Predator and prey coevolve in a natural world. Prey build up natural defenses
that allow them to maintain themselves in a world "red in tooth and claw."
fagmentation of habitats and the introduction of non-native predators
subverts the evolutionary and ecological balance of power.
Most bird species hit hardest by feral cats depend on fairly dense habitats.
Cats are "edge predators." Fragmenting a habitat increases the edges, lots
of cats make a huge impact.

There are plenty of avivores (and I believe it is a real word) without cats,
particularly well fed cats who catch things, then leave them on the porch.
What these habitats are without is a large top carnivore to regulate the
edge predator cats, opposums, racoons and skunks. When the population of
wolves, bears and cougars in these habitats increases, then we can start talking
about cats as predators in an ecosystem.

The ultimate culprit here is us. We fragmented the habitat. We eliminated
the top carnivores. We introduced the cats and made the habitats so attractive
to coons and possums (heck, we introduced the possums). We need to start
taking some responsibility. Put a leash on your cat.



>
>The recent discussions on the effects of domestic cats on bird populations
>set me to thinking. The presence of human populations affects the
>surrounding ecology in many ways. The discussion here related to the
>increased predation on birds by domestic cats, but has anyone considered
>the reduced predation from the natural preditors displaced by the human
>presence? What about all the natural aviavores (I just made that up) that
>left when the humans arrived?
>
>
>

--
******************************** In the midst of the word he was trying to say
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * In the midst of his laughter and glee,
* mpatters at ednet1.osl.or.gov * He had softly and suddenly vanished away---
******************************** For the Snark *was* a Boojum, you see. L