Student Perception of Feral Cats and Their Effects on Campus Wildlife

Feral cat populations are commonly controlled by Trap-Neuter-Return programs in the United States. The TNR program at the University of North Texas is maintained by the Feral Cat Rescue Group (FCRG). TNR programs are potentially controversial because though they offer a humane response for controlling cat populations, those same populations are of conservation concern. Feral cats are highly efficient predators of native wildlife, such as small birds and mammals. This project uses ethnoscience methods to assess student knowledge and perceptions of the UNT TNR program as well as conservation issues related to feral cat release.