Feral Cats – Invasive Species in Florida

What Are the Most Invasive Species Living in Florida? Are Feral Cats a Nuisance Animal?

Domestic cats can create a nuisance and cause damage, such as killing poultry. Free-ranging cats can kill birds at bird feeders reducing opportunities for wildlife viewing. Cats can be a nuisance in gardens when they defecate and cover their feces by digging.

Feral and free-ranging cats prey upon both common and rare species of native wildlife in Florida, including rare species listed as threatened or endangered by state and federal governments.

Palm Beach and Broward counties do not ban the feeding of feral cats, but do encourage people who tend feral colonies to have the cats fixed and vaccinated against rabies. “If you are going to care for cats, feeding alone is not enough,” said Diane Suave, director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control.

There is no leash law for cats because they are considered free-roaming animals. However, a property owner does have the legal right to humanely trap or catch any nuisance cats on their property.

Stray cats are socialized to people and can be adopted into homes, but feral cats are not socialized to people and are happy living outdoors. A stray cat: Is a cat who has been socialized to people at some point in her life, but has left or lost her indoor home, as well as most human contact and dependence.

Feral Hogs – Invasive Species in Florida

What Are the Most Invasive Species Living in Florida? Can We Eliminate Wild Hogs in Florida?

Feral hogs are an invasive species in Florida, and have been introduced to the state from other parts of the world. Feral hogs are an introduced species that have caused extensive damage to native habitats and wildlife. They are highly adaptable and can thrive in many different environments. Feral hogs compete with native wildlife for resources, destroy vegetation, and can cause soil erosion. They also can spread diseases such as brucellosis, pseudorabies, and pseudomonas. Feral hogs in Florida can be found in many different areas such as wetlands, forests, agricultural lands, and residential areas. In order to help reduce the negative impacts of feral hogs, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has implemented regulations that require hunters to obtain permits before hunting feral hogs. Additionally, the use of live traps is encouraged in order to humanely capture and remove feral hogs from areas.