The West Coast Council has temporarily halted a cat trapping initiative in Zeehan after several traps, including those containing cats, were tampered with or stolen. The program was initiated in response to the identification of Zeehan as a hotspot for feral and unowned stray cats, posing both nuisance and potential health risks to residents.
Established within designated cat management areas, the program aims to trap and manage cats, returning domestic or microchipped cats to their owners promptly while humanely handling feral cats caught. However, ongoing incidents of trap theft prompted the council to suspend operations.
Ciara Spencer, General Manager of the West Coast Council, addressed concerns at a recent council meeting, highlighting the challenges posed by thefts of traps and the persistence of the feral cat issue in Zeehan. Plans are underway to reintroduce the program with enhanced security measures within the next two weeks to ensure uninterrupted operations.
Similar initiatives have been successfully implemented in neighboring regions, and the council remains committed to managing the feral cat population effectively. The cat management areas in both Zeehan and Queenstown will remain in effect until April 30 next year, with ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of feral cats on local communities.
