An article published recently in the journal Science reports that nearly one-third of the wild birds in the United States and Canada have vanished since 1970. An editorial in the New York Times says that the disappearance of 2.9 billion birds over the past 50 years is a staggering loss “that suggests the very fabric of North America’s ecosystem is unraveling.”
Scientists said that the magnitude of losses among 300 bird species was much larger than expected and alarmingly widespread.
While climate change and habitat destruction are considered major factors, so is predation by cats – both wild and domestic. Researchers estimate a pet cat kills between one and 34 birds a year, while a feral cat kills between 23-46 birds a year.
The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) estimates that free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.4–3.7 billion birds and 6.9–20.7 billion mammals annually.
“Un-owned cats, as opposed to owned pets, cause the majority of this mortality,” ABC said. “Our findings suggest that free-ranging cats cause substantially greater wildlife mortality than previously thought and are likely the single greatest source of anthropogenic mortality for U.S. birds and mammals.”
The loss of wild birds is a big concern to local resident naturalist/artist Gwen Bennett, who has pet birds and makes masks and other artwork from feathers.
“You can be arrested and put in jail for killing a native bird such as a blue jay, cardinal or robin,” Bennett said. “But people can feed feral cats even though scientific studies have shown that feral cats are the single largest predator of native birds.”
Bennett, who was involved in successful efforts to ban deer feeding in town, advocates a similar effort to make to make it illegal to feed wild cats. And she also hopes that the mentality of cat owners will change so they don’t let their cats go outside where they can kill birds, frogs, snakes, lizards, chipmunks and other animals.
“The idea has to shift: We don’t let our cats outside,” Bennett said. “People think a cat has to go outside. No, they don’t. It is actually healthier for them to be kept as indoor pets.”
Some people can’t stand to see any animal hungry, so they feed them.
Andrea White at Tender Heart Wildlife Rehab in Berryville, who does wildlife rescue, said she feeds any animal that is hungry, including wild cats.
“If you are wanting to save your birds, feed the wild cats,” White said. “They have to kill to eat. That is just the survival instinct, and you can’t fault them for that. However, if you feed them, you need to trap them, get them spayed and neutered, and then release them.”
Just feeding a wild cat doesn’t mean it will not still kill birds and other animals. White said studies have shown cats get a high like a meth addict when they kill something.
“With a mouse, often the cat will just eat the head off a mouse, not the body,” White said. “The more cats torture their prey, the higher they get. It triggers a chemical reaction in the brain. But being a wild, unvaccinated cat means living with disease, not having enough to eat, and being thin and abused.”
One man in Eureka Springs has been feeding dozens of feral cats causing great concern from neighbors who have seen many of the cats sick and dying. The man has told his neighbors he doesn’t even know how many cats he feeds. The neighbors contacted Eureka Springs Animal Control Officer Jim Evans for help.
Evans said the current law is a citizen can trap any wild animal and dispose of it in any way seen fit. Unvaccinated feral cats are wild animals. Evans said he could probably trap 30 to 50 wild cats per week.
“But what are we going to do with them?” Evans asks. “I have no place for cats. I put them in a dog pen when I’m forced to get one. The cats escape. They go right through the door. I’m not set up for cats. But if the citizens want to trap these cats just like they do ‘coons, that is up to them.”
The animal shelters are usually full, and it costs money to spay and vaccinate.
“When you feed them, they bred like rats,” Evans said. “They are wild. You can’t tame them; you can’t hold them. But people just keep feeding them.”
Evans spoke to the man feeding large numbers of cats and told him that feeding is no solution.
“We have so many cats it is unreal,” Evans said. “I know people who feed them all over town. Don’t get me wrong. I love animals. But feeding wild cats just makes the problem worse. What happens is the more cats we get, they start getting sick with diseases like distemper.”
Some residents have been trapping the wild cats, euthanizing those that are sick, and vaccinating and spaying the others. But if the release them where they found them, they are likely to kill large numbers of birds while still not having enough to eat.
Linda Winter has been involved in animal rescue for years and warns people not to advertise free kittens on the radio because people with pit bulls use the kittens as bait.
“It is prevalent in this area,” Winter said. “They will swoop in and get the whole litter.”
Winter sometimes feels like she is on an endless treadmill with people calling her to take care of their cat population that is out of control.
“I feel like I have been beating my head against a brick wall since I moved here,” Winter said. “It happens everywhere, but it is worse here. A lot of people don’t want to fix them. People think for male cats, it deprives them of manhood. I don’t think they understand it is better for health all around for the cats.”
Cats can have three litters in a season averaging three to five kittens.
The Good Shepherd Humane Society in Eureka Springs provides low cost neutering for cats and dogs. There are also good rates at Spay Arkansas in Springdale, but you have to get them there at 7 a.m. Winter said some people are working and have trouble getting over there that early to pick them up or drop them off.
Winter recently helped rescue in a home where renter left leaving 20-25 cats to starve. Many were sick or injured. Another time a woman called and said her sister had died and asked Winter to take 19 cats.
“I don’t know if people think I have a big building somewhere, and help with funding,” Winter said. “It is just me and my little house in Berryville. As much as you try to help, the problem gets worse because people don’t spay and neuter.”
The website for the Good Shepherd Humane Society Spay and Neuter Clinic (479-981-9617) states that one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years. Good Shepherd provides subsidies for spay and neutering based on family income.
Spay Arkansas has a Feral Cat Trap Neuter Return program through which free-roaming cats are trapped, spayed and neutered, then returned to the outdoor locations where they were found. If those locations are deemed unsafe or otherwise inappropriate, the cats may be relocated. Spay Arkansas at 1909 West Huntsville Ave., Springdale, offers spay/neuter, rabies vaccine and ear tipping for feral cats for $13 with no income restrictions.
If you want to help pay for vaccinations and neutering of cats and dogs, donations can be made to:
The St. Francis Veterinary Hospital, 310 County Rd 706, Green Forest, AR 72638, (870) 423-2630.
Unconditional Love Pet Rescue, 129 County Road 6031, Green Forest, AR 72638, (870) 577-3744.