Feline fiasco! Cats cause chaos at Point Pelee National Park

Parks Canada says cats are taking over Point Pelee National Park, becoming a growing concern. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell shares the details.

Parks Canada officials are sounding the alarm over domestic and stray cats roaming inside Point Pelee National Park, saying the animals are putting native species at risk.

Sarah Rupert, promotions officer at the park, said cats are skilled hunters that don’t naturally belong in the ecosystem. She said their presence threatens migrating songbirds and other vulnerable wildlife.

“It’s one of those things that we’re concerned about because domestic cats are very good hunters,” Rupert said.

“Our native wildlife isn’t adapted to having cats as predators … and domestic cats are really good at catching things, and not always eating what they catch, too.”

Rupert said Point Pelee has already experienced the long-term impact of cats on its ecosystem. She said flying squirrels disappeared from the park in the 1930s, in part due to domestic cats owned by cottage residents at the time.

“Domestic cats in Pelee are linked to the disappearance of flying squirrels in our park,” Rupert explained.

“What we’ve since learned is that flying squirrels play an important role in spreading a fungus that helps trees gain nutrients through their root systems.”

The species was reintroduced in the late 1990s after habitat restoration and stricter controls on predators like cats. Rupert said the park now closely monitors the population to ensure it remains stable.

“The trees depend on the fungus, and the squirrels eat the fungus, or the squirrels spread it around” Rupert said.

“So, it actually had an impact on the larger forest health. And you wouldn’t necessarily think that a little tiny flying squirrel could have that big an impact on the tree health of the ecosystem. But it did. So that’s why it’s more than just a cat catching a bird. It’s having impacts that are larger scale and that we may not see right away. But once something disappears, then we do start to see the impacts that can have.”

Park staff are asking visitors to report any cats they see inside the park, noting that officials will attempt to live-trap the animals.

“If you see a cat, report it to park staff, be as precise about the location as you can,” Rupert said.

“We always try and live trap the animals and remove them from the park. That’s always our first step … and then find the best situation for them to go to.”

Rupert stressed that cat owners should keep their pets secured while visiting Point Pelee, either on a leash or contained.

“If you live near the park and you have a cat, don’t let them wander,” she said.

“It’s better for cats, and it’s better for the wildlife.”

She added that visitors have brought animals ranging from rabbits on leashes to cockatoos in backpacks, but all must be properly contained for their own safety and to protect the park’s fragile ecosystem.