U.S. Wildlife Service Letter to Escambia County, FL

This letter was written by the United State Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners regarding the county’s consideration to adopt a community cat management ordinance.

The Service opposes free roaming cats due to the adverse impacts they have on ecosystems, particularly their predation of federally protected species and migratory birds. The Service also encouraged Escambia County to take action to eliminate free-roaming feral cats throughout the county.

The letter discusses the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and states that a county may be held civilly or criminally liable if their actions contribute to an illegal take of protected species. The letter also states the ESA contains a citizen suit provision “allowing the general public to initiate litigation to address alleged violations of the Act.

Below is a PDF copy of the letter: