Kill the cat that kills the bird?

Here's a very well done article on the Jim Stevenson case - the guy who shot a feral cat because it was hunting an endangered species of bird.

Kill the cat that kills the bird?

The trial ended in a deadlock.

I'm both a cat lover AND a bird lover. I think I have to side with protection of the health of the overall ecosystem over the individual animal's welfare, though my opinion would turn on a dime if we were talking about somebody's pet cat and not a wild animal.

/edit - That's not to say I condone the guy shooting the cat. I do NOT think people should take things into their own hands. I think the appropriate authorities need to address this issue for the welfare of all involved.

It's a sticky situation.