Dogs and Cats Put Wildlife at Risk

Abstract

Populations of domestic dogs and cats are increasing worldwide and affecting ecosystems, which is especially relevant when they live near protected areas. Free- ranging dogs and cats interact with wildlife in several ways through predation, harassment, disease transmission, or hybridization. They can also compete with wildlife by reducing the availability of prey or by altering activity patterns through interference. Most of the time these interactions are negative for wildlife, which lead dogs and cats to be considered the cause ofmore than half of the global extinctions of bird, mammal, and reptile species. Regrettably, despite the fact that these effects have been studied around the world, the presence of free-ranging dogs and cats near protected areas is not perceived as an important problem for most people and policy makers. We call on the local authorities and policy makers to enforce existing laws, particularly laws to ensure that owned free-ranging dogs and cats be kept within the property limits of their homes. It is also important to develop more effective neutering programs for dogs and cats that are free of charge to reduce their populations in all urban sites surrounding protected areas. We also suggest controlling the health status of dogs and cats, especially to control parasites and reduce potential transmission to native wildlife