Bounty urged for 'out of control' feral cats in western Qld

By Kate Stephens, ABC News

Thu Jul 25, 2013

 

Mount Isa MP Rob Katter says feral cat numbers in parts of western Queensland are out of control and he wants a State Government funded bounty.

Mr Katter says while some councils already have a bounty, there needs to be more coordination across Queensland.
He says a $15 per tail bounty would be enough incentive for landholders to take up the challenge.
"The Smithsonian Institute in the US blamed cats for the global extinction of at least 33 species," he said.
"There's other risks that they carry in the wild in Australia with different disease with native domestic livestock, in humans, so they are a problem that needs to be controlled.
"Certainly they're out of control at the moment."
He says the money can also be an added financial bonus for graziers who are struggling with low cattle prices.
"We just want the State Government to take some notice of this issue and take some ownership of it and I think that's an effective way to attack it," he said.
"Clearly from the numbers there - the McKinlay Shire and other shires - the bounty was an effective way to attract people.
"I think the bounty is good because it allows people in the area to earn a bit of money just from dealing with and everyone help dealing with the problem."
Bulloo Mayor John Ferguson says his council has discussed a cat bounty.
He says something needs to be done about the situation.
Councillor Ferguson says his council would welcome a State Government funded cat bounty.
"We did talk about this about 12 months ago and that was mostly about the money, the $15 that we were talking about," he said.
"Maybe we as councils should be putting a bounty on cats to try and steady them down when the roo shooters are out."
"Particularly when they're out shooting roos, they might see 20 to 30 to 50, 100 cats a night.
"If there's a bounty on them - $15 - well they're going to go after them, aren't they.
"I suppose there's always been cats out here but nowhere near like they are and they just seem to be killing everything."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-25/bounty-urged-for-out-of-control-feral-cats-in-western-qld/4842970