Cat feeding habits may be detrimental to the survival of natural predators. George (1974 )studied three cats responsible for eating 18 species of mammalian prey in raptor home-range territories. In a study in rural Illinois between January 1968 and December 1971, rodents accounted for between 82 and 95% of free-ranging cats prey. This area was also hunted by red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), American kestrels (Falcosparverius),and northern harriers (Circus cyaneus). Pearson (1964) recorded the removal of 4200 mice from a 35 acre study plot by six cats. According to Scott Craven, “Anything a cat consumes is one less bit of prey for a native predator.”
SOURCE
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment