Feral cats: Kill 1.3 to 4.0 billion birds annually;6.3 to 22.3 billion small mammals

[SUPERX-M1]

Rural areas are ,indeed, a dumping ground for unwanted cats and dogs. The dumpers often dumped near a farmhouse, perhaps expecting that the farm would take the animal in. My aunt in Ohio was a soft touch, had no money, but always had over 10 cats and over 6 dogs-all abandoned. The cats were porch cats that were fed but that was all. No vet care, of course. Read that today, vet care feed etc is $1300 a year and for a dog over 1500. Neighbors cat vet bill was at least 800,other neighbor had two dogs struck by cars, 2 grand @. Pets are rec for older folks, many low income cant afford proper care. Small animal vets are a new thing, used to be large animal only. Animals had to pay their way.

[togor]

Member here of the "shoot and shovel club".

[clintonhater]

The dumpers often dumped near a farmhouse, perhaps expecting that the farm would take the animal in.

It's the dumpers who should be shot & shoveled.

[SUPERX-M1]

youtUBE has many vid on feral cats, rat hunting with pellet guns, hog hunting.

One from Australia said had huge prob- cats killing off unique Aussie wildlife.Said had est 8 million feral and 2.5 m domestic. Domestic cats usually run free day and night- and hunt. Est. 1000 birds and animals @ cat each year-minimum. Their prey include reptiles,such as lizards. Hunters culling cats get death threats and abuse from cat lovers. Neuter and release cats keep killing wildlife. If caught in live trap, pellet or 22 to the head while in trap. Drape trap with cloth while move trap to keep cats calm.

England restricts power of pellet guns to iirc 12 ft lbs. Some usa areas, restrict use of pellet guns, say in city limits.

Many of these ratters and pig and coyote hunters use night sights and thermal sights(expensive). Rat pelts not too valuable, coyote pelts used to be. Pork is good eating but cook to 145 or risk trichinosis. Bears also.

[kj47]

Agree with Bruce, the three s rule is the only way..

[Johnny P]

Something we have now that we didn't have when I was a kid is armadillos. They can completely wreck a yard over night. They are nocturnal, so hard to catch them when they are out. I try to locate their den and set a live trap where they have to walk into it as they exit the den. If I can't find the den I make a V out of 2X6 boards leading into a live trap. Once in the trap a .22 finishes them off.

The other thing we now have are fire ants, continually and perpetually moving north.

[clintonhater]

Something we have now that we didn't have when I was a kid is armadillos. They can completely wreck a yard over night. They are nocturnal, so hard to catch them when they are out. I try to locate their den and set a live trap where they have to walk into it as they exit the den. If I can't find the den I make a V out of 2X6 boards leading into a live trap. Once in the trap a .22 finishes them off.

The other thing we now have are fire ants, continually and perpetually moving north.

If I thought they could survive in my climate, I'd pay you to ship them to me, because I LOVE them. Where I grew up, in my much younger days, I caught 3 of them by hand, simply by creeping up slowly when they looked away (practically blind anyway) & snatching them by the tail--then HOLD ON, because they squirm frantically at first, but calm down if you turn them upside down with one hand under their back.

If they must be killed, it's a crime to throw away the meat, because it's sweet, cream-colored, similar to young goat.

I have also been stung by fire ants--not NEARLY as bad as red wasps.

[Art]

If I thought they could survive in my climate, I'd pay you to ship them to me, because I LOVE them. Where I grew up, in my much younger days, I caught 3 of them by hand, simply by creeping up slowly when they looked away (practically blind anyway) & snatching them by the tail--then HOLD ON, because they squirm frantically at first, but calm down if you turn them upside down with one hand under their back.

If they must be killed, it's a crime to throw away the meat, because it's sweet, cream-colored, similar to young goat.....

During the Great Depression they were a common addition to the diets of folks who couldn't get enough groceries, back then they were called "Hoover Hogs."

[Tuna]

Armadillos are well known for being carriers of Leprosies. Yup makes your body parts fall off.

[clintonhater]

Armadillos are well known for being carriers of Leprosies. Yup makes your body parts fall off.

Very rare; more realistic to worry about being struck by lightening or a falling meteorite.

[RED]

I'm not privy to what feral hogs eat in Texas or elsewhere but when I was stationed in Brunswick GA, feral pigs were plentiful (1971-72). Their diets in the pine woods were mostly pine cones and palmetto roots and neither them nor the squirrels were edible. They are what they eat and they tasted just like the pines smelled like. In agriculture areas, they apparently live off the crops and cattle feed and are much better.