🌎 Bad News for Man’s Best Friend: Dogs Are Environmental Villains

[TerryP]

Bad news for man's best friend: Dogs are environmental villains

“If nothing else, pick up your own dog shit."

www.motherjones.com

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I say cats. Largest killer of songbirds, over 2 million a year.

 

[sean]

I say cats. Largest killer of songbirds, over 2 million a year.

My cat killed 2 squirrels yesterday in the span of about 10 minutes.

He caught one and started eating it. I put him in the house, put it in a Ziploc bag, and put it in the outside garbage can. Less than 10 minutes later, I came out of my shop and he'd caught another one and had already eaten its head. I checked, and the other one was still in the garbage can (I know he can't open the lid on it, but I just had to check...you know?)

Before, he's gotten 2 birds in less than 3 minutes. He's a damn efficient hunter. And I'm surprised we have any local wildlife at all with him, the hawks, and the owls that are around here.

 

[TerryP]

My cat killed 2 squirrels yesterday in the span of about 10 minutes.

He caught one and started eating it. I put him in the house, put it in a Ziploc bag, and put it in the outside garbage can. Less than 10 minutes later, I came out of my shop and he'd caught another one and had already eaten its head. I checked, and the other one was still in the garbage can (I know he can't open the lid on it, but I just had to check...you know?)

Before, he's gotten 2 birds in less than 3 minutes. He's a damn efficient hunter. And I'm surprised we have any local wildlife at all with him, the hawks, and the owls that are around here.

When I was living in Mphs I saw my girlfriends daughter's cat run about 8 yards on the side of a privacy fence chasing a squirrel. Caught it. Meadowbrook Avenue, in Mphs...just off of Summer Ave. To this day I don't know what I saw.

 

[sean]

When I was living in Mphs I saw my girlfriends daughter's cat run about 8 yards on the side of a privacy fence chasing a squirrel. Caught it. Meadowbrook Avenue, in Mphs...just off of Summer Ave. To this day I don't know what I saw.

When I lived with my sister for a while, I watched her cat catch a bird mid-flight. He was laying low in the (not tall) grass, watching this bird sitting in a small tree. The bird took flight directly toward him, and he leaped up and caught it.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

My cat killed 2 squirrels yesterday in the span of about 10 minutes.

He caught one and started eating it. I put him in the house, put it in a Ziploc bag, and put it in the outside garbage can. Less than 10 minutes later, I came out of my shop and he'd caught another one and had already eaten its head. I checked, and the other one was still in the garbage can (I know he can't open the lid on it, but I just had to check...you know?)

Before, he's gotten 2 birds in less than 3 minutes. He's a damn efficient hunter. And I'm surprised we have any local wildlife at all with him, the hawks, and the owls that are around here.

On the squirrel front, my dachshund Lola is a fiend on those guys. She's 12 now, but she's gotten four squirrels, several birds and a rabbit over the years. They are hounds, bred for badgers, and she hates squirrels with a passion.

Side story, when we were having new siding/windows on the Kennesaw house a few years ago we had a a hole gnawed in the facia and squirrels were in the attic. They were replacing all siding/facia with hardieboard, but I had to clear the squirrels. My attic space isn't large, and the HVAC is centered in the attic, so I had decent shooting lines. Took my 9MM with bird/snakeshot, and over two afternoons took out the three resident rodents in the attic. I was concerned that a neighbor might summon the gendarmes over the gunfire (it was quite loud from where I stood), but it was the cheapest critter removal option. When I tell people I discharged my 9 in the attic, I get looks until I say it was birdshot.

So, on the squirrel count, Lola 4, Tim 3.

 

[TerryP]

On the squirrel front, my dachshund Lola is a fiend on those guys. She's 12 now, but she's gotten four squirrels, several birds and a rabbit over the years. They are hounds, bred for badgers, and she hates squirrels with a passion.

Side story, when we were having new siding/windows on the Kennesaw house a few years ago we had a a hole gnawed in the facia and squirrels were in the attic. They were replacing all siding/facia with hardieboard, but I had to clear the squirrels. My attic space isn't large, and the HVAC is centered in the attic, so I had decent shooting lines. Took my 9MM with bird/snakeshot, and over two afternoons took out the three resident rodents in the attic. I was concerned that a neighbor might summon the gendarmes over the gunfire (it was quite loud from where I stood), but it was the cheapest critter removal option. When I tell people I discharged my 9 in the attic, I get looks until I say it was birdshot.

So, on the squirrel count, Lola 4, Tim 3.

Years ago I made some bird houses for blue birds I put on the back fence. I enjoy watching them in the mornings...it's fun seeing them feed the young ones. I've seen them kicked out of the house more than once. But...those are some mean ass birds. Mean.

There's a squirrels nest in one neighbors yard and they try, TRY, to run up and down that fence when they are out. But, those birds won't have any of it. None. It's wild seeing a blue bird chase a squirrel up a tree and out of the yard.

I've watched this one squirrel in the mornings that won't step a foot on that fence. He'll jump from tree to tree just to avoid the fence...and he still gets chased by the birds.

On another note: My property was annexed into the city. A friend of mine who lives 10 houses or so down the street chose not to...his property is still county. So, literally, he can shoot his .22 at squirrels in the back yard...no issue. I can't. I live in the city.

I think I told you about this...had the cops called on me about a year ago and their warning/admonition was "you can't shoot the drone with your shotgun." I'm like, "okay, but if I go over there I can because he's county."

The answer was along the lines of "uhhh." The guy that owns that property is...weird. I could tell stories...like seeing him drive an Aspen fan with a tiller hooked behind it to start his garden. Why does he wear Kevlar when he's working in the yard? I get the military boots...a lot of snakes on his property. But, dressed for combat?

His brother is the Prez of the HA group in Moncks Corner...so, there's that.