Our beloved cats are killing machines that take down some
200 million birds a year in Canada, one study found.
And now a new campaign is asking cat owners to help reduce
the carnage by promising not to let their cats roam free outside — a move they
say will benefit our feline friends as well.
Cats are by far the leading human-linked cause of death for
birds in Canada, a 2013 Environment Canada report showed. And outdoor life is
also a deadly and unnecessary risk for cats, says Ted Cheskey, senior manager
of the conservation group Nature Canada.
"Both cat and bird populations are in different sorts
of trouble," he said.
Today, Nature Canada launched its "Keep Cats Safe and
Save Birds Lives" campaign, which is asking cat owners to make an online
pledge not to let their cats roam free outdoors.
16 birds per cat per year
Each pledge could save an average of 16 birds a year,
Nature Canada estimates. It plans to keep a running tally of "saved"
birds online.
The campaign is expected to have the most impact on species
that spend time on the ground, including some of the ones at risk, such as the
wood thrush and the yellow-breasted chat, and common backyard visitors such as
American tree sparrows and dark-eyed juncos.
To read more on this story, click here: Save the Birds:Don't Let Cats Roam Free, Campaign Urges
