> We estimate that cats in the contiguous United
States annually kill between 1.4 and 3.7 billion birds
(median ΒΌ 2.4 billion) (Fig. 1a), with ~69% of this mortality
caused by un-owned cats. The predation estimate for un-owned
cats was higher primarily due to predation rates by this group
averaging three times greater than rates for owned cats.
The range of estimate is staggering, and that it's un-owned cats are the primary issue.
But it's not _only_ the numbers I take issue with, it's the conclusion people take with it and how they communicate it. "Cats are killing BILLIONS of birds! Keep your cat in, or don't even own one."
> We estimate that cats in the contiguous United States annually kill between 1.4 and 3.7 billion birds (median ΒΌ 2.4 billion) (Fig. 1a), with ~69% of this mortality caused by un-owned cats. The predation estimate for un-owned cats was higher primarily due to predation rates by this group averaging three times greater than rates for owned cats.
The range of estimate is staggering, and that it's un-owned cats are the primary issue.
But it's not _only_ the numbers I take issue with, it's the conclusion people take with it and how they communicate it. "Cats are killing BILLIONS of birds! Keep your cat in, or don't even own one."