Tell the US Fish & Wildlife Service to STOP Using Misinformation Regarding Cat Predation
- by: Alley Cat Rescue
- recipient: US Fish & Wildlife Director Mr. Rowan Gould
Over the years, cats have been turned into scapegoats and blamed for the depletion of bird populations, especially songbirds. Cats are on the %u201Cpublic enemy%u201D list of most wildlife groups, including our very own government%u2019s Fish and Wildlife Service.
Cats are being called %u201Cserial killers,%u201D "pests" and %u201CThe Scourge of Suburbia.%u201D Sadly, few groups and writers have ever defended cats by challenging these so-called statistics. It wasn%u2019t until 1994, when Jeff Elliott tried to get the truth out by writing for the Sonoma County Independent. Co-author of the Wisconsin Study, Stanley Temple, told the Sonoma County Independent, %u201CThe media has had a field day with this since we started. Those figures were from our proposal. They aren't actual data; that was just our projection to show how bad it might be.%u201D Though 16 years later, these exaggerated numbers are still being used and they are becoming more and more accepted as fact.
Too long have cats received a bad rap and blamed for the "destruction" of birds and wildlife. Conservation groups need to STOP using exaggerated numbers and bogus studies to base these claims upon. Yes, cats kill birds but for agencies, especially government-supported ones, to push for the eradication of cats based on such lies is horrifying and tragic. Help us help cats and STOP the perpetuation of lies being told by the US Fish and Wildlife Service by signing this petition. Thank you!
For an in depth look at these "sticky number," please read this article.
No one knows for sure the number of animals preyed upon by domestic cats OR if their predation even has significance, YET the US Fish and Wildlife Service, along with other national groups, continue to use %u201Csticky numbers%u201D to push for the eradication of community cats. Even the authors of these quoted studies say the numbers are not actual data, YET your websites directly link individuals to these studies and to sites that support trap and kill. Nowhere do your websites refer individuals to cat rescue organizations for further information on the subject or how to humanely manage community cats.
Just because these numbers have been used by the press, does NOT mean they are %u201Cofficial%u201D or that they have any scientific basis. Again, as a national entity, the US Fish and Wildlife Service should be ashamed for providing the public with misinformation, especially when it means the killing of countless innocent animals. For a group that pushes for conservation and preservation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service advocates for a lot of killing%u2026a lot of killing based on %u201Csticky numbers.%u201D
We the undersigned advocate for the fair representation of ALL animals. Please help us regain our faith in the US Fish and Wildlife Service by discontinuing the use of exaggerated figures and flawed studies pertaining to cat predation and by providing the public with information from cat organizations, like Alley Cat Rescue (www.saveacat.org), so both sides of the issue are presented.
Thank you for considering our comments on this important matter.
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