If not the overflow crowd, it was the emotional testimony of Wisconsin residents that made Monday night’s Conservation Congress meeting at the Alliant Energy Center atypical.
After being passed by the La Crosse branch of the Conservation Congress, “Question 62” has been sent to public debate in all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The provision seeks to define free-roaming domestic cats as an unprotected species. This updated definition would allow anyone with a small game hunting license to shoot feral cats not under an owner’s control or without a collar.
Question 62 cites studies that indicate these cats — which are not native to Wisconsin — endanger native mammal populations. These studies indicate free roaming cats kill anywhere from 47 to 139 million songbirds each year.
Many people in the audience donned hunting gear in support of Question 62 and both visually and verbally made their discontent with the proceedings known.
Some of the speakers shared personal stories about their affection to the cats, which they say have become part of a family. One woman was brought to tears while describing her special bond with a cat. At times, the mediators struggled to maintain control of the relevance of the debate and the rowdy audience.
Other individuals brought up doubts about the effectiveness of permitting the hunting of feral cats in reducing the wild cat population or boosting songbird numbers.
Former Dane County Conservation Congress delegate Patricia Randall attended the meeting and told the audience that “trap and return,” or spaying or neutering cats and releasing them back into the wild, is the most effective and humane way to reduce wild cat populations. Randall also chided the Conservation Congress’ meetings as “undemocratic,” suggesting that the 88 percent of the population which are non-hunters do not know they have the right to vote on these matters.
“[The Department of Natural Resources have] kept this very secretive; the point is not just the feral cats, but having all of the public represented fairly,” Randall said.
The DNR does not really like this because it calls attention to a process they’d like to keep secret, Randall added.
“The DNR is just a killing business — they want more customers because they are selling wildlife that is in the custody of all of us cheap to hunters.”
Wisconsin resident Dan Bertalan warned fellow hunters that voting yes on Question 62 might destroy the public perception of hunting, adding it would be a long-term detriment to the status of hunting in a society largely unaware of animal management practices. Bertalan also warned that a vote of yes on this question might cause a public backlash, leading to a political climate in which hunters’ rights are severely limited.
“If you are a hunter, think long and hard about the cost-benefit ratio of what you are about to do tonight,” Bertalan said.
Monday’s vote exists as a way to assist lawmakers in making this decision. The state Legislature’s approval would be required for a change in regulations to take place.
