Gympie social media star Bill Edwards takes on killer cats

From camera surveillance to tricky traps, a colourful retired weatherman and social media star was so fed up with felines feasting on the wildlife in his tranquil Queensland yard he decided to take action.

Hidden away in Gympie backyard is a safe haven for native birds and creatures cared for by a retired Gympie couple.

For the past year however, this tropical paradise has come under siege from the neighbourhood’s killer cats and Bill Edwards is determined to prove they’re messing with the wrong house.

The colourful local identity, whose popular facebook page about local weather patterns has more than 4000 followers, told the Gympie Times unwelcome feline visitors had been visiting since April or May last year.

Mr Edward’s said the felines have also “fished” seven of his fish out of his backyard pond. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

After attempting to chase the animals away with water, he resorted to homemade traps and public shaming.

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Cameras attached to his deck often capture video of the cats in his yard.

After the animals are ‘trapped’, Mr Edwards calls council rangers take the animals to the RSPCA to be scanned for microchips, and contact the owners with the information stored there.

He’s caught eight of the felines so far and takes a humane but unique approach, often sharing moggy mugshots on social media and asking “is this your cat?”.

Mr Edwards said the intruders had killed several natives birds in their backyard after his wife spent the last 20 years hand-feeding them and snatched seven fish from their backyard pond.

Mr Edwards said his wife feeds the native birds via a feeding plate on his backyard. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

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While he didn’t witness the attack, he also suspects cats may have killed one of his chickens after he found remains and scattered feathers in the backyard.

He hopes the council enforces tougher laws on the roaming animals to prevent the killing of more wildlife.

“I just want them to stop,” he said.

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Mr Edwards said he suspects one of the cats have killed one of his chooks, though he cannot prove anything as he didn’t witness it happen. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

“The council has tried to enforce the act as it stands now, but it could be changed to make it a bit more severe.

“My wife loves these birds, her whole life revolves around these birds, and I think people need to take better care of (them).”