To think Whinfell Center Parcs should not have feral cats

[CrossAndTired]

We are regular guests here and always love seeing the red squirrels. We bring nuts and seeds to throw onto the patio and normal get lots of visitors.
This morning was our first here and I sat watching the dawn looking out into the forest waiting to see the lovely wildlife. After a couple of fat pigeons what appeared at the door meowing to be fed was a black and white cat.
After discussing it with the wildlife wardens we found out it is Tom they have trapped, neutered and released deliberately into the forest. They said it keeps the rodents down. Red squirrels are a rodent so presumably that is why this is the first visit, after coming here every year for 12 years, that we have not seen one.
So AIBU to think if you are claiming to run a red squirrels reserve you should not allow cats inside the huge wire fences.

Currently being reported in the Guardian:

Red squirrels ‘to vanish from England’ unless vaccine against squirrelpox funded

Marauding bands of vicious feral cats are exonerated!

My cat did actually bring in a red squirrel once. I think it must have been dead when he found it though because he’s a really crap hunter.

We didn’t really see any wildlife (or cats) at Whinfell, we get more in our garden at home…

The issue with CP in recent years is that the wildlife there have a constant, all year round food source and very few natural predators. This has led to less exciting animals like mice and rats coming to say hello and guests complaining or being put off. CP have taken measures to discourage people feeding the wildlife (bird seed etc is no longer sold in the shop) but many people will bring their own / feed bread etc. For many years CP encouraged the feeding of wildlife so with regular visitors the habit is already there. I expect the idea of the feral cats is that they will help to lower the mice and rat population somewhat, in as "natural" way as possible - no one wants to be putting out traps in a forest. Staff will be aware of the risk to squirrels but (squirrel pox aside) cats are more likely to have success with mice and rats as they are easier to catch and don't have an annoying habit of running up very tall trees.

Also, I've stayed in many lodges over the years and sometimes we've seen lots of wildlife, once a family of ducks appeared at the back doors every morning waiting for their breakfast, other times not that much at all. if you haven't seen any wildlife it's probably to do with the location of your lodge and/or time of year.

I mean, I have 2 cats and still see wildlife- squirrels, various birds etc in the garden.

Red squirrels aren't just confined to centre parcs. You know people in the lakes own cats too?

I was on holiday in London with my toddler, at a splash play park so she was barefoot, wee squirrel came so close which was very cute... Until the little shite bit DDs foot! Had no idea they were that brazen

Has anyone ever seen a cat catch a squirrel?

I'd be more worried that this poor cat is having to live outside with no protection from the cold and sounds like he is not properly fed.

Ugh, you remind me of the posters in a local FB group complaining of seeing mice & bugs in the forest while in Center Parcs. Shocker, animals are in a wildlife friendly forest!!

I’ve been to Center Parcs (Ireland) 6-7 times over the last few years. People who live nearby have cats, and those cats are little stars now, always showing up at random cabins and (no doubt) catching whatever they catch within the forest. It’s literally nature being nature.

Don’t go into nature and expect nature not to happen there

Photo on p.1

Something like foxes

in a holiday destination where people bring their young children and dogs

you’re also complaining there’s not enough birds, as if center parcs can control where birds fly off to…

OP, by any chance, are you yourself monkey nuts?

No, apparently OP wants foxes. Of course, should probably bring in some eagles & import some coyotes then to look after the fox population. Ooh, and then some bears and wolves for those. Maybe a mountain lion!

Also flightless birds so that OP can see as many as she likes. Some parrots to sing her a song.

I don't want to disillusion you, but if grey squirrels are trapped they are removed in a very final and irreversible sense!

Was there in September. Didn't see any cats or any mice or rats. Saw more ref squirrels than I've seen in about 10 years of going.

@SALaw that is reassuring thank you, maybe they are all cosy and asleep now the weather has turned.
@AuntyPonsonby that is fine by me, no problem with greys being killed in a red squirrel zone.
@UsernameNameUser I have a diagnosed lifelong mental illness, is that what you mean?

Where people are feeding squirrels or birds, this will attract mice and rats.

It makes sense they would see feral cats as a way to decrease some of that population as cats rarely predate squirrels.

Me too, multiple in fact, and no, that’s obviously not what I meant. It was a light hearted joke.

Don’t find that kind of joke funny.