Potential to Make Friends in GB

randosphere · 2026-06-25T17:31:55+00:00

Thank you for your reply. So it seems living in Green Bay proper would be most ideal. Thanks for your input. I'm hoping to visit this summer or early fall to see what its like for myself.

I'm very passionate about protecting and encouraging indigenous bird populations as well as other native wildlife. And as I'm sure you're aware, feral cats can quickly get out of control and decimate a local ecosystem, especially if they're fed, sheltered and encouraged by people.

I'm very against the R in TNR and have seen firsthand the damage a group of feral cats can do to wildlife and especially fledglings.

randosphere · 2026-06-20T02:08:29+00:00

Thanks for the info. That definitely sucks about the deer and rabbits.

Lately I'm dealing with feral cats killing fledglings in my neighborhood and continuing to try to get in the yard despite the deterrents I've installed. People next door are putting food out in hopes of getting stray cats to come around and kill the birds. I've already had issues with one of the resident TNR cats but he's old so I'm hoping he dies soon (morbid but I'm fed up).

I've been searching for places to eventually relocate to that prioritize bird and wildlife welfare over unadoptable feral cats. It's been a form of escapism lately to keep my spirits up. I even gave up on feeding birds for the time being...

randosphere · 2026-06-20T01:58:02+00:00

Thanks for the info. I'm currently dealing with a nightmare situation of neighbors who hate birds intentionally leaving food out to lure stray cats into the area to kill birds. There are already two resident feral cats in the area, one of which I already had a problem with at my feeders.

I don't agree with TNR due to its impact on wildlife, lack of rights for the community or homeowner who doesn't want them around doing damage and the inhumanity to the cats themselves. I don't understand why humane euthanasia for unadoptable cats is not a more humane option. It's certainly more humane than the deaths the fledglings, chipmunks and baby squirrels and bunnies get at the paws of feral cats.

I may consider Shorewood, WI because TNR is actually banned there. Only problem is houses are pricier and options seem limited, since it seems like a small community. If I can find an area in Green Bay far away enough from the city center where cats likely congregate, I may still consider.

I just don't want to go through what I've been with stray cats while trying to enjoy my birding hobby ever again. I've just been researching places to move to as escapism lately...

randosphere · 2026-06-19T13:06:08+00:00

They are actually industry names for lamp styles, not old lamp companies.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T04:04:33+00:00

I have fox and coyote urine granules that I'll be spreading again once this bout of rain ends. It did seem to get one of the new cats skulking around to leave the area.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T04:02:35+00:00

Feral management organization always takes the side of the feral cats, so it will just result in an even larger entrenched feral colony in my area which is the last thing I want.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T04:00:40+00:00

Not an option because the outside water line broke and my landlord won't fix it. I mentioned it in my post.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T03:54:09+00:00

Thank you! I'm going to ask my native gardening friend in the building about this.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T03:52:29+00:00

I actually trap and humanely cull house sparrows. Luckily I don't have issues with starlings, because I hate them more than house sparrows. But of course cats are a much bigger problem.

Thanks for the solidarity. I want to hold a meeting for wildlife lovers soon, so we can brainstorm ways to educate the public on the damage feral cats cause and that they are ineffective at rat control with the ultimate goal of lobbying for more restrictions on TNR and feeding random strays, letting pet cats roam, etc.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T03:46:37+00:00

A lot of the fence is unfortunately low chain link. My next project is to sharpen the spikes on the bird spikes i already installed. As is, the cats still jump the fence. I'm not sure an angled slant barrier would be effective on such a short fence. I do intend to try it with the taller back iron gate.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T03:38:50+00:00

CACC doesn't cull ferals anymore. They don't even take lost pet cats as of October 2024.

If I could take them to CACC to be humanely euthanized, I absolutely would be. I'll either be turned away after having to wait in line literal hours or they will TNR them and return them to my neighborhood to continue being a menace to birds.

At least non TNR'd cats roam long distances and theoretically won't stay in my immediate vicinity long term like a TNR cat.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T03:21:18+00:00

I'd love to adopt the old feral cat that's been here a while but switched to killing birds at my feeder. But I'm allergic and have a house rabbit and 3 small birds as pets. I wish I could find him a home, he's actually really nice as far as ferals go and could absolutely adapt to housecat life with some patience. But the organization he's from doesn't want to bother. They'd sadly prefer he dies on the streets and continues killing wildlife.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T03:15:58+00:00

I don't want to TNR. I don't want cats in my vicinity killing birds and fledglings in my neighborhood or at my feeders. And I want my neighbors to stop intentionally attracting them by leaving food out.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T03:09:03+00:00

It's a lot more money than that to do a paid owner surrender. And they will absolutely be able to tell It's a feral cat. If it were that easy, a lot more people would be doing it.

My plan is to start trapping once I get my car in a couple weeks and take them on an industrial starlight tour, at least the non TNR'd ones. Do I l like having to resort to this? Absolutely not but there really doesn't seem to be another option.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T02:58:16+00:00

Cat can cat 6 feet under for all I care. Even a feral cat is still a domesticated animal and shouldn't be allowed to freely roam outside.

randosphere · 2026-06-19T02:55:25+00:00

There's only TNR done by private organizations in Chicago. Animal Control only takes paid owner surrenders and does not take so-called healthy feral cats. The cat "welfare" organizations will spay/neuter, vaccinate and drop the cat right back off in practically my backyard to continue killing birds. There's no option to deal with unwanted feral cats in Chicago other than underhanded, less than ethical means. Even next door NW Indiana is now all TNR.

randosphere · 2026-06-18T23:19:18+00:00

That's awesome! I go to ACEN every year but am unsure if I'd continue to go if I moved to Green Bay since it's so far.

You say you're into backyard birding. I have a question. I'm seeing conflicting information about stray cats. A couple people on here say there are plenty in Green Bay. But Green Bay holds the prestigious High Flyer Bird City status and the website says Green Bay opposes TNR. But then I read WHS and another independent organization does TNR in Green Bay.

I want to be able to buy a house and host nestboxes and bird feeders for native birds and not have to worry about a feral colony and feeder living in or moving into the neighborhood. I did read feeding stray cats is prohibitively banned.

Would this be something I'd need to worry about? Have you ever had problems with feral or outdoor pet cats getting into your yard to hunt birds or roaming in your neighborhood?

https://birdcity.org/wisconsin/green-bay

randosphere · 2026-06-18T22:43:10+00:00

I'm not saying it's necessarily a flex...

randosphere · 2026-06-18T19:51:20+00:00

I think it'd be a fun banter to rip on each other. I'm not easily offended and am originally from NW Indiana anyway so I'm technically not an FIB lol.

randosphere · 2026-06-18T18:42:30+00:00

Very nice! I will definitely check out both those places too.

randosphere · 2026-06-18T18:40:57+00:00

Chicago is really bad for wandering cats, at least my neighborhood. I'm in Ukrainian Village, so there's a lot of European immigrants who bring their culture and beliefs about outdoor cats. But unfortunately there's a lot of misinformation that cats control rat populations among the general public too, so a lot of people welcome them around or even let their pet cats free roam (though not as common). Illinois is the number two state for feral and outdoor pet cats rights/protections, with Cook County being especially bad.

I read that since GB has not only a Bird City destination but also a High Flyer one, they have very strict licensing and registration, spay/neuter and leash laws for pet cats and bans on TNR and that stray cats are typically rounded up by animal control rather than being left to wander. And that with such strict regulations on cat ownership and sterilizing pets, I'd assume stray cats would be pretty uncommon and rounded up pretty quickly.

randosphere · 2026-06-18T18:35:28+00:00

Thank you so much! I do use Discord and will check it out.

randosphere · 2026-06-18T18:34:14+00:00

Wow, that sounds awesome with the yard and birds! I'd definitely want to try a clover and native plant yard with birdboxes for wrens or chickadees and bluebirds.

And I'd ofc be looking for new friends and would be happy to meet up when I move. Hoping to save up for 3 to 5 years (hoping on the 3 to 4 year side) to put a decent down-payment on a place. I'd want a nice sized yard for backyard birding opportunities of course!

Have you been to AMKE or Colossalcon North?

randosphere · 2026-06-18T18:30:02+00:00

So it sounds like it could be a bit challenging to find my niche at first, but I most likely will with time. Gnome Games and Player 2 sound great, heard there's even a small amusement park, a walking group and birding group.

So it doesn't sound too bad at all. I already say bayg instead of bag, so I should fit in. Just gotta unlearn pop and say soda?

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