Feral Cat Problem at Gilbert Riparian Preserve

rally_toad · Post by **rally_toad** » Jan 11 2011 5:52 pm

Calling Gilbert Residents and Gilbert Riparian Preserve Visitors. I have provided a link to an AZ republic article on the feral cat problem at the preserve, and below is a forwarded email I received from a good friend from PeFo and a frequent visitor to the Riparian Preserve.

Below the link is the email from Mike Evans, Conservation Director, Desert Rivers Aubudon Society.

The gist is that I'm posting here because I'm figuring that most Arizona hikers are just as interested in native species conservation as I am. As per the email, if you're a Riparian Preserve frequenter or a Gilbert Resident please email the town council and let them know that you support the removal of the rest of the cats that are roaming the Riparian Preserve. The Housecats are likely already the culprit for knocking out one native from the Preserve, the Burrowing Owl. Its been many years since I've seen a burrowing owl there, and other birders are saddened by the loss of what was a healthy owl population.

Anyway if you PM me I will send you the letter I wrote, which you can use as a template, but obviously change some things like name and such.

The email address for the mayor of Gilbert and all gilbert councilmembers is CouncilMembers@gilbertaz.gov

Thanks!

http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilb ... nsion.html

Starting right before Thanksgiving and stopping right before Christmas, Desert
Rivers Audubon volunteers assisted Riparian Preserve employees in trapping and
removing feral cats from the preserve. Trapped cats were taken to the Arizona
Humane Society. The traps were donated by Audubon Arizona, Maricopa Audubon
Society, and Desert Rivers Audubon. We trapped 26 cats, of which only two were
sterilized, a dismal 8%, and proof of failure at TNR by the feral cat
supporters. Feral cat supporters asked for and have received a pause in the
trapping until 1/18/11 to trap and remove the rest of the cats. On Jan. 18th,
the town and Audubon volunteers return to trapping and will remove any food
left behind by the cat people.

This has caused the Mayor and Council to be inundated with email, phone calls
and letters by pro-cat people. We need the birding community across the state
to respond likewise and let the elected officials know that you support
trapping and removing all cats from the preserve and that you desire a policy
to keep them, and all other kinds of pet dumping victims, out of the preserve.

If this ends up before the town council (likely), we would like an overwhelming
show of support from the birding community to not allow a feral cat colony to
be maintained at the preserve. We are also requesting that if you have any
photos of cats taking birds at the preserve, to please share a copy with your
favorite Desert River Audubon member so that they may be shown to elected
officials as proof of the bird kill by cats. Also, if you visit the preserve,
please document the number of cats you see, and please document, in any manner
(photos are best!), the stalking or killing of birds by the cats.

Please send any response off the list serve. Thanks for your support.

Mike Evans
Gilbert, AZ
Conservation Director,
Desert Rivers Audubon Society

SkyIslander18 · Post by **SkyIslander18** » Aug 17 2011 2:54 pm

I took this pic of a fox relaxing on a neighbors car while visiting my brother in Gilbert a few months ago. He lives 3 miles from the preserve and told me that there are 4 living in his neighborhood.

Tough_Boots · Post by **Tough_Boots** » Aug 17 2011 4:38 pm

chumley wrote:Speaking of which, I saw one of the Tempe neighborhood foxes the other day. 12th St just west of Mill Ave. Really cool. I think there's a thread on that in the forum somewhere...

That's my neighborhood. I've heard about them for a while but still haven't gotten to see one yet.

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Aug 17 2011 4:45 pm

Tough_Boots wrote:
chumley wrote:Speaking of which, I saw one of the Tempe neighborhood foxes the other day. 12th St just west of Mill Ave. Really cool. I think there's a thread on that in the forum somewhere...
That's my neighborhood. I've heard about them for a while but still haven't gotten to see one yet.

You saw a fox off Mill Ave. in Tempe? Blonde or brunette?

kevinweitzel75 · Post by **kevinweitzel75** » Aug 17 2011 6:56 pm

azbackpackr wrote:You saw a fox off Mill Ave. in Tempe? Blonde or brunette?

It's been awhile since I've seen a fox on mill, but then again it's been a while since I've been on Mill.
My sister lives in Lakewood, CO. Was thinking about moving there not to long ago. She has pics of elk grazing in a feild right across the street she lives on. Wildlife of all types visit her front yard. She dosn't have any outside cats, but she does have a large dog. (English mastiff).

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Aug 17 2011 8:16 pm

Oh, no. Now I have to come up with MASTIFF jokes? Gimme a break, man! That's a tall order! That's a big dog!

This is the feral cat thread, after all. All bets are off. And where oh where is my pal Alston?

Tough_Boots · Post by **Tough_Boots** » Aug 18 2011 12:34 pm

azbackpackr wrote:You saw a fox off Mill Ave. in Tempe? Blonde or brunette?

Ah... the semester started today so I'm a little worried about the overpopulation problem. The taps are already running low.

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Aug 18 2011 1:40 pm

azbackpackr wrote: And where oh where is my pal Alston?

Both he and I are attending a twelve-step program... We got in so much hot water for previous posts we don't want to take any chances.

kevinweitzel75 · Post by **kevinweitzel75** » Aug 18 2011 7:40 pm

azbackpackr wrote:Oh, no. Now I have to come up with MASTIFF jokes? Gimme a break, man! That's a tall order! That's a big dog!

This is the feral cat thread, after all. All bets are off. And where oh where is my pal Alston?

Don't think they have to worry too much about losing their dog.

Alston_Neal · Post by **Alston_Neal** » Aug 20 2011 11:14 am

azbackpackr wrote:Has Alston moved to CO?

Bwahahahahahaha!...

I just got back from Santa Fe on biz and I find this thread open again.
Thanks for the love my friends.

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Oct 18 2011 3:50 pm

outdoor_lover · Post by **outdoor_lover** » Oct 18 2011 4:44 pm

@azbackpacker OMG!

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Oct 18 2011 5:45 pm

Just for the record... I won't be goaded into anything that may either intentionally or unintentionally incriminate me in any way... (Alston,Liz!?)

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Oct 18 2011 6:35 pm

PLC92084 wrote:Just for the record... I won't be goaded into anything that may either intentionally or unintentionally incriminate me in any way... (Alston,Liz!?)

Goad goad...

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Oct 18 2011 7:20 pm

@azbackpackr

I consulted my advocate, just to ensure my response is measured and accurate... here's the advice I received (refer to attached pic...)

I'm not prepared to go any further without professional representation... I believe I'll need a really cool cat to represent me, should it be necessary...

Alston_Neal · Post by **Alston_Neal** » Oct 19 2011 9:57 am

Oh my Liz....

The first thing I thought of was Kitties to go Korean takeout...

Alston_Neal · Post by **Alston_Neal** » Oct 19 2011 10:12 am

The problem seems to be more widespread than I thought.

YouTube https://youtube.com/username · Post by **kingsnake** » Oct 19 2011 10:14 am

That's more :roll: than

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Oct 19 2011 10:36 am

Marsupial feral cat?

Alston_Neal · Post by **Alston_Neal** » Oct 19 2011 10:56 am

I posted that because if it's a real poster then I can't believe someone thought that was a cat.
But then again it is Hollywood.

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Oct 19 2011 12:37 pm

@Alston Neal
At least it's probably feral...

Feral Cat Problem at Gilbert Riparian Preserve

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