DoE battles misinformation over feral cat cull
(CNS): The Department of Environment’s effort to control invasive species and the growing detrimental impact on endemic and local species have met with a significant amount of misinformation recently, especially on social media. The rollout of the alien species regulations that provide a lawful, clear platform for the control of feral animals and protection of threatened birds, iguanas and other unique flora and flora has fuelled a backlash of anger based largely on misunderstandings.
Feral cats, rats, green iguanas and chickens that were once pets or domesticated but at some point were released into the wild, as well as imported plants, are directly threatening many of Cayman’s endemic, unique flora and fauna. Fred Burton, the director of the DoE Terrestrial Resource Unit, said it is hard to think of a single native species here that isn’t partially at risk from alien species — the second biggest threat to biodiversity globally.
Burton said the DoE is not taking away anyone’s pets and it is ridiculous to suggest that their researchers will be trapping domestic cats in private yards.
“There are so many threats and pressures on our native wildlife. It is a bit bewildering, really, as we are dealing with massive loss of habitat as the islands develop and we are dealing with big global issues like climate change… that could have really complicated impacts on our native ecosystems. But alien species are the number two threat globally,” he said Friday during an appearance on Radio Cayman’s For the Record.
John Bothwell, the manager of the DoE’s Legislation Implementation and Coordination Unit and the secretary of the National Conservation Council, explained that the new rules are not just about feral cats but all invasive species, from green iguanas to Brazillian pepper trees. He said that Cayman has had a long history of challenges with alien species but has not had the legal framework required to deal with them. However, these regulations provide the necessary tools for the DoE to better protect native wildlife from multiple threats.
“Around the world and here in Cayman, alien species have a huge impact on natives species,” Bothwell said. Implementing the regulations was “another step” in the progression, he said, noting previous efforts to control green iguanas and the need for a comprehensive way of dealing with the issues. “It’s an extension of the long-term commitment we have to properly and effectively manage alien species.”
Burton explained that previously the legal framework was weak, but these new rules help frame a way of controlling feral alien animals — not people’s pets, a misconception now being promoted on social media. He said feral cats are living on what they can catch in the wild, eating chicks, lizards or anything they get their paws on. These feral animals are posing a threat to iconic nesting sea birds as well as the unique iguanas on all three islands.
Burton said there was significant CCTV evidence that cats are causing the death of many hatchlings and chicks of protected sea birds. Although this does include domestic cats that are allowed to roam outside, they are not under threat from the current trapping project. However, he urged pet owners to keep their cats inside because no matter how well fed a pet cat might be, it will still instinctively hunt chicks and other small animals.
In a recent social media post, officials from the DoE confirmed that the adult brown booby bird and chick found dead on the southwest of Cayman Brac on Sunday, 15 January, were victims of a cat. A necropsy performed by a qualified veterinarian found the adult had compound fractures and a broken wing. Both the adult and chick had 14mm puncture wounds consistent with cats’ teeth.
“The spacing of the puncture wounds is too narrow to have been made by a dog’s teeth. The wounds also do not match the teeth pattern of a Sister Islands rock iguana, nor do they resemble wounds made by any bird of prey,” the vet confirmed.
Cats are nocturnal hunters, and while the DoE may not always catch them in the act, there is significant footage showing cats killing endemic species going back many years. Culling animals is a last resort for the DoE. But with so much evidence that cats are one of the biggest threats to local biodiversity and no solutions proposed to trap, spay or neuter feral cats and then rehabilitate them into domestic situations where they are kept away from all birds, there is no alternative if Cayman is to protect its unique wildlife.
Burton said it was no longer possible to ignore the threats that Cayman’s native animals face, even if the current control programme makes people uncomfortable. He explained that the DoE is in the process of an island-wide programme to trap feral cats on Little Cayman, with the support of residents. These animals are all being checked for microchips or registration and confirmed as being feral before they are handed over to the Department of Agriculture.
There is also a targeted control programme underway in a very limited area of the Brac around the Lighthouse and a small pocket on the south side as a result of the massive loss of boobies, Burton explained.
Despite the misinformation circulating on social media, no poison is being used, though some boxes are being used for bait to attract rats that are also being trapped. “All we are doing is putting a ring of traps around the booby nests,” Burton said, as he outlined the trapping programme on the Brac. He said this was a purely protective project. They don’t expect to catch a huge number but are trying to keep the cats away from the nesting area.
The problem of feral cats as well as domestic animals is a global problem and not unique to the Cayman Islands. Outdoor cats are a threat to global biodiversity and have contributed to the extinction of 63 species of birds, mammals and reptiles in the wild. The ecological dangers are so critical that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in its publication, “100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species”, includes domestic cats on the list.
Predation by domestic cats is the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds in the United States and Canada. In the United States alone, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year, according to the American Bird Conservancy.
See the new local regulations on the NCC website here.
See Burton and Bothwell on FTR below:
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Land Habitat, Science & Nature
please, please, please DOE, round up and euthanize all the wild fowl.
And in the meantime, the lame, impotent, irresponsible DOE and CIG, have not yet rolled out any meaningful legislation, nor have they implemented any effective enforcement to protect the once-unspoilt islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman from indiscriminate destruction caused by clearing land to a flat and lifeless state (including destruction of: the habitats of Green Iguanas; the beach and Bluff edge habitats of nesting Booby birds; and various species of rare trees and plants).
The lame and irresponsible DOE and CIG still allow developers and builders of private homes to bulldoze away the flood-protective beach ridges. The destruction of the foregoing forests, habitats and natural features is quite often done illegally by machine and without proper authorisation.
When caught, the Development Control Board of CB and LC most often simply allow a permit “after-the-fact” to be granted. Complaints thus far have fallen on the largely deaf ears of the impotent and irresponsible ones who are supposedly entrusted to protect the islands.
(But damn! They are quite efficient at killing cats, nuh?)
They eat the crabs but call the chickens pest., what am I missing?
Well, now it is all BS once the “Misinformation” tag is applied.
What they are fighting are people who disagree with them over the best approach to the problem. The solution they have imposed is not the only solution, nor is it compelled by “the science.”
Cull the feral chickens!! They are FAR worse than rats and iguanas.
There is a sizable pack of pigs and piglets running around the north side , the pigs will eat anything and everything they can . https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/wildlife_damage/fsc-feral-swine-impacts-tes.pdf
Cull they ass too!
#bacon
When they remove the Cats and chickens who will kill the rats and cockroaches ? Or shall we charge all Caymanians 500K for feeding our huge rat and cockroaches population too ???
Since social media ppl seem to have lost respect for actual expertise. Now we have all these anonymous experts that think they know everything.
Inquiring minds should get an education.
So DOE isn’t poisoning cats but repeatedly has said they are euthanized in a humane manner. So… the cat is trapped and then calmly presents itself to be injected? I don’t think so. Look up “cat crush cage,” and you’ll see how those injections are being administered. I’m pretty sure each cat killed in this way is terrified in the cage before the euthanasia takes effect. That definitely is not humane.
They are following internationally established veterinary practices for humane euthanasia. Cats are first sedated, then are euthanized while asleep. Can’t say that that it’s such a peaceful death for the 1000+ animals that one outdoor cat kills each year. Simplest way to reduce overall suffering is to eliminate the introduced invasive predators.
The Humane Society should be sued to cover the costs of catching and euthanizing all the stray cats. They literally caused the problem to reach the scale that it has, and have caused unfathomable harm to local fauna.
I don’t think it’s fair to blame cause on anyone but the former owners. But it is fair to say that CIHS exascerbated the problem.
Please don’t Assume, you know what it does to you.
I’m one of those registered voters with indoor pets who have been spayed/neutered, a well used harness, and vet receipts.
I would like to thank Fred Burton, the DOE and the CI Nation Trust and the many financial sponsors for what they have done to bring the Blue Iguana’s back from the brink of extinction.
Could someone answer the following questions:
In what specific branch of science does Fred Burton hold his degree(s)?
What is the proposal to dispose of the product produced from the growing cull areas? Caymanians of old did not believe in wasting what they killed. Or will the cats killed be taking up more room at the land fill?
What is the measurements of the bite from a black rat…the article states 14mm from a cat.
How are these cats being put down? Is there an independent source verifying the humane process?
If it is being carried out by a certified veterinarian, what is the psychological effect on them? Articles have been written on the damage done to those persons who have to kill animals they were trained to save. Damage being depression, and increased rates of suicide.
Fred Burton has a masters level degree in natural sciences from Cambridge University. He was awarded an MBE for his conservation work.
His achievements include establishing or contributing to setting up the Salina Reserve, Mastic Trail, Botanic Park, Brac Parrot Reserve, Booby Pond Nature Reserve, Colliers Wilderness Reserve, and other protected areas.
https://library.iucn-isg.org/documents/2007/Anonymous_2007_Cayman_Island_Government.pdf
Most recently the Hemmington Forest, too. Previously it was completely unprotected, despite the historic trail marketed for recreational use & tourist attraction.
DOn’t care. Others equally knowlegeble about this particular issue have different opinions about the best way to go.
I see we are still ignoring the most dangerous invasive threat to these creatures, the one responsible for the most serious these creatures, habitat loss.
Just another day in Absurdistan.
should we take that as you volunteering as first on the block?
I just aim my car at them. Same as the chickens and iguanas.
Feral people with the right to vote are the cause of feral cats. Can’t fix that.
Great work Fred. I don’t know how you do it. The frustration level must be astronomical. The evidence for culling the feral cat is overwhelming. While hatchlings are being killed by cats for entertainment, adult breeding iguanas are being killed on the road by cars and trucks. One weekend on Little Cayman I witnessed the deaths of 4 adult breeding iguanas, 3 by trucks and one mauled to death by a dog. All the iguanas had between 12 and 18 eggs in them. If there were just 12 eggs in each, counting the adults, that would be 51 iguanas killed that weekend. Good Lord, how does anyone expect them to survive being killed at that rate. Now throw in the number of hatchlings killed by feral cats and you can see that the SIRI is destined for extinction in our lifetime. Though I have written more about iguanas than seabirds, the predator is still the same one. Keep up the good work John and Fred. You are fighting the good fight. cheers.
What about those black RATS they are trapping. And in a higher quantity than the cats. Don’t they have shaped teeth and eat eggs and kill birds???
Whataboutism! A Fox News trick.
Probably why they are trapping them then, right? Invasive species is an invasive species.
Isn’t it black rats that carried the plague back in the days?
No more vehicles on the roads! They are an alien species!
in Little Cayman one person feels like his dog doesn’t need to be on a leash, the law doesn’t apply to him.
Running wild by the airport, village square,as well as seen riding in a Government vehicle.
That would be one that has a “No Riders” sticker on the side.
We have people like that all over Grand Cayman too. You are right, something should be done about the owners.
“There are so many threats and pressures on our native wildlife. It is a bit bewildering, really, as we are dealing with massive loss of habitat as the islands develop and we are dealing with big global issues like climate change… that could have really complicated impacts on our native ecosystems. But alien species are the number two threat globally,” he said Friday during an appearance on Radio Cayman’s For the Record.”
Incredible.
No misconception over bulldozers and excavators
Some of the people spreading these lies are cat – sh*t crazy.
See what I did there.
Meow
Cayman supposedly had no native people or permanent settlement until the Europeans who came well after Columbus, according to the limited archeological studies carried out on islands. So should we not conclude humans are the most invasive and destructive species?
Animals in the wild kill for food. Humans on the other hand kill many, many wild native animals daily for condos with an ocean view, a smooth road on which to drive their cars, ego, power, sport and sometimes food.
Did the cat also get into its armor suit and eradicate most of the land and soldier crabs, fly his plane dumping DDT and bringing an end to fireflies, take his water glass and pluck the iron shore clean of whelks and the Sounds clean of conch and lobster, drop his cruise ship anchor on the reef and destroy it? Who eradicated the large lizards (Crododiles) and turtles that appeared as abundant rocks in the sea around the ships? Who put an end to the Swimming of the Hutia (simular to Agouti, but native) or the Caribbean monk seal. The cat in his submarine? No I think not.
The cat is nothing more than the patsy, black sheep, smoke screen etc
We need to address over development of these three Cayman Islands. Stop blaming a cat for your lack of interest, or education or abundant greed and ego.
Honestly I am so sick of this rhetoric. Yes, human beings are to blame ultimately, but you know who domesticated cats? Humans. You know who brought green iguanas as pets? Humans.
Cats will pay the price for this, but because we can’t hold people accountable. I bet you are exactly the person that caused this problem.
Poor sportsmanship is what you have.
You simply can’t stand that your opposition has valid points.
Sylvester the cat would say…Sour9u$$.
The Green Iguana’s were introduced here from Hondura’s, when fishermen would carry them on-board during their trips to Cayman back in the early 80’sto early 90’s openly, but was most likely going on well before those dates .In addition, certain individuals were allowed, without Customs intervention or restriction , to import them as pets.You used to go to Monkey Business on West Bay Road & see folks wearing a young Iguana around their neck as some type of adornment, with the Iguana even having its own necklace & jewellery.When the lizards grew, the owners released them.
The lack of enforcement by CIG agencies (DOE, DEH, Customs) to have turned a blatent blind eye to their cronies bringing the Central Amercian Iguanas here are directly to blame for the infestation in later years.
DOE has recently removed protected status under the marina park law, now allowing Lobster taking in-season at Spotts Beach sound. There were dozens of lobster in coral heads there until the recent season opening day. Guess what happened to all of them within hours of the season opening?
Ask Fred Burton Why ?
Why was a previously protected marine conservation zone removed from that status, under the law ?
Does Mr. Burton have statistics from Cayman for
birds killed by:
1. land clearing (legal, illegal or accidental)
2. road kills
3. poisons – rodent, insecticide, fertilizers etc
4. human predation for food or sport
5. other native animal predation. snakes etc
Cayman figures please. Not Europe or Noth America.
Your thumb down says you are not interested in the reality of the most significant killer of birds
…the humans, not the cats
When did all the crazy cat ladies all of sudden become statisticians??? I have never in the history of news comments seen such a demand for statistics. And video proof.
This is not rocket science ladies – Feral cats kill native endemic wildlife globally and these effects are exacerbated on islands.
Do you seriously think DOE has the resources to be doing thesis papers on these topics to appease the crazy cat ladies when global evidence already exists?
Your demands for this ‘Proof’ are ridiculous and completely unfounded. Go clean your kitty litter.
Good job DoE. This is long overdue!
I see we’re still ignoring the primary invasive culprit, the species responsible for the most impactful issue to these creatures, habitat loss.
Business as usual in Absurdistan.
Zero habitat loss at the east end of the bluff edge (the primary nesting area). Zero.
But there is a nice BIG WIDE road…. for ambitious cats to walk down with their dinner plate, knife and fork…..and bad, bad old humans to drive down on and dump unwanted pets.
It’s about time the DOE did something about their own feral problem, like the enforcement guy doing private work during office hours.
I say we eat the cats. Don’t waste the meat!
XXXX I implore everyone to please follow science and research and not some bleeding heart cat lover who thinks every cat is an angel. I am a firm believer that no cats should even be allowed to reside in cayman brac or little cayman, period. our precious and NATIVE animals only have so much time left at this rate.
Well if we want to get that extreme on native versus indigenous then really humans dont belong there either. Perhaps DoE should have added humans to the alien species list.
Don’t be asinine.
Show us your data, pseudoscientist. You should be good at avian data, given your ability to parrot others.
Do you feel the same way about the developers and and NRA pavers….let me guess no native birds were harmed when the developer / home owner removed all trees to build and then plant fake grass and invasive trees….and of course there is never road kill…I see your rose colored glasses are working well for you.
https://theconversation.com/dont-blame-cats-for-destroying-wildlife-shaky-logic-is-leading-to-moral-panic-138710
Here is another study: who do we believe?
Read the fine print bobo – the authors received funding from the Australian Research Council for research on cats, and from Alley Cat Allies for a workshop on cats in 2017.
Well for starters this is a persuasive op-Ed, not a study. Secondly, one of the authors has disclosed funding from Alley Cat Allies, who call themselves “the nations leading cat advocacy group.”
So, well, there’s that.
Meanwhile in Canada, while studying the impacts of wind turbines on bird populations, they discovered a much more lethal predator- cats:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cats-the-no-1-killer-of-birds-in-canada-1.3130437#:~:text=That%20figure%20comes%20from%20a,killer%20of%20birds%20in%20Canada.&text=Death%20by%20window%20collision%20is,25%20million%20birds%20per%20year.
https://www.ace-eco.org/vol8/iss2/art3/
Eh?