On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 02:35:00 GMT, Rod Out back wrote:

"mf197421" wrote in message
...

I haven't been troubled by squirrels as yet but I occasionally set
traps
to catch stray cats which are then put to sleep by a local authority.

Chris Bee [/b]

I find this message upsetting. There is nothing illegal in the actions
described in it, but, rather, what is upseting is the casual tone in
which putting cats to death is presented as a solution to the "bother"
they cause. After all, it's living beings, able to feel pain, to attach
themselves to people etc., we are talking about.
From this standpoint, I was particularly dismayed by the systematic
nature of the reader's practice to "occasionally put out traps.." I'd
have hoped that all the horrors of last century would have taught us to
respect and value all life, or, at the very least, to think seriously
about the necessity of killing a living being before taking such a step.
--
mf197421
------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted via www.GardenBanter.co.uk

What I find of great concern is how lightly you take the precious native
wildlife that a cat eats! Any thoughts to the countless birds, lizards and
small furry animals that are eaten every day by cats?? Cats are one of our
worst predatory killers.

We have made a concerted effort here (an outback Australian property) to rid
our countryside of cats & foxes. Within 6 months of commencing this program
(10-80 baiting, & shooting), we saw a steadily growing number of nocturnal
lizards (broad-banded sand swimmer), marsupial mice(dunnarts) and legless
lizards. In addition, there are some species of bird that seem to be in
greater numbers, and we had been in our worst drought in 100 years.
It has become apparent that feral cats & foxes have been keeping some native
animal populations very close to non-existant in this area.

snipped

Sorry to all about the rant; this head-in-the-sand approach makes me
cranky...

I snipped a bit of your reply Rod but I agree whole heartedly with
your comments. We like to see Australian Native Birds here in
Melbourne and hate to see them destroyed by Feral Cats.
--

Chris Bee