Umina worst for cat attacks
Umina residents are being asked to keep cats indoors overnight after a survey revealed the suburb to be worst in the State for cat attacks on native wildlife.
In an 18-year survey, the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (Wires) found the suburb was also the third highest in NSW for dog attacks against native birds and animals.
The survey found that from 1991 to 2009 there were 437 cat attacks and 125 dog attacks on native wildlife in Umina.
Woy Woy also featured in the survey, with 282 cat attacks and 79 dog attacks on native animals.
These figures contributed to a total of 16,885 dog attacks and 34,363 attacks by cats on native fauna in NSW over the past 18 years.
Survey results also show the Central Coast as featuring as one of the worst regions in the state for domestic animal attacks on native wildlife.
Possums, rainbow lorikeets, galahs, Australian wood ducks and kookaburras were among the victims.
The Central Coast recorded a total of 4820 incidents involving cats and 1580 dog attacks, according to survey results.
Wires chief executive officer Mr Stan Wood said that the survey did not include native animals delivered directly to local vets or other wildlife care organisations.
He said the figures "would not include native animals that simply die in the bush from their injuries".
"For some of our statistics, we can only suspect dog or cat attack without any direct proof.
"So the figures could be much, much higher."
Mr Wood said domestic cats were responsible for the injuries seen by Wires' members in suburban areas, as feral cats kill and eat their prey.
He said the animal most attacked by cats is the common ringtail possum (4647 attacks in NSW) and the bird most attacked is the crested pigeon (2770) closely followed by the spotted turtle dove (2589) and the rainbow lorikeet (2139).
Mr Wood said blue-tongued lizards also fared badly with 1392 cat attacks listed in NSW.
"For those that survived, many animals face a long period of rehabilitation and may ultimately die of stress even after release.
"Animals attacked by cats and dogs need treatment with antibiotics and these have side effects for some animals which may compromise their chances of survival once released.
"Many of the animals on our death list are nocturnal and are vulnerable to straying cats and dogs at night.
"This is why it is essential to keep them inside at night."
Press release, 13 Dec 2009
Stan Wood, Wires