Confluence and Implications of Cats, Coyotes, and Other Mesopredators at a Feral Cat Feeding Station

Abstract

Trap-neuter-return (TNR) is promoted as a “humane” alternative to lethal methods for population control of feral domestic cats (Felis catus). This paper explores feed-backs between feral domestic cats, coyotes (Canis latrans), raccoons (Procyon lotor), and skunks (Mephitis mephitis) at a TNR feral cat colony in Rhode Island, USA. A total of 12,272 photographs from a motion-activated camera were analyzed. Cat population size and visitation frequency of wildlife were estimated during three different feeding regimes. Abundant food on the ground was associated with increased wildlife visits, while elevated or limited food was associated with decreased wildlife visits. During the two-year study period, the population of cats dropped from 17 to 12 individuals and the cats appeared to have short life spans, which could have been due to predation by coyotes. Our results suggest that wildlife confluence and predation risks can be influenced by feeding regime.