My father once said that he hasn't gotten so civilized that he doesn't remember ( hunting and fishing for food ) where he came from.

Vince like most things over here that cause problems stoats weasles cats rats mice possoms rabbits hares mallards canadian geese goats pigs deer wallabies mynas starlings ragwort gorse thistles etc etc etc were all imported. we had trees ferns tussocks grasses and birds bats n lizards.

Elvis wrote:

Vince like most things over here that cause problems stoats weasles cats rats mice possoms rabbits hares mallards canadian geese goats pigs deer wallabies mynas starlings ragwort gorse thistles etc etc etc were all imported. we had trees ferns tussocks grasses and birds bats n lizards.

That's a lotta stuff ta eat, shoot, mow, eat shoot pluck mow eat and eat!

I would also eradicate all feral cats.

But I think it is better to eradicate the irresponsible owners of the cats.

Feral cats in north america cause more damage to native wildlife than all other introduced species combined. Oddly enough, even though feral swine are more reported and a fantasic drain on the economy, scientists cannot come to a dollar amount on the damage that is done by feral cats.

stovepipe wrote:

Pumpkinslinger wrote: As to the feral cats... Shoot them all! I saw some number once on how many natural birds, etc they kill in a year and was totally amazed! +27 Some treehugger hippe by me feeds dozens at Rossler Point every day, now, not a bird to be found and the place is a mess, feral cats are nasty creatures, some look like Frankestien's...gross! "oooh, don't shoo the kitties and leave the nice lady with the crows living in her hair alone now..." STUPID LIBERALS!

How hard would it be to discreetly throw out a number of poisoned baits for the feral cats mate? I kill every feral cat I possibly can...the more explosively the better, meaning the bigger calibre I can use the better. I don't care for the skins, although it is nice soft leather when tanned properly.

Cheers, Vince

trouble with poison is its indiscriminate .

True mate...but there are cat specific "lethal concoctions" that can be laid in the appropriate places.

Cheers, Vince

You pretty much have to live trap them and cap them in the cage. Selective but slow.

you dont need to cap them you just drop cage n all in deep enough water to wash out the cage, go have a cuppa tea them retrieve cage empty it out and reset.

Elvis wrote:

you dont need to cap them you just drop cage n all in deep enough water to wash out the cage, go have a cuppa tea them retrieve cage empty it out and reset.

Or a nice cold beer that we have raided from Vince?

Vince wrote:

stovepipe wrote: Pumpkinslinger wrote: As to the feral cats... Shoot them all! I saw some number once on how many natural birds, etc they kill in a year and was totally amazed! +27 Some treehugger hippe by me feeds dozens at Rossler Point every day, now, not a bird to be found and the place is a mess, feral cats are nasty creatures, some look like Frankestien's...gross! "oooh, don't shoo the kitties and leave the nice lady with the crows living in her hair alone now..." STUPID LIBERALS! How hard would it be to discreetly throw out a number of poisoned baits for the feral cats mate? I kill every feral cat I possibly can...the more explosively the better, meaning the bigger calibre I can use the better. I don't care for the skins, although it is nice soft leather when tanned properly. Cheers, Vince

Unfortunately Vince feral cats are now part of the environment.
I think it was the CSIRO that did a survey a few years ago and basically stated that if you got rid of ALL the cats the rabbits, rats and mice populations would go ballistic. (yeah I know don't mention the mouse plague)
The also found our or feral cats come from 2 different points of origin.
Southern and eastern oz gets English stock, western and central oz get Dutch stock with a bit of a mixture in the middle.
That doesnt mean you cant shoot them, bloody spectacular results when you head shoot them.

well our plurry cat turned up home tonight after being AWOL for 2 1/2 weeks, shes as skinny as a rake but we are pleased to have her back, after 8 years you kind of grow fond of the things.

Elvis wrote:

you dont need to cap them you just drop cage n all in deep enough water to wash out the cage, go have a cuppa tea them retrieve cage empty it out and reset.

Ron is right unfortunately..."trap and cap" is the most reliable method. However, Elvis mentioned another important thing...cats make bloody good bait in a crap dilly or crab trap. Drop it in, pull it up later, collect the crabs, drop it in again. Works for me.

Infact..getting back on topic...I see no reason why a skinned yote wouldn't be just as effective at "drawing the crabs".

Cheers, Vince