. And efforts to manage the population are coming under fire as being harmful to native wildlife. Today, Cats and Their Prey. I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment... Researchers say feral cats in the U.S., each year, kill a billion small animals and birds, hundreds of millions of those in Florida. That's from a recent report on feral cats, their impact on wildlife, and laws that might govern them. Law student Pamela Hatley headed up the project, which found fault with present strategies for dealing with feral cats... |
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With data that shows feral cats kill up to a billion small animals in the U.S. each year, the threat to wildlife would seem evident. But animals competing for that same prey suffer as well. Feral Cats and Competition, I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment... A recent report on laws that deal with feral cats points out that existing federal and state laws could prohibit a domestic cat's release in the wild. As she investigated the situation, law student Pamela Hatley found the dramatic impact that wild roaming cats have on wildlife... |
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Thanks to books and movies, we're no strangers to the image of a rabid dog. But cats are actually more likely to catch and carry rabies than other domestic species, creating a potential problem when they roam wild. Feral Cats and Disease, I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment... One program for dealing with the nation's feral cats is called Trap, Neuter and Release -- aimed at stopping population growth, while letting the cats live in the wild. But new research says such programs, along with housecats in the wild could promote the spread of disease. Pamela Hatley helped compile the new data... |
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With Florida's temperate climate, it should be no surprise that feral cats gather here in great number--between 6 and 10 million of them. And that has wildlife managers wondering about controls. Florida's Feral Cats.... I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment... As a new report tackles the legal issues of the nation's feral cat population, Florida--which is home to one of the largest gatherings of the once-domestic cats might find itself taking the first steps toward enforcing existing laws or enacting new ones. Law student Pamela Hatley says the issue is a large one... |