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Subscribe to RSSIn our report below - on cats and birds - we stated that the study was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To clarify, it was a joint study with The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
A new study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute doesn't mince words: Cats, it says, are bird killers. In the U.S. alone, they're responsible for the deaths of up to 3.7 billion birds every year. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
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Not surprising the Smithsonian Institute is involved, they just fired Nico Daphine for being arrested and convicted of poisoning cats. By the way, she was Peter Marra, the "reports" author, intern. What do you expect?
I had a lot of trouble believing the numbers in the Nature Communications article were accurate. The authors used pre-existing studies and then, somehow, came up with new numbers 100s of times greater without doing any field work--just a bunch of so-called model buidling. So, maybe there is something wrong with their numbers, in the end.
By the way, anyone who thinks that there aren't solutions to housecats hunting birds, might want to look on the internet for two different products. They're out there, and hope they'll receive their due in the press to help Birds Be Safe. Thanks. Cat indoors or protect the birds from your cat with US products.
Brian said the rep from the Cat community said not "to judge me", and the bird community was silent, perhaps because their ranks were decimated. Perhaps they tweeted their response?
PLEASE post Brian's response to critics from the 1/31 broadcast, literally made me laugh out loud.
That was my cat, Magoo, on the broadcast! He's asked me to let everyone know that not ALL cats kill little animals...he has been a pacifist for 17 years. He's also a practicing Buddhist. Since he's owned me I've learned to chant daily "just be the Magoo." I'm so proud.
Feral cats must eat to survive... as do birds, rodents, insects, etc. I love all animals, especially cats. The cats that I have had including my present one, Molly have been indoor cats. Fortunately, for them they are fed very well. I have also had dogs, a Collie and a German Sheppard both were wonderful animals, but as I have aged cats are low maintenance for me.
I wish Brian Williams would run a series on his Nightly News program about good loving cats as he has done in the past about dogs. Let's be fair about this, cats are good boys and girls also. Give then a slot on NBC Evening News too.
How many birds are killed every year by dogs? Cats are not the only bad guys birds have to be wary around!
I am disappointed in Brian Williams. I know he is a dog person, and that is fine, but by calling cats "bird murderers," it's as if he's condoning violence against cats. It doesn't seem to bother anyone that cats do mankind a great service by killing mice and other vermin. I've never heard of a person being mauled by a cat, but it happens with dogs. Why doesn't he report on that? I think I'll start watching a different nightly news report...
Feral cats need to eat to survive, as do birds, rodents, etc. I love all animals, especially cats. I have owned four cats, including my present one, Molly. Cats are just as loving as dogs and I have had two of them, a Collie & a German Shepherd whom I loved also. As I have aged I need an animal that will be low maintenance for me and that would be a cat.
I wish Brian William would feature a good cat slot on his Evening News as he has done several times about dogs. Be fair, give cats their 15 minutes of fame on the evening new also, and I do not mean "Morris".
Cats kill birds. So what?
Cats that live in the wild or indoor pets allowed to roam outdoors kill from 1.4 billion to as many as 3.7 billion birds in the continental U.S. each year.
How many chickens get killed a year? 8.39 Billion Chickens. Every day, 23 million chickens are killed in the U.S. alone. So chicken nuggets are a good reason to kill birds but following your instinct isn't???
all those chickens have been bred for food... wild birds are being needlessly slaughtered because people let "mittens" roam around the neighborhood without regard. You're saying we should just let cats kill our native species because it's their instinct... -_-
That is exactly what I am saying. The birds are not being 'needlessly slaughtered' they are being hunted. Instinct has nothing to do with breeding on a mass scale, bred for food in cages 18 inches wide. Injected with antibiotics because the process is anything but natural for those animals and disease is rampant. Humans ARE the problem, not cats.
Wild birds don't need to be fed in the spring, summer, and fall. Wild food is readily available. Artificially providing more food gives way to higher breeding rates and more birds than the winter food supply can support. Again humans ARE the problem.
Feeding birds through the seasons draws them en-mass to the cats. Again, humans ARE the problem.
Left alone, nature works and it has for millions of years, and cats eat birds whether you like it or not.
I am little concerned about your network saying things like: Cats are Murderers. I love all animals but I especially love cats because I believe people are very dismissive of them. For years people have demonized cats and killed them without any regard. I fear that these kinds of remarks may make people abuse or torture them because sadly there are so many feral cats out there. I remind you it is believed that the Black Plague could have been avoided if cats were not killed by the thousands because they were thought to be witches when they could been hunting and killing the rodents that spread the Plague. I beg you to please think before saying such ridiculous remarks.
Brian, if you remember the movie "The Birds", you might think better of cats.
I am concerned that this "cats are murders" story, broadcast not just once in passing, but daily for 2-3 days, is only going to add fuel to the psychos who take perverse pleasure in torturing and killing cats. Fair, unbiased journalism would dictate the story also include the fact that cats are carnivores, they kill only to survive, they kill many "pests" such as mice and rats and not just birds. Were these statistics responsibly compared to the number of birds, mammals and fish that man "murders" every day (for food)? Were these statistics responsibly compared to the number of animals "murdered" by other carnivores such as coyotes, fox, raptors, and even domestic dogs? The favorite prey of a hawk is that cute little fuzzy bunny in your back yard, yet the media does not sensationalize their natrual instinct to kill to survive.
The media doesn't sensationalize raptors feeding on bunnies because that's a naturally, mutually-evolved relationship that has been playing out for millenia. Cats have been introduced to habitats and areas where small animals haven't had time to co-evolve with them, and so are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to protecting themselves from being preyed upon. Would you feel the same way if lions were introduced to your local nature area? They're not native--they're just destructive for no purpose.
Don't forget that cats were worshiped in ancient Egypt because they kept the rodent populaton in check and helped save the grain stores. Also don't forget that when cats were tortured and killed in large numbers during the dark ages, the bubonic plague swept across Europe because the rodent populaton was unchecked. I agree with the comments from briderwv. Another reason that people need to keep their cats inside is that the kitties can become victims of birds of prey. There have been numerous cat skeletons found along the Mississippi River from hungry eagles. By nature, cats are hunters. Pet cats should be kept inside by their owners for both the dafety of small birds and for the cats themselves
Cats were worshiped in ancient Egypt because they kept the rodent population in check and helped protect the grain stores. During the Dark Ages when cats were tortured and murdered the rodent population was unchecked and the Bubonic Plague swept through Europe. Cats by nature are hunters. I would not call them murderers, they are just doing what is natural to them. As birderwv commented that people need to take responsibility. Another reason for keeping cats indoors is that they can become victims of birds of prey. There have been numerous cat skeletons found along the Mississippi left by hungry eagles who nest along the river. If the cat population is becoming too large then we need to do a better job of getting the cats spayed.
I must admit though that having grown up on a farm, I appreciate a good mouser. It eliminates the need for leaving rat poison lying around
BRAVO! It's about time the issue of feral cats and their disastrous effects on native wildlife be addressed! New Zealand is starting a movement to ban cats because of so many of their native birds going extinct. I greatly appreciate Brian Williams' coverage of this.
Where is there information about how this study was conducted?
The caption says "cats are murderers". Isn't this a little extreme? When hunters shoot deer do we call it murder? No. We call it a sport. It sounds to me like the writer of this story does not like cats. The real problem is people who refuse to spay or neuter their pets, or abandom them. There is a lot of ignorance out there, and some of it appears to be coming from the media.