Many birders understand the threat that feral cats pose to wild birds, but loose dogs can be just as dangerous. According to Fairfax Media, a blue penguin colony at Cape Foulwind in New Zealand has been decimated, with at least 15 penguins killed by dogs in the past few days. Bite wounds on the birds' bodies have been confirmed to have been caused by dogs, and dog paw prints were found nearby. Under local wildlife protection laws, the owners of the dog or dogs could be fined up to $3,000, and the animals could be legally destroyed.
The area where the penguins were killed is near the proposed site of a blue penguin viewing area that would have allowed visitors to watch the birds returning to their burrows each evening, but the future of that project is now uncertain because the entire penguin colony may have been killed. Even if there are survivors, the breeding success of the colony may be in jeopardy for years.
Does your area have leash laws to protect wildlife from roaming dogs? How do you keep your dog from attacking wildlife? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Snarling Dog
Photo © Dineshraj Goomany
Comments
I just last night rescued my Screech owl baby from a roaming dog,the owl will be fine,the dog not so much.Last year a cat got 2 owls,the owner of the cat was charged $2,000 and lost the privilege to own cats as long as she lives next to me.It was not the 1st time I caught her cats in my yard killing birds and making use of my raised vegetable beds for a litter box.Happy to say that I haven’t seen a cat for months,except the lazy one on my lap that wouldn’t go outside if I thru her out.The neighbour has a for sale sign in front of her house.