I was sitting in the living room looking out back on the bird feeder. My little red squirrel was raiding it, chasing out the Blue Jay that was minding his business eating. Over the past few weeks, I observed a Downy Woodpecker, two Chickadees, four Blue Jays, an Oriole, mated pair of Cardinals as well as our hummingbirds and a second squirrel feeding. I realized I had not seen any of these colourful birds, other than hummingbirds and crows in the last twenty years.
When I moved here, there had to be well over a dozen varieties of birds in my back yard that I had never seen before. They and my squirrels all disappeared over one winter. I couldn’t figure out why, until one day I discovered my new neighbour had a cat.
Coincidence? I doubt it.
They had brought a predatory animal that preys on birds and small animals into a nature preserve where these creatures are abundant. Cats are expert killers. Birds and squirrels are easy prey.
You may feed them well, but cats (and dogs) have no idea where or when their next meals will be, so they may gorge themselves given the opportunity. They will hunt and kill as many birds, squirrels and mice as they can.
I’m not advocating banning cats in the peninsula, just that people be more responsible cat owners.
Don’t let them roam free, especially at night. Keep them indoors and only let them out on a leash like a dog. You can get a body harness if you think a collar might choke it. Outside, put them in an enclosures and/or keep an eye on them at all times like you would a child. If you let them run wild, they will kill – and can be killed.
Not only will you be saving my birds and squirrels, but you may very well save the life of your cat. Unlike the city, where cats on the loose are fairly safe, up here we have predators that will kill and eat cats (some will also kill dogs). We have Fishers, Coyotes, Raccoons and Foxes (the latter two will eat kittens if very hungry). We also have Skunks, Porcupines and rattlesnakes which can make an encounter rather unpleasant (and costly). Any of them can inflict serious wounds if they get into a fight. Then there’s rabies…..
If you don’t care about my birds and little squirrels, at least think about your cat. Keeping your cat safe will keep my birdies and other little critters alive.
Alan Constant,
Tobermory
