North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[JoanRRosenberg@aol.com]

I was referring to my cats in my area.  Mine don't have any luck hunting birds because of the number and height of trees.  Also, in my area, the number one predator of birds is other birds, specifically hawks and owls.  

Also, my area has a bird release problem.  People brought in birds not native to the area and they escaped.  We have wild parakeets and finches from tropical areas that have acclimatized, along with Canadian geese that have moved in permanently and no longer migrate.  The golf courses now hire herding dogs to chase geese.  I have lost the bats that used to eat the mosquitos because my neighbors clear cut all the pine trees.  

Every geographic area has its own zoology.  In another area, cats might decimate a bird group.  Usually a geographic area creates its own checks and balances after a while.  Lets not get into generalities and hostilities.   

I understand that people are looking for solutions to specific problems, but we all have to keep in mind that we ought to think ahead.  Lets not introduce a problem where there was none.  Lets not abuse animals to "see if it works".   Some people do better with a domestic dog than a cat.  A good terrier or hunting dog in a well fenced area will keep out varmints well also.  

My number one fruit stealing thieves are squirrels.  The coons are right behind them.  But if I put out enough cat food, they eat the cat food and leave my fruit alone.  
Since my area is populated, you can't hunt,  you can't trap, even to trap and release any animal under the NYS wildlife banner unless you have a Dept of Environmental conservation license.   Technically, I was in violation when I rescued and bottle fed a baby squirrel that fell out of a tree, and one of my cats brought it to me.  Yes, I also have "cat retrievers" that bring 'em back alive. 

If we really think things through, I think we humans can get along with wildlife and domestic animals and eat our fruit also.