[Itrtuawh]

Talking about Europeans being invasive made me remember a book I heard of recently. I believe it is called 1492 (or maybe 1493?) and it chronicles the changes to the Americas after the colonization by Europeans. Things you would never even think of had impact, like European earthworms ( apparently native worms were non existent after the glacier periods, and the new earthworms changed the structure of the forest ground litter affecting the undergrowth...). And so far as the human population, it is estimated we wiped out up to 90% of the indigenous peoples with our diseases mostly.
But you have a point that any species can be considered exploitive of new environments. And even the indigenous peoples here came from else where too, albeit thousands of years earlier, and no doubt had their own impact of the "New World".

[18holesin]

they can become a nuisance...suggest engaging a local group to have them spayed before a colony is established.

[Zesavenue]

we're gonna have to agree to disagree
except on the following:

aren't slipper orchids grand?!

[cingularring]

Aw, how cute!

[goolen4you]

Quote:

[Zesavenue]

feral?
is there a trap/neuter/release up there?

[LSDDSL]

Cute kitties. Are they tame?

[illerlytoindy]

NO MORE WIRE HANGERS! NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!

Ah, feral cats. Got truck loads of them here as well. The go unregulated since there are no laws about their control in Japan. Also, if you have an infestation (and some areas are truly infested) you are not allowed to bother them in anyway, in fact there are cat protection societies to monitor feral cat/human interactions. If you find a new litter in your area you are allowed to humanely collect them and bring them to the town office. You will have to sign a document which will go on record. Then they will be euthanized.

The sad part is this isn't an animal problem, it is as usual a human problem, as in we created it and promote it. As this world is "developed" more and more with endless human structures dominating landscapes (notably roads), it become less and less habitable by all living things - especially small animals. Time will tell where this trend is headed...

[Zesavenue]

i understand what you're saying, but they are an invasive organism
i like cats and would not want to see them culled, but they destroy bird and other native varmit populations

[CGH1KZzy]

[quote=Shiva;374258]A new family living under my balcony. The yellow-orange one tells me the father was that blond cat visiting my property earlier this spring. He disappeared suddenly, I guess after getting his way with the lady. The picture could be better, but I didn't want to scare the cats off while they fed.

Since male cats range about in search of ladies, the likelyhood is that the blond cat has died. The elements and illnesses can take a heavy toll. But in North America there are quite a bit of native creatures that dine on cat. Where you live Shiva the lynx, bobcat, owls, fishers, bears, hawks and if you have coyote and wolves, would all make an easy meal of felines. Did I mention foxes that will take them out of barns, sheds, off windowsills, and closed in porches?

Male cats live a short life. Their ladies and offspring live much the same short life. We see feral cats regularly because people throw cats out regularly. It's not a life they choose, its the one humans give them. Most feral populations succeed where humans live in abundance. But even so, the turn-around of individuals is quite quick. I feel sad for the kitties. Its a shame their owner didn't think of them as living feeling creatures instead of disposable garbage.

[CGH1KZzy]

I'm pretty sure if you ask any Native American they would agree that the bulk of us here are invasive! Either way, as humans, we should take our responsibilities seriously. Unfortunately, that will never come. Even the criminal doesn't blame his actions for imprisonment. We will always blame everything and everyone else down to extinction.

Shiva, how did you manage few predators where you are at? Hadn't I heard of Montreal - a few miles south of you - having fox problems?