California city bans feeding stray cats to save endangered rabbit

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Key points

• The rabbits grow to regarding 11 to 14 inches long and weigh between 1 and 1.8 pounds as adults.
• Authorities have noted a growing number of abandoned cats in Ripon's parks, including Marvis Stouffer Park near the Stanislaus River and smaller neighborhood parks.
• Ripon Police Chief Daniel Sauer remarked city workers and police would initially warn residents caught feeding the cats and educate them regarding the ban, the Bulletin noted.
• Those who continue to feed the animals could be hit with a $100 citation.
• The measure still requires a second reading at the council's September session before taking effect.

For context, a Central Valley city is cracking down on individuals feeding stray cats in public places, fearing the growing feline population could threaten an endangered rabbit identified nowhere else in the world.

In practice, the Ripon City Council unanimously approved an ordinance amendment Tuesday banning individuals from feeding feral cats and other stray animals on public property, according to the Manteca Bulletin.

Notably, the measure still requires a second reading at the council's September session before taking effect. It intends in part to protect the endangered riparian brush rabbit, whose remaining habitat is confined to areas along the lower Stanislaus and San Joaquin rivers.

City authorities stated the stray populations are often sustained by residents feeding them in public places.

In practice, the ordinance prohibits individuals from feeding animals or scattering food, seed or other edible material on public property, including parks, streets, sidewalks and public facilities. Animal control officers carrying out trapping programs are exempt.

Notably, the cats have triggered concern not only since they prey on wildlife but as unvaccinated and unsterilized stray populations can spread disease to other animals.

In practice, the riparian brush rabbit, a smaller relative of the desert cottontail with a dark, grassy-brown coat, was already pushed to the brink after devastating floods swept through the region in January 1997, per the outlet.

Notably, the rabbits grow to regarding 11 to 14 inches long and weigh between 1 and 1.8 pounds as adults.

Some wildlife advocates remarked the feeding ban may not go far enough to address Ripon's feral cat challenge.

Susan Manning, president of Tri-County Wildlife Care, informed Residents that residents determined to feed the animals could simply do so out of sight and noted trapping and neutering the cats would be necessary to control the existing population.

She remarked protecting the rabbit is concerning more than saving one endangered species.

"When we lose this rabbit, we lose something that's really critical to us, which is biodiversity, " she informed the outlet.

"Biodiversity helps create clean air and water, which is necessary for all of us to survive and thrive."

In short, california city bans feeding stray cats to save endangered rabbit is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.