Conversations for Conservation : Secret Lives of Cats and their Impact on Local Wildlife with Jonathan Chu

The Secret Lives of Cats

Outdoor domestic cats are estimated to be highly impactful to wildlife. In Canada it’s been estimated that cats kill 60 million birds per year. While mortality estimates by cats are staggering there are uncertainties regarding what species are killed, how they vary across environments and why certain cats have higher predation rates. To address these questions, Jonathan attached animal-borne cameras, CatCams, and GPS trackers, to owned cats in southwestern Ontario, around Guelph-Kitchener/Waterloo-Cambridge, and the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, between Kelowna and Osoyoos. These cameras recorded from the point-of-view of each cat, allowing Jonathan to accurately calculate predation rates and identify prey species.

Audience members will get a sneak peak of the world through the eyes of a cat and learn what species are commonly depredated by cats in Canada, how they differ between regions, and what factors determine which cats have higher predation rates.

About Jonathan Chu

Jonathan is a PhD Candidate at the University of Guelph studying outdoor domestic cats. He has primarily focused on the impacts cats have on wildlife by employing the use of animal-borne cameras that he attaches to owned domestic cats. These cameras allow him to see the world from the point-of-view of a cat. By using these cameras, he can ascertain the types of species, and the number of animals cats depredate when they are outdoors. He aims to understand the role cats play in the outdoor environment and what we can do to ensure cats, humans and wildlife can sustainably live in our urban environments together. Collecting insects and watching birds in the urban parks he frequented when he was growing up inspired him to study Urban Ecology. When not spying on the secret lives of cats he finds any excuse to watch birds.

Pay What You Can

rare strives to host community events for everyone with a ‘pay what you can’ model. If you are in a position to make a contribution, all proceeds help us to offer meaningful events and activities for our community to engage with and learn about our natural world.

Venue

During the colder months, the Conversations for Conservation series will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 126 (Preston), located at 334 Westminster Dr N, Cambridge.  Parking is available on site.

The Conversations for Conservation series is supported by the City of Cambridge.

Questions? Contact Amanda Humphreys, Events & Development Coordinator, at Amanda.Humphreys@raresites.org or (519) 650-9336 x122.