STRAY CATS CURSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 53, 4 March 1939, Page 7

STRAY CATS CURSE.

IN NATIVE WOODLANDS.

FEEDING ON WILD BIRDS

| More complaints have been received by the Forest and Bird Protection Society about the killing of native birds by cats which were brought to the Publics Works camps in South West land. Here are some passages of a letter received from a regular visitor to those camps:— "I visit these camps frequently; it's a crying shame to see these cats running wild. The only feed for them is our native birds. Recently I met one chap who had shifted camp. I inquired where his cat was. He told me he had left it behind with kittens. "The men are removing further 011 in the Haast. At present at Fantail Creek there are 110 cats; our native birds are plentiful there. Can anything be done to stop the men taking cats there? "I was disgusted when I visited the main office at Saddle Camp to find the office staff in possession of cats; these chaps should know better. It's time this cat question is taken in hand. I still have one more complaint, that is the shooting of kakas by workmen. This must be stopped. Is it possible to appoint someone on the works as ranger?'' 111 conveying a copy of that letter to the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, Captain Sanderson makes this comment:—We are fully aware that many of these men are very wasteful in their habits, and that insufficient care is taken in disposing of food scrape, etc.. with the result that rats are attracted to the vicinity of the camp. Then cats arc introduced to combat the rat trouble, hut the natural food of cats is birds and fish. Nearly all animals have some means of storing food in times of plenitude. When food is plentiful rats increase, in numbers, and in times of extreme paucity of food, they eat one another; therefore, the logical means of holding rats down is extreme care in disposing of anything which they will eat."