For Immediate Release: May 22, 2003

Contact: , American Bird Conservancy, 202/234-7181 ext. 207

Florida Cat Policy to be Decided Next Week;
Conservation Groups Support State Proposal

A new policy being proposed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on feral and stray cat colonies in the state is drawing support from a coalition of national and Florida wildlife conservation groups.

Alachua Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy (ABC), American Birding Association, Florida Audubon Society, Florida Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Natural Areas Coalition of South Florida, the Ornithological Council, and the Wildlife Rehab & Refuge Center have issued letters of support, and thousands of emails are streaming in to state wildlife officials from citizens concerned about the threat posed by stray and feral cats to Florida’’s wildlife.

The FWC will meet May 30th in Kissimmee to act on the increasing crisis facing Florida’s wildlife because of a growing population of stray and feral cats in the State (already in the millions). The Commission has proposed a new policy to draw attention to impacts that stray and feral cats are having on wildlife, especially threatened and endangered species, prohibit cat colonies on public lands managed by FWC, and oppose cat colonies on other lands where they can impact vulnerable wildlife. To read the full text of the proposed policy see: http://www.saveourbirds.org/draft_policy.htm.

Domestic cats are not native to the United States, and may number in excess of 100 million nationwide. A growing population of stray and feral cats, especially in warmer southern states where they can breed year-round, is becoming a significant threat to wildlife. They can also spread fatal feline diseases to native cats such as bobcats and the highly endangered Florida panther. Cat predation is threatening some endangered species with extinction, particularly native beach mice, marsh rabbits and other small animals. Endangered birds such as the Florida Scrub Jay, and beach-nesting species such as the Least Tern, and Snowy Plover, are also at risk.

Said Linda Winter, Director of ABC’s Cats Indoors! Campaign, "Efforts to reduce the stray and feral cat population by neutering or spaying them, then re-releasing them back into colonies, have failed to solve the problem. Many colonies still exist after ten years or more and many are growing, not shrinking. The cats in these colonies continue to kill native wildlife, pose a disease threat to wildlife and humans, reduce enjoyment of public parks and beaches, threaten Florida's multi-million dollar tourism industry, and suffer themselves. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's proposed policy to prohibit colonies on public lands is an important first step in restoring the balance in favor of Florida’s wildlife."