The head of the Galveston Ornithological Society is charged with animal cruelty after police say he shot at a one of the feral cats living at the San Luis Pass toll bridge. You can watch Brad Woodard's report here.

On the toll bridge at San Luis Pass, they take care of much more than just spare change.

Surrounded by a sanctuary for wildlife and birds, the bridge itself is a sanctuary for cats in Galveston County.

"I can’t even talk about it. I'm almost afraid to get them too tame because they trust people and people like this morning come out here and shoot them," said toll bridge operator John Newland.

Newland, 68, said he was manning his post as usual when a van from the local bird watching society pulled under the bridge and opened fire on one of his cats.

One of the cats that finds refuge at the San Luis Pass toll bridge.

"I ran over to the edge and looked over and saw the van parked down there and hollered at the man to stop shooting and he panicked and got in his truck and took off," said Newland.

"I told him, I says 'There he goes John, go get him'," said toll bridge operator Howard Etzel.

A chase ensued and police intercepted 53 year old Jim Stevenson, a prominent ornithologist, now charged on a felony count of cruelty to animals.

"Somebody like that just has to hate animals. How could he be a birdwatcher and then hate cats? I don’t know," said Etzel.

Stevenson has only been charged with killing one cat, Newland said 10 cats had been shot in recent months. They are buried under the bridge.

"They’re just like family. I told my wife that when I die, I want my ashes to be buried here [under the bridge] so I can protect the cats," said Newland.

Police said they weren’t sure what Stevenson's motive was, but his bond was set at $10,000.

ANY comments with profanity will be deleted as soon as I find them, and your IP address will be banned. If you can't make your point without cursing, you don't have any business posting.

Shot all the feral cats. If you want them, adopt them and take'em home.

   --Posted by: nature first at November 15, 2007 10:47 AM

We currently have 5 cats living in our home, volunteer for a cat rescue org. and TNR plus feed a small colony of feral cats. When I first heard about this I was horrified. To make the situatioin worse, there is a quote in People Magazine of Mr. Stevenson saying, "That particular breed of cat didn't deserve to live." Who the (blank) is he to decide which breed of cat or, for that matter, which type of living creature deserves to live? Here is an angry man, who hates animals because no one, no one would shoot an animal and then claim to be an animal lover as he is also claiming. This guy is sick and shot the cats to satisfy some twisted urge within himself. He should be removed from his position, forced to get a pysc. help, fined and put in jail. While he is only on trial for the killing of the one cat (Moma Cat) there were ten other cat shootings in the area. Clearly this man has a problem and it needs to be addressed. If anything, he needs to be removed from his current post of caring for birds or any living creature. Regarding the comment that it is unrealistic to care about the cats, why, because they are only doing only what nature intended them to do? Then, should we shoot a neighbor's dog for barking too loudly or raccoons for going through trash? We, as the human race, have taken and keep taking animals habitat's, food supplie's and live's for our own benefit. Please realize that one, one unaltered cat and it's off spring can produce, in a seven year period, 420,000 kittens. This needs to stop and the only way this can happen is to spay or neuter all pets. The shelters are full of unwanted animals that are put down every day. It is a horrible and sad reality. Ally Cat Allies has worked, for years, to allivate this problem by making people aware and encourgaing, pleading with them to "fix" their animals. A feral cats life is hard and yes, it is a short one, but this animal is not homeless. A colony of feral cats is not homeless. rather they have adapted as best they can to the outdoors and this, like the birds, is where they live. Mr. Stevenson showed a gross lack of humanity by killing the cat(s) and he should pay for his crime. He does not have the right to decide which breed of animals lives or dies.

   --Posted by: Laura at November 5, 2007 3:13 PM

Being an avid animal advocate I can see both sides of this issue. However, there are organizations that work to protect and care for feral cats www.alleycats.org. So, until we can convince people to stop introducing non-native species and to provide adequate space for the animals that share this space with us, the problem will ensue. Clearly the answer is to be a bit more logical in our quest to help the animal world. Every action has a consequence and Jim Stevenson should be held responsible for his.

   --Posted by: Nicole at November 5, 2007 10:56 AM

I am a passionate animal lover, I have two (indoor) cats, who are my babies and my life... but what these people are saying here about the people who protect birds vs. people who feed feral kitties is just mis-informed and misguided. I understand that it's upsetting to hear that someone shot a kitty... usually I would be on the side of those saying that the kitty should be brought to justice but this is just not fair, that man was protecting ENDANGERED birds...it's unfortunate that people would want to put a man in jail for protecting an "endangared species"... If you are an animal lover you must become informed and educated, a great way to do that is to volunteer at a local wildlife sanctuary, you will learn so much and enjoy the hands on time with the buggers... You will also learn to value the lifes of ALL creatures and see that there is a delicate balance in what mother nature does and where creatures are in harmony with their ecosystems... 1st of all, I think the person who said that s/he feeds their "feral" birds and feral cats side by side obviously hasn't looked up the definition of "feral"... are you talking about non-native birds who have adapted to life in your area??? I don't think so.. and also you probably haven't aknowledged the birds that have been killed by this irresponsible feeding... alowing cats to run loose is cruel to both the birds and the cats who don't know any better and are only doing what cats do... it is wrong to let them run around killing birds and put them in a position where people have to choose to hate them if they want to protect native wildlife... I think some of the animal lovers on here, though they have a big love for animals, have not realized the severity of the situation around the world... letting our cats out is as good as going out with a beebee gun and shooting indescriminately at songbirds, bird-nests, marsh-bunnies, cotton-rats, and wildlife infants of all forms... yes, urban sprawl, yes, cutting down their homes, yes, roads, yes, our cats... all of it is killing the native wildlife and two wrongs don't make a right: the person who was on here saying that the problem was not the cats but instead the urban sprawl doesn't seem to see the bigger picture... the man in question was actually an animal lover... so was the man who fed the cats obviously... both had their love for animals as a priority, we need to get together, instead of separate further, and really confront the feral kitty problem... pretending that it's ok for feral cats to run loose is not moral to the cats nor the native wildlife and at some point we must all come to grips with this... I love my cats more than anything and that's why I spend a lot of time trying to figure out new ways to give them enrichment and to try to make them happy indoors, where they need to be for the sake of our ecosystem.

   --Posted by: Ana Rodriguez at October 16, 2007 9:28 PM

Stevenson is defunately wound too tight. What will he do when a child threatens one of his birds? Shoot the child? This person is dangerous and should be locked up.

   --Posted by: jhk at November 26, 2006 8:58 PM

Cats are not native, and they can proliferate wildly if left uncontrolled. Cats are extremely adaptable, and can survive almost any extreme environment this earth can offer, they're even survived and grown in population in Antarctica! Cats, unlike a lot of predators, kill for the sake of killing, not because they're hungry. For a feral colony of cats to be successful, there has to be an organized effort to catch, spay/neuter, and release, as well as the occasional trap and rehome. Birds, on the other hand, are native. It's unrealistic to feel sorry for the cat, but do nothing to control it's numbers. They are not natural to the environment, hello? Another thing to consider is the quality of life of a feral cat in an unmanaged colony. Fleas, disease, parasites, infection (they fight), they can be a miserable bunch, with a drastically shortened life expectancy. Get a close look at some of them. That ought to be enough to galvanize the people who just want to defile the protector of the birds. Be a proactive, positive influence on the cat colonies. Really, how many of these people decrying the ornithologist's actions have done a single blessed thing to make any of the many area feral cat colonies less destructive to the natural environment? Don't just blast off, think! Then DO! I have trapped many feral cats, and taken them in to the pound, which is sad because they just get euthanized. Sadder still is you can't win, there are always more feral cats. Until people spay/neuter and quit thinking of companion animals as disposable, there always will be another, and another. Sad commentary on our society.

   --Posted by: Cindy at November 19, 2006 12:28 AM

I'm sorry "anonymous", where and when did I say a human should be shot for killing a cat? I don't recall ever saying that (outloud) :-) Re-read my post. I commented that bird lovers sometimes find feral/stray cats the enemy and I wish these cats could live their lives in a safer place. I wish there were enough home for all of them. You must be confusing me with someone else.

   --Posted by: Heather at November 16, 2006 12:25 PM

Not to get off topic; however, "Anonymous" questioned Heather’s statement putting a stray cat on the same level as a human and, as an animal rescuer, I can say that animals are WAY ABOVE most humans, not on the same level. Animals do not know greed, malice, anger, hate, revenge, nor do animals rape, molest small children, beat their wives and children, do drive by shootings, rob liquor stores, banks, etc. Animals love unconditionally, can ANY human say that? I would have to answer that with a resounding “NO”. God created ALL creatures, not just humans, but it is humans who have made a mess of things on this earth, not animals.

   --Posted by: Edna Taylor at November 14, 2006 11:20 AM

One more person with blinders on, what about guns killing birds, this person had in his hands the biggest destruction of birds than all the cats in the world. and while I'm the subject what about BB guns, when little Jr is handed a BB gun what is the first thing he looks for to kill??? BIRDS.

   --Posted by: JackR at November 13, 2006 11:59 AM

Let's not forget that many rare, possibly endangered species of birds migrate through Galveston each year, and these cats are often fed by humans, like the toll bridge worker, and hunt not because they need food but just because they are predators. If the cats are so important to him, then why does the toll bridge worker not take them to a shelter? Take them home? Just a thought...

And to Heather, you believe a human should be shot for killing a stray animal? What about the hundreds of thousands of stray animals that are put to sleep in pounds across the country? Should the pound workers also be shot? I find it odd and sad, perhaps even frightening, that you would put the life of a stray cat on an equal level with that of a human.

   --Posted by: Anonymous at November 11, 2006 1:07 AM

So your telling me its wrong to kill a cat on the street when it kills birds, but its not wrong for the pound to destory animals? I mean isn't that a double standard. sure its a shame the cat died, but i mean if anyone really carred for it, it wouldn't have been a stray now would it? Imj ust saying why is it wrong for a birdwatcher to do it, mind you when these birds are just prey to them, but its okay for the pound to do it?

   --Posted by: JC at November 11, 2006 1:02 AM

"the worst of cat haters are bird people"...Carl Van Vechten, writer, philosopher

Everyone needs to know this: The birdwatchers have declared an eradication of all outdoor cats; this is going on all over the country.

abcbirds.org click on 'cat indoors' proclamation
"global ban on all free roaming cats"

   --Posted by: ks at November 10, 2006 6:32 PM

So sad. But it is nice to know the toll bridge people love them like they do. :-)

   --Posted by: Sheila at November 10, 2006 8:13 AM

Through a chain of events, my husband rescued a Mama cat and her kittens, and through the process of caring for these cats, we decided to keep 3 of them (Mama and 2 of her kittens). We were able to abopt out the rest. But, my point is that we already had other cats and I've found that these "Ferals" cats have more manners, are cleaner and friendlier than my domesticated cats. Give me a feral anyday! And bless the people that take care of the less fortunate animals.

   --Posted by: Jann at November 9, 2006 3:46 PM

I have done some research and found that urban sprawl kills more birds than cats do. People blame cats for all the birds that die, yet they fail to look in the mirror and see that it is the toxins and pollutants we pump into our environment, the destruction of their natural habitats, that kills more birds than cats ever could. Also, what is wrong with going out and trying to help trap, spay and neuter the cats and find them homes as opposed to killing them? Is everyone's answer to a perceived problem to either bulldoze over it, pave it or with regards to animals, to kill them? The bottom line here folks is, KEEP YOUR CATS INSIDE, SPAY/NEUTER THEM AND WE WON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH STRAYS AND PEOPLE SHOOTING THEM.

   --Posted by: Edna Taylor at November 9, 2006 10:27 AM

Killing cats is awful and I think I know what his motive was. My neighbor is a bird watcher and dislikes cats because they kill so many birds. Especially stray/feral cats. To some birdwatchers, they are the enemy. I'm so thankful those cats have a protector in Mr. Newland. I just wish they could live their lives in a safer place.

   --Posted by: Heather at November 9, 2006 10:21 AM

He needs to be shot, the solution to the problem in NOT shooting a cat or for that matter any other defensless animal. I say lock this idiot up and throw the key away!!!!!!!!

   --Posted by: Grace at November 9, 2006 7:57 AM

Because, clearly, wild birds have more value than wild cats. I think bird watchers are great. I feed the "ferel" birds in my backyard right alongside the ferel cats and it seems to work out fine. What are people thinking? Oh, that's right, they aren't.

   --Posted by: Jeff at November 8, 2006 10:15 PM