The piping plover and least tern nesting grounds in Cape May, N.J., rest near the town’s popular beach. Unfortunately, the town’s population of feral cats also lives near the beach — and that proximity is too close for comfort for federal environment officials, The Associated Press reports.
Responding to threats from those government officials to withhold funds for beach replenishment, Cape May’s City Council voted this week to move the feral cats 1,000 feet from known bird nesting sites. At the same time, feral cat caregivers will continue the city’s trap- neuter-return program, which has successfully reduced the feral cat population to about 100 cats over the past decade.
The move of the cats is a compromise among all involved parties: bird lovers, cat lovers and the federal environment officials. Cat lovers wanted to leave the cats where they were, while bird lovers and government officials wanted the cats moved at least a mile away from the beach.
“It’s important to protect our beaches,” Councilwoman Linda Steenrod said. “At the same time, it’s important to protect life. That means all life. I think we have a good compromise.”