Feral Animals

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thats the kind of post we needed! Someone with a success rate after ridding their property of these pests! Thanks for sharing Peter. Ferel cats are a nasty vicious breed that only know ONE thing, to attack and KILL. If people were getting upset about this thread then I feel for them, but they need to understand that these cats need to be gone!! There has been a HUGE project in the extermination of them on Tasman island, this has been all over the media, and everything I have heard speaks about it as a good thing.

[Liamy77]

Ultimately the only cats around should be well kept, indoor (with a caged outdoor area) cats that have been de-sexed at 3 months old....

[north-north-west]

Ferals are one thing but sadly as this thread has shown, yet again, there is a zealot dislike to domestic pets in certain quarters and a failure to understand what is practical and not practical. Make something so hard then it becomes by definition illegal or people just ignore all laws, even the better ones. At least we have a democracy so the majority can keep the zealots at bay..

It is perfectly practical to keep cats indoors. It is perfectly practical to build outdoor runs for them. It's just that people are used to not doing so, and resent being told the truth - that their pets are damaging our native ecosystems and hunting native animals.

I don't have a problem with pets. I like cats as individuals. I just think they don't belong in this country because they do too much damage. If the people who want them keep them restrained at all times, then it's OK. I love dogs. I usually have at least one (though not right now as I'm away too much). But I make sure they're thoroughly trained to keep off roads and not chase animals.
I'd rather have a quoll as a pet than a cat, though. Or a thylacine. Now that would be grouse.

[Drifting]

DEvils are supposed to make good pets. That'd be one way to help the species survive DFT.

I've read somewhere that Quolls cannot be tamed, but on the other hand there used to be some sort of article somewhere on the Net by a vet (hey- it rhymes) talking about his three tame quolls.

Possums make good pets, and sugar gliders are huge hits overseas, as are wallabys and pademelons. Not to mention blue tongues and pythons.

But then the american trade in reptile collecting has all but wiped out a number of species.

[Liamy77]

Wombats are great!! but they tend to dig under rugs etc... Lots of fun to play with though

[flyfisher]

Magpies also are good. I have seen some very tame and friendly chaps.
ff

[Son of a Beach]

This may end up requiring a separate topic of its own, but...

It's been clearly documented that some of our native animals make great domesticated pets. Why is this not promoted as a good thing to do? In fact, I believe it may even be illegal? Not sure of that though. Whenever I've found joeys in their dead mum's pouch (that are ald enough to survive), I've always been told that they have to be taken to authorised people to look after once you've got them past the basic milking phase (which is fun - I used to keep a joey in my pocket while at uni for a while).

Just to pre-empt the reply - Is that a joey in your pocket or are you just VERY happy to see me?

I've seen videos of domesticated quolls - they look like an ideal pet to me. I've met several domesticated wallabies - also good pets, but a bit awkward indoors.

[ollster]

It's been clearly documented that some of our native animals make great domesticated pets.

FATSO THE WOMBAT!!!

...although in today's world they wouldn't be allowed to call him Fatso. It's be "Glandular Problem the Wombat" or something.

[north-north-west]

*snigger* @ ^

We had a wallaby when I was a kid. Mother was shot during a hunting trip and when they checked the pouch they decided to see if the joey could be raised. After we moved down to lauderdale she was released up at Lake St Clair. Settled in very well. Some of the older members may even have met her - she was always distinctive as the bullet that killed mum nicked the middle toe on one foot, so it was enormous.

I always thought Devils were supposed to be too anti-social as adults to make good pets. Bet they'd keep the local cats from visiting, but.

[Liamy77]

It's been clearly documented that some of our native animals make great domesticated pets.

FATSO THE WOMBAT!!!

...although in today's world they wouldn't be allowed to call him Fatso. It's be "Glandular Problem the Wombat" or something.

Not always illegal - you just have to prove that you are capable and knowledgeable enough to be able to care for the particular animal properly- shown by getting a licence.

[Son of a Beach]

Huh! How ironic. No such license is required to keep an environmentally disastrous exotic cat which clearly requires some considerable responsibility in order to be kept properly, but a license is required to keep the animals that belong here. How sensible is that bureaucracy?

[Liamy77]

True ... no compulsory desexing either.... i guess the big pet food companies and powers that be dont make as much outta native fauna! But shelters and pet owners with kittens spend $

[ILUVSWTAS]

Huh! How ironic. No such license is required to keep an environmentally disastrous exotic cat which clearly requires some considerable responsibility in order to be kept properly, but a license is required to keep the animals that belong here. How sensible is that bureaucracy?

Well said!! that sums up this backwards world we live in today!!!!!!!

[tasadam]

Huh! How ironic. No such license is required to keep an environmentally disastrous exotic cat which clearly requires some considerable responsibility in order to be kept properly, but a license is required to keep the animals that belong here. How sensible is that bureaucracy?

Well said!! that sums up this backwards world we live in today!!!!!!!

+1

[Macca81]

How sensible is ... bureaucracy?

nuff said...

[tasadam]

OK. Back onto cats.
I just got this in an email so I decided to share it.

Cat...

Enjoy!

[ILUVSWTAS]

I like it!
That's quite funny.

While back on subject, i've gone back to setting the trap I have here. No CATches yet though.

[Singe]

No-one seems to have mentioned yet that Tasmania is leading the country with laws requiring mandatory desexing and microchipping of domestic cats and laying out the rights and responsiblities of property owners when handling cats that stray onto their property. Long term, that will have an infinitely greater impact on feral cat population levels than individual attempts at controlling ferals while at the same time looks after the cats' welfare.

+1 for bureaucracy

[ILUVSWTAS]

No-one seems to have mentioned yet that Tasmania is leading the country with laws laying out the rights and responsiblities of property owners when handling cats that stray onto their property.

What exactly is this? It's news to me??

[Macca81]

No-one seems to have mentioned yet that Tasmania is leading the country with laws laying out the rights and responsiblities of property owners when handling cats that stray onto their property.

What exactly is this? It's news to me??

rural property owners can shoot on sight. no need to prove whether feral or not, it is deemed to be so the moment it strays onto someone elses property.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Wow.

Anyone got a spare gun??

[tasadam]

You'll need a gun license.

[Macca81]

yep, thats the catch...


feral animal control is a genuine reason for owning a firearm however...

[north-north-west]

rural property owners can shoot on sight. no need to prove whether feral or not, it is deemed to be so the moment it strays onto someone elses property.

I may faint. Common sense from the bureaucracy? What next, honesty from the politicians?

[walkinTas]

OK. Back onto cats.
I just got this in an email so I decided to share it.
Cat...
Enjoy!

Love the line "I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window, do I?" Just wait to the next person gives me grief over an IT problem.

[Ent]

I am amused at how a topic on feral cats (which as I recall was split from another topic) has evolved into a discussion about trout and other fish.

Oh, I get it. Cats eat fish. I guess that keeps it on topic.

Adam it is a relentless campaign to eliminating catfish

[Singe]

No-one seems to have mentioned yet that Tasmania is leading the country with laws laying out the rights and responsiblities of property owners when handling cats that stray onto their property.

What exactly is this? It's news to me??

rural property owners can shoot on sight. no need to prove whether feral or not, it is deemed to be so the moment it strays onto someone elses property.

...with the provisos that the land is used for farming or is over 1Km from the neighbor's house. More importantly, it outlaws the backyard breeders who are responsible for the constant flow of unwanted cats dumped in the bush.

The full legislation is here.

[Son of a Beach]

I think microchipping of cats has been compulsory in Victoria for some years now. Not sure about other states.

[tas-man]

Not always illegal - you just have to prove that you are capable and knowledgeable enough to be able to care for the particular animal properly- shown by getting a licence.

LOL - prompts memories of Monty Python - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmyHup4TpkU

[Liamy77]

Not always illegal - you just have to prove that you are capable and knowledgeable enough to be able to care for the particular animal properly- shown by getting a licence.

LOL - prompts memories of Monty Python - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmyHup4TpkU

Or maybe Yes Minister?