Kevin Law from Hong Kong, Hong Kong, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
MONTHLY SPEAKERS
MONTHLY SPEAKERS
FEBRUARY 2025 - "BIRDS AND CATS: A ROADMAP TO COEXISTENCE"
Speaker: Grant Sizemore - Director of Invasive Species Programs, American Bird Conservancy
Date: February 11, 2025
​Program Description: This month, we are pleased to welcome Grant Sizemore of the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) as our guest speaker. He will address this complex and often sensitive issue by first providing a science-based understanding of the impact of outdoor cats on birds, other wildlife, and public health. He will then explore the challenges of managing domestic cats—complicated by their close relationship with people and their unique legal status. Sizemore’s presentation will be rooted in scientific research, offering practical, science-based solutions that benefit cats, birds, and people alike. Please join us for this important discussion and learn how we can all play a role in protecting both our beloved pets and our native wildlife.
Join us virtually for this important discussion and learn how we can all play a role in protecting both our beloved pets and our native wildlife.
My cat catches a Bird by Evan-Lovely [https://www.flickr.com/photos/footfun/3033703867] licensed under CC BY 2.0
The Ventura Audubon Society is dedicated to preserving and protecting birds and their habitats. As a community, we share a deep love for birds and a passion for protecting them. Many of us also love our pets—especially cats—which can create a moral dilemma. Each year, free-ranging pet cats kill over 2 billion birds, more than all other threats combined (www.fws.gov/library/collections/threats-birds). While we cherish our cats, we cannot ignore their impact on wildlife. The reality is that free-ranging cats—both pets and feral cats—pose a significant conservation challenge.
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Speaker Bio: Grant Sizemore, Director of Invasive Species at ABC, has earned degrees in Zoology and Environmental Science from Miami University in Ohio and an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. He has worked in wildlife conservation policy, education, and research for over 15 years and is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with The Wildlife Society. Grant is currently the Director of Invasive Species Programs at American Bird Conservancy, where he runs the Cats Indoors program. Outside of work, Grant enjoys hiking, birding, and taking care of his (indoor) cat.
To learn more about this complex issue, visit the American Bird Conservancy’s excellent "Cats Indoors" program webpage
