I recently read that Rep. Vicki Doudera is proposing a bill to include outdoor cats in an animal trespass law in order to protect the bird population.
Cats are such easy targets. Rep. Doudera is a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, so she above all should know that birds are victims, mostly, of the loss of their habitat and natural food (such as insects), climate change, pesticides, migration patterns, noisy urban life – just like bees and other beneficial living creatures. This is supported by serious environmental studies.
We are lucky to have lots of birds around us. We have a garden that is friendly to all small creatures. We love birds, feed them, and we’ve had several nesting in our birdhouses or shrubs. This past year, we lost four families (robins, bluebirds), not to cats, but to squirrels, who got into the nests and ate the eggs. It had nothing to do with cats.
We did have several outdoor cats and did our best to keep them in our yard. Yes, I respect that neighbors may not welcome them. Still, our outdoor cats preferred chipmunks and mice. (Not that I like that!) Let us not forget that cats can help control rodent populations. Currently, our cats are all indoor cats – their choice.
Let’s protect nature in a responsible way. Let us address the real issues. Bird population is declining mostly because of human activity.
Anne-Marie Thomas
Owls Head
Send questions/comments to the editors.
