The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-02-22
The Cat Problem

AhS Nut ITODlcm
From the standpoint OF bird con-
servation and consequent insect
destruction. this problem was recent
ly discussed by DR.. FL. f. Twitchell,
of Portland, Maine, before the Cum
berland County Audubon Society and
their guests at a dinner given at the
Falmouth Hotel on January Goth, 1923.
| The doctors conclusions are the re-
suit of careful. painstaking study and
hence merit the closest attention of
all persons having at heart the inter
est OF both cats and birds in their re-
lation to insect life. He said,-
There is direct relation between
the increase OF cats and the increase
of insects. Let us see what the ex-
perts tell us about the insect pests,
the relation of birds to these pests,
and where the cat comes in. Insects
cost Massachusetts from three to nine
million dollars year, it must cost
Maine as much. They cost the
United States. one billion dol
lars; ten dollars for every man, wo-
man and child in the country. This
is the tribute we are paying to the in
sect pest How can We most success
fully fight this pest? Nature shows
us. If left alone she would estab-
fish balance, but man comes on the
stage with n sublime in difference to
Natures laws, not only thoughtless-
ly destroying birds himself, but leaves
to unrestricted breeding, and cease
less marauding, the most ruthless of
all bird enemies-the cat.
The number of insects the birds
destroy is we'll nigh increditable. In
Massachusetts they destroy twenty
one thousand bushels daily through
the summer months. A Nebraskan
estimates that they destroy 40 car
loads a day in his state. In New
York state they destroy three million
bushels annually. w. X. Oates of
Michigan estimates that birds are
worth ten million dollars annually in
his state. The birds work for us all
the time never strike; and without
pay, singing their hearts out while
doing it,
Now, for the much abused cat.
have no brief against the properly
restricted cat. Your neighbor may
ask, haven't | a right to keep cat?"
Most assuredly, but don't ask me to
keep 1t half the time for you. Some
persons would rather have your COW
than your cat on their lawn.
What logic Is there in the law that
collects FIVE dollars from me when
shoot arobin in your garden, but per-
mits my cat to kill any number with
out penalty?
There are probably 25 million cats
in the United States. In Maine, there
is a average of one, so-called, domes
tic cat to every family-say, one hun
dred thousand and there are as many
more yagrant cats.
How many birds will cat destroy
in one season? Experts estimate
anywhere from ten to one hundred.
! have heard persons boast of their
cats killing seventy. | have also
heard others say that their cats
never kill birds Friends, there
aint no such animal. The cat is only
limited in It's kill by it's environments.
John Burroughs. Frank Chapman,
7. Gilbert Pearson, and Henshaw,
consider cats the worst OF all enc
mics to birds. Considering the nest
lings that die from the destruction of
the parent birds it is safe to charge
every cat with . destruction of so
birds a season, and cats running wild
in the woods practically live on
thrushes and ground nesting game
birds. Thus our two hundred thous
and cats destroy for us in Maine ten
million birds year. Can Maine
afford such destruction of its insec
tiverous workers? Are her cats
worth the one to three million dollars
she is paying for them annually?
What is the rem edy More thought
full painstaking restraint of the dom
este cat, and the humane destruction
of all vagrant cats, especially those
about sporting camps and abandoned
homes.
Some form of license would do
away with yagrant city cats which
are very numerous. 1t is my strong
CONVICTION that there should be a state
license on cats. 1t would not only
benefit our state In conserving bird
life but would be humane method
of caring for the neglected cats also.
| invite an unbiased consideration
of this subject from all thoughtful
persons.