KISSIMMEE, Fla., May 30 (UPI) -- The Florida game commission adopted a tough policy toward feral cats Friday, but commissioners said they had no plans to kill any of the estimated 5.3 million wild, free-roaming felines in the state.
The policy, adopted at a meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is intended to protect wildlife, which the commission says has been threatened by the cats.
Representatives of Alley Cat Allies testified at the meeting in Kissimmee, opposing the policy and promoting a program known as trap, neuter and release, or TNR.
"The commission's short-sighted approval of an ineffective policy and refusal to take the time to conduct an unbiased and scientific study on how to best control feral cats demonstrates public policy-making at its worst," said Becky Robinson, director of Alley Cat Allies.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commissioners said the agency is not making drastic plans to kill cats but is instead trying to employ the least restrictive methods possible to accomplish the commission's mission to protect wildlife.
The commission voted "to pursue staff recommendations and all of the strategies outlined and to oppose TNR only when it is a threat to native wildlife and then in the most socially acceptable way we can."
Among the provisions is one to prohibit the release, feeding or protection of cats on lands managed by the commission and strongly oppose programs and policies that allow the release, feeding or protection of cats on public lands that support wildlife habitat.
Another provision would eliminate the threat cats pose to the viability of local populations of wildlife, particularly of species listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern.
The commission also will "oppose creation and support elimination of TNR colonies and similar managed cat colonies wherever they potentially and significantly impact local wildlife populations, and evaluate the need for new rules to minimize the impact of cats on native wildlife."
The commission also said it would develop an education program and provide technical assistance to other agencies.
Robinson urged all Floridians to write to their legislators in an effort to overturn the policy.
"In the meantime, Alley Cat Allies will work with Floridians and organizations across the country to assess what options are available to overturn the commission's decision," Robinson said.
The seven-member commission heard staff recommendations and then opened the floor to public comment. More than 70 individuals took part in the discussion.
Supporting the reduction of the free-roaming cats are several conservation groups, including the American Bird Conservancy, Audubon of Florida and the Florida Wildlife Federation.
A wildlife commission study and others have shown feral cats kill songbirds such as yellow warblers and black-throated blue warblers as the birds migrate through the state, and the cats also prey on ground-nesting birds, such as terns.
The studies also show they kill endangered species such as the Lower Keys marsh rabbit, Key Largo wood rat, northern bob white quail and hatchling sea turtles. Endangered beach mice on Florida's barrier islands also fall victim to the cats, according to the studies.
Other studies have found that feral colonies, which are helped by cat-lovers who keep track of the cats, can reduce cat populations in a humane way.
An 11-year study by Dr. Julie Levy of the University College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville found that 68 free-roaming cats were reduced to 23.
