City of Greater Geraldton to start trapping, euthanising feral cats in Chapman River Regional Park

The City of Greater Geraldton will next week start trapping and euthanising feral cats in the Chapman River Regional Park as part of a month-long campaign to protect the area’s native animals.

Complaints have been made about feral cats in the park, which city CEO Ross McKim said were affecting native animal populations.

The trapping program will start on Monday. Feral cats caught in the traps will be humanely euthanised.

Any domestic cats caught will be referred to city rangers and their owners informed.

Feral cats, defined as cats living and reproducing in the wild which are not owned and survive on their own by hunting, are a declared pest in WA under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act 2007.

“According to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, feral cats have played a major role in the extinction of at least 27 mammal species in Australia and currently endanger 147 Australian mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs,” Mr McKim said.

“If we don’t act to keep numbers down, feral cats will most certainly devastate our local animal populations in the park and we risk losing some native species altogether.”

Mr McKim said domestic cats were also contributing to the problem and urged local cat owners to keep their pets inside or in an outdoor enclosure to avoid them roaming in nearby bushland and reserves.

“Cat owners are reminded that their pets must be microchipped, wear a collar, be sterilised and registered,” he said.