In countries where there are lots of stray cats and dogs, many are in poor condition, especially compared with the truly wild animals that live in the same places. Why is this? The battle for survival must be incredibly tough for all these animals. Is it because feral domesticated animals can somehow live on in poor health through their association with humans, whereas nature would ruthlessly pick off any weaklings in the wild animal population?
鈥� Well-adapted feral populations may thrive: consider dromedaries in Australia, pigs in North America and city pigeons. Natural selection never sleeps, so feral populations such as Soay sheep, originally from the Scottish island of that name, may become as uniform as most wild species.
Most successful feral populations are ecologically flexible, non-specialist herbivores or omnivores not vastly different from their ancestors in behaviour or physiology. Feral city carnivores often rely opportunistically on a prey-rich ecology plus scavenging.
Advertisement
Lapdogs are handout specialists, and in nature, specialisation is an evolutionary one-way ticket. So those that survive as strays are usually 鈥渘atural-looking鈥� opportunists like mongrels, rather than pekes or pugs.
Feral and hybrid populations succeed mainly in rural or wild regions (such as dingoes and cats in Australia, or Maine Coon and skaukatt in North America and Scandinavia respectively), and are largely adapted to the available prey.
The most miserable feral carnivores occur in cities with little alternative to scavenging; they face pervasive human enmity and, instead of enjoying handouts, must cope with intensified garbage control. They prey on pets, each other and disease-ridden rats.
In contrast, urban foxes and raccoons are non-feral, omnivorous predators; they merge into city ecology, withdrawing at need. There is misery in the wild too, but it is seldom visible or long-lasting.
Jon Richfield, Somerset West, South Africa
鈥� Feral animals that live in urban areas with no fear of humans can eke out a living on abundant but otherwise poor-quality food, such as discarded scraps from takeaways.
I recently saw a very mangy fox in the centre of Purley, south London, scavenging. With little need of physical fitness to obtain enough calories to keep going, and probably few predators, the urban environment keeps such unfit or elderly individuals alive until they fall ill or become less mobile through arthritis or injury. Then they may crawl somewhere quiet to die, and birds, rats and insects will quickly dispose of the body.
Hillary Shaw, Newport, Shropshire, UK
We pay 拢25 for every answer published in 快猫短视频. To answer this question 鈥� or ask a new one 鈥� email lastword@newscientist.com.
Questions should be scientific enquiries about everyday phenomena, and both questions and answers should be concise. We reserve the right to edit items for clarity and style. Please include a postal address, daytime telephone number and email address.
快猫短视频 retains total editorial control over the published content and reserves all rights to reuse question and answer material that has been submitted by readers in any medium or in any format.
You can also submit answers by post to: The Last Word, 快猫短视频, 25 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ES.