Best Friends urges U.S. Fish, Wildlife Service to abandon plans to kill feral cats on San Nicholas Island off California
Plans to re-establish the habitat for sea birds and other native species on San Nicholas Island should not require the hunting down and killing feral cats because a more humane alternative is available, according to a statement released today by Best Friends Animal Society.
An environmental assessment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office in Carlsbad, Calif., has called for eliminating the cats by capturing them with padded leg traps or tracking dogs, and then euthanizing them. But a June 16 letter to the service and the U.S. Navy from Best Friends Animal Society rejects euthanasia and suggests an alternative that calls for spaying, neutering and relocating the cats.
"Best Friends agrees that for the benefit of the cats as well as the endangered species, the feral cats should depart from the island, but we propose that they be allowed to live," said Gregory Castle, one of Best Friends Animal Society's founders and an expert on feral cats. "Once they are humanely captured, they would be spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies and relocated to managed colonies on the mainland."
Castle said the ideal humane solution for feral cats is sterilizing them and keeping them in their current location, with volunteer caregivers who feed them and watch over them. "But in this unusual case, we feel the establishment of a managed colony on the Navy owned and occupied island is not feasible due to the size and isolation of the island, as well as ongoing concerns for native wildlife," he added.
The best method would be "live" humane cage traps and where necessary, soft nets with handles to capture and collect the feral cats.
"Because of our interest and experience in the humane management of feral cats, Best Friends Animal Society is willing and motivated to discuss with U.S. Fish and Wildlife our suggested modifications to this project," Castle said. "We are also willing to take on the role of advisor or point-of-contact for a collaboration of humane and animal rescue groups, including feral cat advocacy groups."
In addition to saving the lives of the feral cats, Best Friends' proposal provides for humane treatment that would significantly reduce the cost of the project, minimize negative environmental impacts on the native plants and animals, and increase the viability and survival of both feral cats and the island fox. For example, dogs specifically trained to hunt cats would be more expensive and their quarantine to protect indigenous species from cross-contamination would expend both time and money. The proposed padded leg-hold traps would be time-consuming to install and maintain.
"There is an alternative solution and we look forward to establishing a dialogue with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Navy, which owns St. Nicholas Island," Castle said. "There is almost always an alternative to euthanasia, and we feel like we have a good one that solves the problem in the most practical and humane way."
For more information about Best Friends, visit www.bestfriends.org or http://network.bestfriends.org.
About Best Friends Animal Society:
Located on 3,700 acres near Kanab, Utah, Best Friends Animal Society operates the countrys largest sanctuary for homeless animals and is home, on any given day, to about 2,000 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other animals. Founded in 1984, Best Friends works globally with animal shelters and rescue groups to bring about a time when there will be no more homeless pets. Best Friends advances initiatives nationwide that promote community approaches to making the world a better place through kindness to animals, which includes adoption, spay-neuter, and humane education programs. For more information, visit www.bestfriends.org.
"Best Friends Animal Society: A better world through kindness to animals."
