Trapping cats roaming through two federal wildlife refuges in the Florida Keys is helping native species, officials say.
The cat-trapping programs at the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Key Largo and the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge in Big Pine Key became full-time efforts in early 2013.
The refuge managers say the traps are necessary to protect native species that are vulnerable prey for the cats, including the Key Largo wood rat and the Lower Keys marsh rabbit, both endangered species.
In the Key Largo refuge, the traps have caught 50 cats since early 2013, said manager Jeremy Dixon.
Meanwhile, the occupancy rate in nests built by volunteers for the wood rats has increased significantly, he said. Only about 650 of the small mammals remain.
"Things are just really picking up for the wood rats," he told The Key West Citizen.
The traps aim to catch feral cats and loose pets. Once captured, the cats are taken to a Monroe County animal shelter where staff checks to see if they have been fitted with a microchip and have an owner. If not, the cats could be neutered and re-released or euthanized.
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"I'm strongly against the trap, neuter and release method," Dixon said, adding that he would prefer to see native predators taking the place of the cats.
