Wisc. Hunter Wants Open Season for Cats

OH MY!

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U.S. National - AP


Wisc. Hunter Wants Open Season for Cats

Mon Mar 7, 1:49 PM ET   U.S. National - AP



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 small-game 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."


The Conservation Congress is a five-member elected body whose duty is to advise the Department of Natural Resources and the Legislature on natural resources issues.


DNR attorney Tim Andryk said the vote would simply be "an advisory recommendation" to state lawmakers.


"We (the DNR) don't have authority to regulate domestic animals. Legislation would have to be passed to accomplish this," Andryk said. "You might also have to amend laws relating to abuse of domestic animals."


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 nonnative 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 nonnative 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, a co-owner of MadCat Pet Supplies, recently set up a Web site, dontshootthecat.com, to inform people about it.


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.


"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."

 



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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com

 

my state brings shame to this country.

 

OMG. um... wow. can we say trigger happy? idiots.

 

I think we ought to make the open-season on those fearless hunters ...

"I got me a hunter hunting license..."..

"He Bubba, lets go kill us a small animal that usually stands still."

"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."

all that from a 100 cats? someones looking for extra grant money...


How many other birds,fish, and insects have been murdered by those evil birds? How many pounds of bird poo-poo has hit a automobile, boat, or human last year? The shear thought of it makes me shiver.....



cat killers....good Lord.

at least theres still a few intelligent people left....

Hope Canada doesn't get a really big billboard, like the T-shirts use to say,

"I'm with Stupid ------->"


Scoffer

 

I'm down, I know many birders and the feline is a plague.

 

ps. I love cats, own one and my sister is a Vetrinarian. Still think it's a great idea. Better get my cat some bigger reflective tags

 

It's funny the response to this on different boards. They range from "here kitty kitty" to "f-ing gun happy hunters". I can see both sides of this, but without a doubt feral cats are a problem. I'm not sure open cat season is the answer.

 

Maybe cats should have to  be licensed just like dogs have to be!!  and the Dog catcher can also be up graded to Dog/cat catcher also
I'm not that attached to cats my self : .. John ;D

 

[quote author=Scoffer link=board=Bucket;num=1110349884;start=0#3 date=03/11/05 at 00:26:15]
Hope Canada doesn't get a really big billboard, like the T-shirts use to say,
"I'm with Stupid ------->"[/quote] ;D [smiley=laugh3.gif][smiley=laugh5.gif]

As a canadian sometimes i think about it .. But Seriously, Im not saying all americans are stupid but man some seem to lower the national I.Q average by allot. Im not saying that us canadians are smarter, look at our population were about 30 million so theres less stupid people than in the U.S with what now 300 million people... So im pretty sure it evens out.

As for that cat situation, being a dog person myself, i dont get people that buy a cat and toss them outside for days. If im going to have a cat (witch my girlfriend is trying to convince me to do these days) i will keep it inside for sure.

Marc.

 

[quote author=m_lacom99 link=board=Bucket;num=1110349884;start=0#8 date=03/11/05 at 15:02:43]
(witch my girlfriend
Marc.[/quote]

That would be Which my Girl friend not witch unless your trying to tell us us dumb Americans something LOL ;D [smiley=hehe.gif]