Escaped Serval surviving well in NC/VA

That story seems a little dodgy.

However, extrapolating from one animal to say that "if enough got released they might become just as much an invasive as feral cats" doesn't follow. In 1975-76 an escaped Clouded Leopard survived for almost eight months in England before being shot by a farmer, but that doesn't mean at all that if a bunch got released into the English countryside they would become invasive (or would even establish as a population).
 
Chlidonias said:
That story seems a little dodgy.

However, extrapolating from one animal to say that "if enough got released they might become just as much an invasive as feral cats" doesn't follow. In 1975-76 an escaped Clouded Leopard survived for almost eight months in England before being shot by a farmer, but that doesn't mean at all that if a bunch got released into the English countryside they would become invasive (or would even establish as a population).
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess it was a bit of an extrapolation. I was hypothesizing a bit anyway, I expect hardly any servals are released accidentally or deliberately in the US annually as it is (let alone close enough to even have hopes of breeding). Most cat species have seemed capable for surviving at length outside their native range though, at least a reasonable number of individuals among a species. (Some are perhaps debatable due to people turning a feral cat/bobcat/whatever into something bigger or more exotic, which happens all too frequently...) Curious what you're finding dodgy about the story? Since the cat appears to be wearing a collar, seems more apparent it's the same cat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top