Feral Cats Endangering Protected Species

To The Editor:
The State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection cordoned off close to a two-mile-long stretch of the beach area in Avalon, in order to protect the nesting ground in the open beach of the endangered Black Skimmers, Least Tern and Piping Plovers. The Division of Fish and Wildlife is making a concerted, honest, and laudable attempt each year to help protect and increase the population of these birds. However, their efforts are thwarted year after year because stray cats living along the dunes and protected beach areas hunt down the birds in their protected habitats.
It is well known to local Avalon residents that these bird-nesting areas are in the proximity of dozens of feral cat colonies whose population grows year after year. One can blame the explosion of the stray cat population on compassionate old ladies who feed them on a regular basis and on the Borough of Avalon that has done nothing to remove the cats in spite of the many complaints they have received over the years.
By their nature, these cats are bird hunters. If there is scarcity of food and need for adventure, the hungry cats routinely hunt for helpless baby birds nesting in the protected beach areas. Last year, I many times witnessed such hunting expeditions of cats at the 40th Street beach area.
In order to put a stop to stray cats devouring baby birds of the endangered species, I hope that the Borough of Avalon sets up live traps, catch the feral cats, and transports them to the Cape May County animal shelter. Last year, they did a great job in rounding up hundreds of skunks roaming in Avalon.
I hope that they will follow up on my recommendation and remedial action will be promptly taken to get rid of the burgeoning stray cat population in Avalon. Doing so will serve two beneficial purposes: cleaning up the boardwalk area and dunes from cat manure and also reducing danger to the lives of birds nesting in the protected beach areas of Avalon.
Gabor Pattantyus
Avalon