Mitchell, J.C. & R.A. Beck. 1992. Free-ranging domestic cat predation on native vertebrates in rural and urban Virginia. Virginia journal of Science, 43 (1B): 197-207
Introduced as early as 1614 and imported into the United States in the early 1800s to control rodents in eastern cities, domestic cats (Felis catus) have become major predators on native vertebrates. We studied the diversity and seasonality of free-ranging domestic cat predation on native Virginia vertebrates in a rural environment July 1989-November 1990 and in an urban environment January-November 1990. A total of 27 species (8 bird, 2 amphibian, 9 reptile, 8 mammal) was captured by a single rural cat. One was a mammal of special concern (star-nosed mole), Four urban cats captured 21 species (6 bird, 7 reptile, 8 mammal). The mean number of individuals caught per cat Jan-Nov 1990 was 26 in the urban area and 83 in the rural area. Extrapolation of the number of native vertebrates killed annually by the estimated 1,048,704 free-ranging cats reveals a large, but unrecognized and understudies, negative impact on the biota of Virginia.
Introduced as early as 1614 and imported into the United States in the early 1800s to control rodents in eastern cities, domestic cats (Felis catus) have become major predators on native vertebrates. We studied the diversity and seasonality of free-ranging domestic cat predation on native Virginia vertebrates in a rural environment July 1989-November 1990 and in an urban environment January-November 1990. A total of 27 species (8 bird, 2 amphibian, 9 reptile, 8 mammal) was captured by a single rural cat. One was a mammal of special concern (star-nosed mole), Four urban cats captured 21 species (6 bird, 7 reptile, 8 mammal). The mean number of individuals caught per cat Jan-Nov 1990 was 26 in the urban area and 83 in the rural area. Extrapolation of the number of native vertebrates killed annually by the estimated 1,048,704 free-ranging cats reveals a large, but unrecognized and understudies, negative impact on the biota of Virginia.
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