Cats turn to native wildlife

TRUE, rats were responsible for several episodes of the Black Death in Europe in the Middle Ages (“Cats keep mice down,” Letter, November 23), but this is unlikely in modern times. Sewage systems were non-existent, giving rats ideal breeding grounds. Modern biosecurity has greatly reduced the ability of rats and mice to infest new areas. On Macquarie Island and many other islands, cats, rabbits, rats and mice were introduced by sealers and others in the 1800s. Many islands have eradicated these pests and biosecurity is reducing likelihood of new infestations.

Yes, cats kill rats, mice and rabbits. Unfortunately when these populations build up, it enables cat numbers to drastically increase. The problem arises when the prey populations decline due to disease, etc. Cats then turn to native wildlife, such as our native rats and mice and bandicoots. Cats also spread toxoplasmosis to native wildlife through their faeces. They compete with our quoll species and owls for prey. Modern vermin control means cats are of less value in control than they used to be. A cat is the owner’s responsibility. Please confine them to your property. Bob Holderness-Roddam

Austins Ferry

Grave fish threat

YES, S. Broadby (Letters, November 21) trout are indeed special. They share with European people the distinction of being the only introduced animals to have caused extinction in the wild of a native Tasmanian vertebrate species. That species, Pedder galaxias, is found nowhere else. For all the negative press, that is something that cannot be said of cats. Trout are considered the greatest threat to Tasmanian fish biodiversity, yet we protect them like almost no other species. The fact the major water bodies are managed to provide a trout fishery makes a joke out of the idea that the WHA is pristine. Alister Donnelly

Fentonbury

Emergency docs march

ON Thursday, more than 500 emergency doctors from across Australia marched from the RHH to the Grand Chancellor, where the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine declared a climate emergency at their conference themed The Changing Climate of Emergency. Shortly after, two other medical colleges declared a climate emergency and there is a sense others will follow. Three medical colleges in one day took the health impacts they treat today into consideration and vowed to make a difference. I finished my five years of medical training last month and will be starting an internship at the RHH next year. Starting an internship given the junior doctors’ letter regarding the dire staffing situation does not scare me nearly as much as the impacts doctors are facing due to climate change, and the knowledge it is going to get worse is terrifying. I congratulate these colleges and look forward to seeing these declarations in action. Knowing they are taking this seriously gives me hope for my career as a doctor.

Fiona Beer Mount Stuart

Cambria Green hope

HOORAH! There may be some hope for preservation of our iconic state after all, (“Resort blocked, Mercury, November 23). The Cambria Green development would have set a precedent for others, and once despoiled by multiple buildings and infrastructure, there could be no return to the natural beauty of the area or the lifestyle of those living nearby. Such a special place has already reached its building saturation ceiling and visitor quota. The East Coast does not need such development. It is heartening when the Tasmanian Planning Commission makes such a decision and for now we can rest easy. This may not be the end of the road for the Cambria Green proposal, so we can only hope it slinks quietly away and we hear no more about it. Chris Needham Kingston

Pedestrian street

WONDERFUL to see Jerry de Gryse, Amanda Ducker and the Editorial raising the possibility of Elizabeth St as a largely pedestrian street from Federal St in North Hobart to the docks, plus trackless tram (Mercury, November 21 and 22). The Editor wondered if this was dreaming too big. Certainly not, a pilot version could be devised quite rapidly whereby Metro buses would replace cars from Federal St (or perhaps Burnett) to the mall. Let’s see that progressed please. Along with some increased inner city density, beautifully designed green spaces and more walking and cycling routes as proposed by Jerry and Steven Burgess (Mercury, October 10). Mark Johnston

Lenah Valley