Birdsbesafe® collar cover reduces bird predation by domestic cats (Felis catus)
Abstract
The domestic cat (Felis catus) is one of the world’s most damaging invasive species, especially threatening to local bird populations. This study examined the efficacy of the Birdsbesafe® collar cover at reducing predation rates by household cats on avian populations. The vivid colours of the Birdsbesafe® collar cover are assumed to alert nearby birds to the cat’s presence, allowing them to escape safely. Overall, 19 cats were trialled over 8 weeks and the Birdsbesafe® collar cover resulted in a reduction of 78% in the number of birds killed. Further research is required into owner attitudes to collars in order to examine whether these collar‐based devices could be widely adopted.
Citation
Pemberton , C & Ruxton , G D 2019 , ' Birdsbesafe® collar cover reduces bird predation by domestic cats ( Felis catus ) ' , Journal of Zoology , vol. Early View . https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12739
Publication
Journal of Zoology
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0952-8369Type
Journal article
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