Lets here it from all you hunters and animal lovers!!
Firefighter seeks law legalizing hunting of stray cats
Associated Press
Mar. 7, 2005 10:26 AM
MADISON, Wis. - Hunter Mark Smith welcomes wild birds on to his property, but if he sees a cat, he thinks the "invasive" animal should be considered fair game.
The 48-year-old firefighter from La Crosse has proposed that hunters in Wisconsin make free-roaming domestic cats an "unprotected species" that could be shot at will by anyone with a hunting license.
His proposal will be placed before hunters on April 11 at the Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring hearings in each of the state's 72 counties.
"I get up in the morning and if there's new snow, there's cat tracks under my bird feeder ... I look at them as an invasive species, plain and simple," Smith said.
Smith's proposal has horrified cat lovers, but is seen by others as a way to stop cats from killing wild birds.
University of Wisconsin-Madison wildlife ecology professor Stanley Temple, who trapped more than 100 cats and analyzed their stomach contents during a four-year study, has estimated that between 7.8 million and 219 million birds are killed by rural cats in Wisconsin each year.
"It's obviously a very controversial proposal," Temple said, but added, "I think there really is a basis for having a debate about it. If we can shoot nuisance racoons and deer, why not cats."
"We (the DNR) don't have authority to regulate domestic animals. Legislation would have to be passed to accomplish this," Andryk said. "This might be an option of getting rid of cats."
But Temple said he thinks legislation is not needed. He said the department does have the authority to declare rural cats an unprotected species - because unclaimed cats can be considered non-native wildlife species like house mice, Norway rats, pigeons and starlings.
"If they are not a pet, if somebody doesn't claim ownership, they become a non-native wildlife species and not entitled to protection by the state," he said.
Cat enthusiasts Cheryl Balazs, Ted O'Donnell and Adam Bauknecht are trying to organize opposition to Smith's proposal.
O'Donnell said Smith's proposal "is a callous response" to the problem of cats preying on wild birds.
"There's more humane solutions," he said. "We as citizens should step up and solve the problem humanely."
Sheri Carr, senior humane officer at the Dane County Humane Society, said the group has not yet taken a position on the proposal, but wants cat owners to abide by their local ordinances and not let their animals roam. Currently it is not illegal for cats to be outdoors un-leashed but it is illegal for dogs.
Under the new law, any cat not on a leash or attended by its owner would be "fair game" for hunters.
"I would hate to think that tame, owned cats who happen to slip out would be at risk of being deemed a wild, unprotected species," Carr said. "It's a delicate (ecological) balance out there, but does that mean people should be able to shoot their neighbor's cat? Probably not."
Woo hoo, here in wisconsin hunters shoot anything that moves. I'm sure they could get some good recipes.
Firefighter seeks law legalizing hunting of stray cats
Associated Press
Mar. 7, 2005 10:26 AM
MADISON, Wis. - Hunter Mark Smith welcomes wild birds on to his property, but if he sees a cat, he thinks the "invasive" animal should be considered fair game.
The 48-year-old firefighter from La Crosse has proposed that hunters in Wisconsin make free-roaming domestic cats an "unprotected species" that could be shot at will by anyone with a hunting license.
His proposal will be placed before hunters on April 11 at the Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring hearings in each of the state's 72 counties.
"I get up in the morning and if there's new snow, there's cat tracks under my bird feeder ... I look at them as an invasive species, plain and simple," Smith said.
Smith's proposal has horrified cat lovers, but is seen by others as a way to stop cats from killing wild birds.
University of Wisconsin-Madison wildlife ecology professor Stanley Temple, who trapped more than 100 cats and analyzed their stomach contents during a four-year study, has estimated that between 7.8 million and 219 million birds are killed by rural cats in Wisconsin each year.
"It's obviously a very controversial proposal," Temple said, but added, "I think there really is a basis for having a debate about it. If we can shoot nuisance racoons and deer, why not cats."
"We (the DNR) don't have authority to regulate domestic animals. Legislation would have to be passed to accomplish this," Andryk said. "This might be an option of getting rid of cats."
But Temple said he thinks legislation is not needed. He said the department does have the authority to declare rural cats an unprotected species - because unclaimed cats can be considered non-native wildlife species like house mice, Norway rats, pigeons and starlings.
"If they are not a pet, if somebody doesn't claim ownership, they become a non-native wildlife species and not entitled to protection by the state," he said.
Cat enthusiasts Cheryl Balazs, Ted O'Donnell and Adam Bauknecht are trying to organize opposition to Smith's proposal.
O'Donnell said Smith's proposal "is a callous response" to the problem of cats preying on wild birds.
"There's more humane solutions," he said. "We as citizens should step up and solve the problem humanely."
Sheri Carr, senior humane officer at the Dane County Humane Society, said the group has not yet taken a position on the proposal, but wants cat owners to abide by their local ordinances and not let their animals roam. Currently it is not illegal for cats to be outdoors un-leashed but it is illegal for dogs.
Under the new law, any cat not on a leash or attended by its owner would be "fair game" for hunters.
"I would hate to think that tame, owned cats who happen to slip out would be at risk of being deemed a wild, unprotected species," Carr said. "It's a delicate (ecological) balance out there, but does that mean people should be able to shoot their neighbor's cat? Probably not."
Woo hoo, here in wisconsin hunters shoot anything that moves. I'm sure they could get some good recipes.
