Smithsonian bird researcher is convicted of trying to poison cats

[SoDesuKa]

Source: Los Angeles Times

A postdoctoral researcher at the Smithsonian's Migratory Bird Center at the National Zoo was found guilty Monday of attempting to poison cats in her northwest Washington neighborhood. Security cameras had caught Nico Dauphine, 38, standing over a bowl of cat food outside an apartment complex last March. She denied the charges and claimed she was just removing food to keep strays away. Prosecutors argued that she had taken rat poison out of a bag in her purse and was putting it on the food. (No cats ate the food.)

A District of Columbia Superior Court judge convicted her of attempted animal cruelty, a misdemeanor. She will be sentenced Nov. 21 for the crime, which carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Interestingly, Dauphine chose Billy Martin as her defense attorney -- the same lawyer who, also unsuccessfully, defended NFL quarterback Michael Vick on animal cruelty charges.

Dauphine resigned from her position at the bird center the same day as her conviction, a Smithsonian spokesperson said. Animal welfare advocates had called for her dismissal ever since she was first charged.

While she was at the bird center, she was studying how domestic cats affect wildlife. Smithsonian spokesperson Jen Zoon said: "She did not work with any of the Smithsonian's animals, and we do not feel that she posed any threat to the animals in the Smithsonian's collection."


Read more: http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/11/a-dc-bird-researcher-is-convicted-of-trying-to-poison-cats.html

---

Why is there such serious legal firepower involved in a misdemeanor case? Billy Martin, Dauphine's pricey lawyer, has been the attorney or record in a number of high-profile cases. This excerpt is from the Dorsey and Whitney LLP website:

He has also represented many individuals from the worlds of politics, sports and entertainment, including NFL star Michael Vick, NBA players Allen Iverson and Jayson Williams and Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell. He also represented the parents of murdered federal intern Chandra Levy. During the investigation of former President Bill Clinton, Mr. Martin served as counsel to both Monica Lewinsky and her parents. He currently represents former Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson.

[pam4water]

1. Must have thought he was an "eco-terrorist"

:sarcasm:

[Divernan]

2. "The devastating negative impact (on birds) is coming from human activity."

More from OP's link:

"Although this is a case of animal cruelty, not just a preference for birds over cats, Dauphine had published several papers decrying the killing of birds by cats, prosecutors noted.

An online search turns up a 2009 paper she coauthored on the impact of cats on birds, which states that roaming felines "are estimated to kill at least 1 billion birds every year in the United States."

"That calculation is so absurd," said Becky Robinson, president of the animal welfare organization Alley Cat Allies. "I don't think anyone knows what the numbers are, and I don't think anyone can calculate that."

The issue, Robinson says, is not whether cats are predators. "It's a question of whether they are having any impact. The devastating negative impact is coming from human activity."

[SoDesuKa]

17. Anti-Cat Studies Are Flawed

I was reading a critique of the anti-cat studies that extrapolate from biased data to draw far-fetched conclusions about whole populations. One study, for example, set up cameras in people's back yards and concluded that cats - not other species - were doing all the killing. What other bird predator would you expect to find in people's back yards?



Back Yard Cat

[primavera]

21. So...

... is it your contention that these studies are sufficiently flawed as to negate their overall concern? Which part? Do you contest that cats prey upon birds? Do you dispute that cats have been introduced by man into environments worldwide where they were never intended to be? Do you then believe that cats may then be introduced anywhere and everywhere without consequences? Now what sounds far-fetched?

[mojowork_n]

23. The long, well-muscled and

very fast-moving type of predator:

[dbackjon]

26. The only good outdoor cat is a leashed cat

Cats should be indoors, or leashed.

To let them roam is irresponsible to both the cat and the environment.

[unionworks]

3. poisoningcats

Should be a felony

[Dutchmaster]

4. Cat's do kill a lot of birds.

And mice, and other stuff . . . our cute little feline friends are actually highly efficient killing machines lol. Hard to think of my kitties like that but they can wreak some havoc. Of course, that's the way of things, no need to go poisoning them.

[primavera]

9. Is that "the way of things"?

The main reason cats pose such a serious ecological problem is because we've artificially introduced them into environments around the world in which they were never intended to be. We've artificially changed "the way of things" and now we don't want to take responsibility for the consequences.

[queenjane]

5. Perhaps Ms. Dauphine should be more concerned

Not to mention outraged, about HUMAN predations on birds.

[handmade34]

6. feral cats ARE a problem

not condoning behavior of Dauphine but we need to take further steps to eliminate the concerns of feral cats and stray dogs

[Divernan]

7. Trap, neuter, release is the practical answer re feral cats. But some oppose that.

From the OP's link, we learn that some "bird preservation groups" actively oppose TNR. The article doesn't explain WHY the opposition. I suspect it's the "release" part.

"While there are plenty of animal advocates and pet owners who love both cats and birds, there can be some tension between bird lovers and cat lovers over how much of a threat cats are to birds. Here in Los Angeles, the city Department of Animal Services is under injunction to halt supporting the practice of trapping, neutering and releasing (TNR) feral cats, pending an environmental review. Most animal welfare groups applaud the practice of TNR, saying it ultimately reduces the numbers of feral cats that roam streets, yards and parking lots. But a coation of bird preservation groups, including some local chapters of the Audubon Society, supported the city's halt of TNR, saying the practice is not reducing the number of cats living outside."

[yellowcanine]

10. I suspect it's the "release" part. Well yes. A neutered cat is still a predator.

The dead bird is still dead, regardless of whether Kitty was fertile or not.

That said, my personal opinion is that there is room for some middle ground here. After all, predators are needed in the environment and some of the feral cats are likely to also be killed by predators - for example, coyotes. It is a question of balance. Do some studies to determine what is a reasonable feral cat population to have and then trap, neuter and release some cats, trap and euthanize others.

[greiner3]

15. The problem with such a large population of feral cats;

Is that there is such a large population of feral cats.

The catch, neuter and release program, if initiated countrywide would halve this population within a decade. If the program were to e ongoing, the population would not be a problem.

The other answer, not poisoning because the poison is not species specific, is to introduce a large population of higher predators such as coyote, fox, boa constrictor, large dog species and millions of raptors (not the prehistoric dinosaur although this would also fix the problem).

[yellowcanine]

19. Or trap and euthanize.

[Trillo]

25. So much for the saying, "Eat what you kill."

[SkyDaddy7]

8. Yes we do! I get so sick when I see...

people who do not get their pets Spayed or neutered...A friend of my sister in law literally let her dog get pregnant 5 times by stray dogs before she got her spayed. Each time the dog had no less than 5 puppies & each time she just gave the puppies away to anyone that would take them. And this goes on all the time everywhere! It is beyond sad because people have no idea how many dogs & cats get gassed or starve on the streets just because irresponsible humans do not get their pets fixed.

This is a massive problem...Not getting you pets spayed or neutered is animal cruelty as far as I am concerned...Unless you are a licensed breeder there is no reason not to. More than likely if you don't do it the cat or dog will get pregnant & then the cycle repeats. Just SAD!

[primavera]

11. Neutered and declawed

Or kept strictly indoors. When wild dogs kill livestock, no one complains when the farmer shoots the dogs. Domestic cats kill a billion birds a year in the US and account for nearly half of all bird mortality. That's no longer an insignificant impact; that's starting to have far-reaching consequences. Domestic cats are credited with the extinction of a great many species of birds. And, of course, whenever you start tinkering with the ecological balance, you get ripples: insect populations that were kept in check by bird predation are now exploding without constraint; plant populations that relied upon birds for cross pollination and/or seed distribution are now in decline.

None of this, of course, is the cats' fault - we're the ones who introduced cats into every environment around the world. We're the ones who provide shelter for cats so that they can survive in environments where they normally would not be able to survive. We're the ones who put food out for them to make sure that, when they run short on prey, they don't starve. We're the ones who actively breed cats, just to make sure that their numbers never drop. It's entirely our fault, but our insistence upon perceiving cats as adorable playthings as opposed to the superb predators that they actually are is causing serious problems.

[SoDesuKa]

16. Disputed Evidence

My preliminary research into this shows there's quite a lot of controversy about the evidence for the allegations against cats. I would like you to provide a link for your statement, Domestic cats are credited with the extinction of a great many species of birds. Frankly, this sounds far-fetched.

[primavera]

20. How so far-fetched?

It seems pretty plausible that the source of nearly half of all avian deaths would be a major contributor to the extinction of avian species.

But, as you like, it's very easy to find citations, just do a google search and you'll find tons on them. To pick just one off the top of the heap, see Dauphine and Cooper: "Historically, cats have been specifically implicated in at least 33 bird extinctions, making them one of the most important causes of bird extinctions worldwide." (http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/pdf/impacts_of_free_ranging_domestic_cats.pdf)

[SoDesuKa]

27. Nico Dauphine

Nico Dauphine was just convicted of trying to kill cats. She is not the kind of pereson I would accept as an authority on the subject of cats vs. birds. Maybe that's the r3eason she hired such a pricey lawyer.

[handmade34]

24. not far-fetched

Feral cats kill 480 million birds in US every year - Responsible for 33 extinctions

GROWING PROBLEM: There are now more than 60 million feral cats in the US. Picture: Gaëtan Priour
480 million birds killed by feral cats each year

December 2010: A new report has put the annual economic loss from feral cat predation on birds in the US at a alleged $17 billion (Some of the maths involed in this figure are interesting, to say the least).

The report, Feral Cats And Their Management, analyses existing research on management of the burgeoning feral cat population - over 60 million and counting - in the United States, including the controversial practice of Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR).

Trap, Neuter & Release doesn't work
‘This report is a must read for any community or government official thinking about what to do about feral cats. It encapsulates the extensive research on this subject and draws conclusions based on that data. Not surprisingly, the report validates everything the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has been saying about the feral cat issue for many years, namely TNR doesn't work in controlling feral cat populations,' said Darin Schroeder, Vice President for Conservation Advocacy for American Bird Conservancy, US's leading bird conservation organisation.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/feral-cat-US.html#cr

"Domestic cats are considered primarily responsible for the extinction of 33 bird species..."

http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/NFWF.pdf

[zalinda]

12. There is a problem with stray animals

and also a spay/neuter problem. Spaying and neutering is quite costly. Even the low cost solution, in which you have to show you are on some sort of government assistance, is $85. Where the hell are people going to get $85, if they are barely making it?

I'm feeding 2 abandoned cats right now, one is spayed but, she is friendly, the other is still intact and he does not feel safe with us yet. When we can, we'll try to get him neutered. I have found a dead rat, and a dead squirrel in my drive way, which cat did it, I have no idea. Which brings me to one thing that cat haters don't think about. Cats do keep down the mouse and rat problem, and around here, if they do get a bird, it's a house sparrow, which isn't in short supply. The solution to feral cats is to TNR, and low or no cost spay and neutering.

As for dogs, dogs are more dangerous than cats, as they have a pack mentality. A perfect normal gentle family dog, will turn pack animal within days or weeks of running with a pack. And, as farmers and ranchers have found out, they will attack live stock. And, while in a pack, they have no fear of humans and will kill a human, if nothing else is available. That is the reason they are shot.

zalinda

[catbyte]

13. My spolied brats just watched as a swallow flew in our window.

We managed to catch it and release it, but my 4 felines just sat there like it was a TV show, LOL. If it doesn't come out of a can it's not food.They've completely lost their hunting urge and all 4 are rescues from the Mean Streets of Grand Rapids.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

[zalinda]

14. I can relate

Cats are feeders of opportunity. I doubt very much that the female stray hunts any more, she would much rather stroll over to the porch and eat from a bowl. The weird thing is the rat and the squirrel were dead, but not eaten, or even chewed upon. And what is stranger still, is they both ended up in the same place (near the rear of my car) just a day apart. No more offerings since, and it's been about 6 weeks.

zalinda

[Kurmudgeon]

28. I'd like to thank the feral cats for killing all the feral mice and other disease spreading vermin.

[unionworks]

18. On Thanksgiving Day

...my beloved first inkspot black cat would sit infront of the oven for hours until the turkey came out, sstaring intently. "A bird in the oven is worth two in the yard"! - Bobo

MEOW! ;)

[mojowork_n]

22. All I can think of is...

that eternal trio from Saturday mornings:



Only grandma is a little younger, really knows a lot about birds, and wears a white coat.