Cats are the danger

There’s been a lot of talk about cats recently, and rightly so. There is a small coastal community in Central Hawke’s Bay where a steep barren hillside was donated by iwi, and over a period of 25 years one person in particular has planted 1000s of trees covering the area.

Wood pigeons, tui, grey warblers and others have made it their home. There are skinks and geckos there too, but one population of skinks on the lower slopes was wiped out ( I was assured) by a domestic cat.

When flyers went out asking to control pests (I have seen stoats) by poison, one permanent resident objected by saying “No you’re not, my cat goes in there.”

Alistair Ford

OngaOnga