Plan To Tackle Cat Problem At Core Creek Park Announced

Bucks County and several animal welfare groups are working together to try to alleviate the problem of cat colonies that dot Core Creek Park in Middletown.

On Wednesday afternoon, county officials and nonprofit partners announced their multi-part plan to bring the cat population, which is numbered to be in the hundreds, down to levels that don’t impact visitors to the county-operated lands.

Over the past months, park users have spoken out about the smell from the cats, impact on the bird population and the numerous plastic makeshift shelters built by concerned residents throughout the 1,200-acre park.

“Besides the fact that there’s an odor, it’s not their (the cats) fault that they’re there,” Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia said.

“It’s taken years to get this far out of control. Within five years, I think we can get these numbers down to zero,” Denise Bash of Animal Lifeline said.

Over time, 200 traps will be placed throughout the park and trained volunteers will monitor them. Once a cat is captured, it will receive a spay or neuter and vaccines. In addition, volunteers will work to rehome pet cats that were left at the park and find barn homes for feral cats who may not fit in well inside someone’s home, Bash said.

So far, 83 cats have already been removed from the park and rehomed.

Inmates at the Bucks County Correctional Facility in Doylestown are currently constructing a small number of cat shelters that will replace current makeshift shelters that parkgoers have called unsightly in the past. Officials said the new shelters were designed with a national animal group and will be painted to blend in with the park surroundings.

Ellis-Marseglia said county mental health agencies will be working with “helping some people feeding cats as time feeding cats is diminished.” She also said Bucks County Rangers and the general services department are assisting parks crews and volunteers in the efforts to clean up the cat problem in a humane way.

Commissioner Charley Martin said he hopes newly-installed cameras will be used to help catch people dumping cats and prosecute them.

The park already features signs warning people that dumping kittens and cats is punishable by a fine, but catching violators in the act proves to be a challenge given the size of the park and other responsibilities Bucks County Rangers are tasked with. Bill Mitchell, director of the Bucks County Parks and Recreation, said last year that  many of the cats are dumped late at night and that Bucks County Rangers do their best to keep an eye out for those who leave animals behind at the park.

“Right, chief? We’re going to get them,” Martin said to Chief Ranger Steve Long.

“Yes, sir,” the chief replied.

Commissioner Robert Loughery said he will be adopting three cats for his barn. In addition, he thanked all those who are working to save the cats.

The program currently being carried out involves numerous nonprofits and donations from many different businesses.