Cats! Killers of billions of birds & mammals annually (graphic pic)

[Divine Discontent]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57566456/study-cats-kill-billions-of-animals-a-year/

Cats kill billions of birds every year and even more tiny rodents and other mammals in the United States, a new study finds.

According to the research, published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, cats kill between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds and between 6.9 billion and 20.7 billion small mammals, such as meadow voles and chipmunks.

Though it's hard to know exactly how many birds live in the United States, the staggering number of bird deaths may account for as much as 15 percent of the total bird population, said study co-author Pete Marra, an animal ecologist with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Staggering toll

Marra and his colleagues are looking at human-related causes for bird and wildlife deaths in the country, from windmills and glass windows to pesticides.

[Divine Discontent]

1. I'm looking at how prolific people's cats are at killing the wildlife around them and

if I ever got another cat, and he came up to my window like this - OH MY WORD...!!!>>>&&&%%%*** lol.... I'd disown my pet!

[Contrary1]

2. Oh...the humanity!

My kitties have dragged in a grand total of two birds. Now, keep in mind that these birdies invaded the cat's outdoor inclosure.

My cats are such weenies that they didn't know what to to do with their goodies, once they caught them. And so, they dragged them into the house through the kitty door. Fortunately, I was able to catch the little winged guys, and release them outdoors. No fatalities.

Sadly, I cannot say the same about night crawlers. Twody goes out and digs for them. Never before have I seen a cat do that. We should open a bait shop. :)

"Twody" is short for two days...the time my husband gave me to find her a new home five years ago. :rofl:

[Divine Discontent]

4. Hahahaha... that's funny stuff.

I cannot imagine a cat digging for night crawlers! That's rather unique. I'm used to indoor puddy tats, so it's all Greek to me. I love the nickname your husband gave Twody... five years ago! :rofl:

[No Elephants]

3. It's is the nature of the cat. We go to war. Maybe cats should disown us.

[Divine Discontent]

5. way to kill the thread, Sunshine Bear!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

that is funny, though, if animals could talk to us, I'd hate to hear what they'd say about our American society's lust for (300 million) guns and warfare. sad...

[Enthusiast]

6. Wisconsin's solution was to encourage hunters to shoot all free ranging cats.

Of course the pro-cat faction reared its head and this hunting recommendation was quickly put to rest.

FWIW, our kitty is not allowed to go out, EVER. That didn't stop him from capturing the lone bat that found its way into the house.

Owners need to be held responsible for un-neutered cats. Maybe it's time for a simplified cat license. Sorry if that steps on any toes. Cats simply multiply too fast. People aren't even responsible parents, let alone responsible pet owners.

I always stray from the OP, sorry. A bat or bird has found their way indoors every place we have every lived.

Do you own a fishing net? If you don't, you better get one and keep it handy. A fishing net is about the only practical way to remove an inside trapped bat or bird.