PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 10, 2023
First, no scientific evidence demonstrates that cats cause bird populations to decline. Second, the effect of cats in one ecological context cannot be generalized to another. To make this legislation credible, L.D. 644‘s backers should document the impact of free-roaming cats on specific bird populations in Maine, and should attempt to define an acceptable level of predation for this predator-prey relationship. They should compare the costs and benefits of this highly restrictive legislation to other approaches in reducing bird predation that have shown much promise, such as: equipping cats with bells, bibs or sonic collars; keeping cats well-fed, and restraining from feeding wild birds. ~ Michael Burrows, Windham