An Evaluation of Feral Cat Management Options Using a Decision Analysis Network

An Evaluation of Feral Cat Management Options Using a Decision Analysis Network

Blog Article

The feral domestic cat (Felis catus) is a stickers logos dallas cowboys predatory invasive species with documented negative effects on native wildlife.The issue of appropriate and acceptable feral cat management is a matter of contentious debate in cities and states across the United States due to concerns for wildlife conservation, cat welfare, and public health.Common management strategies include: Trap-Neuter-Release, Trap-Neuter-Release with removal of kittens for adoption and Trap-Euthanize.

Very little empirical evidence exists relevant to the efficacy of alternative options and a model-based approach is needed to predict population response and extend calculations to impact on wildlife.We have created a structured decision support model representing multiple stakeholder groups to facilitate the coordinated management of feral cats.We used a probabilistic graphical model (a Bayesian Belief Network) to evaluate and rank alternative management decisions according to efficacy, societal preferences, and cost.

Our model predicts that Trap-Neuter-Release strategies would be optimal management decisions for small local populations of less 6-0 igora vibrance than fifty cats while Trap-Euthanize would be the optimal management decision for populations greater than 50 cats.Removal is predicted to reduce feral cat populations quickly and prevent cats from taking a large number of wildlife prey.