TNR in Florida

[mjollnir]

I got this emailed to me today. Just thought I'd pass it on for any of you in FL who take care of ferals or allow your own cats outside.

Please Cross Post

This email contains several parts:

Part 1: Summary of Florida's plan to eliminate "free-ranging" cats, including both feral cats and pets allowed outdoors.

Part 2: Text of the proposed FWC policy

Part 3: How you can help

PART 1: SUMMARY OF FLORIDA'S PLAN TO ELIMINATE "FREE-RANGING" CATS, INCLUDING BOTH FERAL CATS AND PETS ALLOWED OUTDOORS

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Takes Aim at Cats

Wrongly blaming outdoor cats for Florida's wildlife woes and claiming that Trap-Neuter-Return is ineffective, the Fish and Wildlife Commission is proposing to make it illegal to perform Trap-Neuter-Return in the state. This prohibition would apply to all lands managed by the Commission. Since the Commission actually has jurisdiction over the entire state, the proposed policy would grant state officers access to both private and public property in cat removal campaigns.

As written, the policy would apply to all "free-ranging" cats, including feral cats and owned cats that roam outdoors. Thus, pet cats confined to private property could be removed by the state if they posed a theoretical threat to wildlife. Likewise, well-managed colonies of sterilized feral cats would also be removed, regardless of the wishes of the property owner.

Please take a few moments to make your feelings known to state officials. Statements mailed by May 7, 2003 will be officially considered at the meeting on May 28, 2003. Statements sent later will demonstrate public support for cats. Attendance at the meeting is also very valuable. The Commission has stated publicly that no one has sent in comments supporting Trap-Neuter-Return and the rights of cat owners. Your input is urgently needed.

Please send polite comments to the public officials mentioned at the end of this message. Potential talking points include:

1) Personal stories of successful cat colony management by Trap-Neuter-Return

2) The policy represents an unfunded mandate to local governments, which would be responsible for eradicating thousands of cats without receiving state funds to do so

3) Trap-Neuter-Return is the only method of cat control which has been shown to reduce cat populations in the long term

4) Although the Commission is taking the stand that this is a wildlife vs. cat issue, Trap-Neuter-Return benefits both wildlife and cats by reducing cat populations

5) Both environmental impact and economic impact reports should be completed prior to adopting this far-reaching policy


PART 2: TEXT OF THE PROPOSED FWC POLICY OF FREE-RANGING CATS

3 March 2003 Final Draft FWC Policy on impacts of domestic cats on native wildlife

Position and Policy

The domestic cat (Felis catus) is not native to Florida, but feral and free-ranging cats occur throughout the state and number several million. Cats prey upon both common and rare species of native wildlife in Florida, including species listed as threatened or endangered by state and federal governments. Although the cumulative impact of cats upon native wildlife in Florida remains uncertain relative to other impacts, predation by cats is common and can be especially detrimental to wildlife populations that are small or restricted in their distribution.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is mandated by the Florida Constitution to conserve and protect populations of native wildlife, and the FWC has authority to curtail adverse impacts that nonnative animals cause to native species. Therefore, it is the policy of the FWC to protect native wildlife from predation, disease, and other impacts presented by feral and free-ranging cats.

The FWC recognizes that local governments have the responsibility to regulate domesticated species, including cats, but the actions of local governments must not adversely impact native wildlife. Thus, the FWC will strive to minimize or eliminate the impacts of cats where they pose a significant threat to local wildlife populations, but will otherwise leave control of nuisance or feral cats and issues of local public safety and welfare to local governments.

Implementation

Implementing this broad policy will require a variety of FWC resources as well as cooperative efforts between FWC and other public agencies and private groups. Because of the extent of the domestic cat problem, protection of listed species and public lands are considered the highest priority. Several strategies may be followed and listed below are some that should be particularly useful in protecting native wildlife from feral or free-ranging cats. FWC staff should consider these and other potential strategies and recommend implementation measures, as appropriate.

Recommended strategies:

(1) develop and implement a comprehensive education program to increase public awareness of the impacts that feral and free-ranging cats present to wildlife, identify ways for cat owners to minimize impacts, and inform cat owners of laws prohibiting the release or abandonment of cats to the wild

(2) eliminate the threat cats pose to the viability of local populations of wildlife, particularly species listed as Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern

(3) prohibit the release, feeding, or protection of cats on lands managed by the FWC, and strongly oppose programs and policies that allow the release, feeding, or protection of cats on public lands that support wildlife habitat

(4) provide technical advice, policy support, and partnerships to land management agencies in order to prevent the release, feeding, or protection of cats on public lands that support wildlife habitat

(5) oppose the creation or maintenance of Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs and similar activities involving managed cat colonies because they are not an effective means of reducing or eliminating the impacts of feral cat populations on native wildlife

(6) support the elimination of TNR colonies and similar managed cat colonies wherever they potentially and significantly impact local wildlife populations

(7) evaluate the need for new rules to minimize the impact of cats on native wildlife

PART 3: HOW YOU CAN HELP

Send polite letters expressing your concern to:

Bradley J. Gruver, Acting Chief
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

The Honorable Jeb Bush
Office of the Governor
The Capitol, 400 S Monroe St
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Attend the Commission meeting in Kissimmee Florida May 28-30, 2003. Agenda and location to be revealed soon on the FWC website.

Sample letters and additional contact information available at www.spacecoastfelinenetwork.com

More information coming soon at
www.alleycat.org (Alley Cat Allies)
www.floridaconservation.org (FWC)

[Tina B and crew]

Hey thanks...I just posted about this in another thread. I'll pass this on to my other cat loving friends here in FL

[Traci]

I didn't read the entire proposal but I read enough to wager the FWC is either 1) blowing hot air, it will never pass, or 2) are trying to generate yet another power control over something they have no control over.

They would do well to contact U of F and get the recent reports of successful TNR, studies done by J. K. Levy et al (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:42–46).

Abstract

Full report

Other reports are available, obviously they don't feel it's worthwhile to investigate them. Shame on them!