Bonus - The toll of feral cats on Australian wildlife with Judy Dunlop

Predation by feral cats is one of the biggest threats to the unique wildlife of Australia. The WA Feral Cat Working Group is working to reduce the threat.

Feral cats are a major threat to wildlife in Australia, with their predation causing declines in many native species. These non-native predators were introduced to the continent by European settlers and have since spread widely to almost all of the continent, causing significant damage to the delicate ecosystem. Feral cats prey on a wide range of animals, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds.

They are particularly dangerous to ground-dwelling birds, such as the endangered Malleefowl, as well as small marsupials, such as the Bilby, but no animal is safe from this voraceous predator.

The impact of feral cats on Australia's wildlife is significant, with estimates suggesting that they kill several millions of native animals each year. This is not only devastating for individual species, but also for the overall biodiversity of the ecosystem. The predation pressure from feral cats can lead to declines in population numbers, which can ultimately lead to local extinction. Conservation efforts, such as trap-neuter-return programs, are being implemented in an effort to control the population and mitigate the impact of feral cats on wildlife. However, it is essential that such efforts are continued and expanded in order to protect Australia's unique and fragile wildlife.

Grant spoke with ecologist, Judy Dunlop, from the WA Feral Cat Working Group, about the group, the scale of the threat posed by feral cats, and the Group's upcoming symposium.

Check out the WA Feral Cat Working Group website here, or go straight to the 2023 Feral Cat Symposium page.

Follow Judy Dunlop on Twitter.

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