City Animals May Be Protected from Poison and Traps

The District of Columbia Council tentatively approved a bill that would create new standards for animal control. The bill applies to companies and their methods of capturing unwanted wild animals, which some consider pests.

The bill would outlaw animal control companies using body-crushing traps, glue, snares, and leg hold traps for catching raccoons, foxes, squirrels and possums. Under the law, poison would no longer be allowed to kill pigeons and sparrows. Glue traps also will not be allowed for snakes; glue traps do not harm snakes so much, but they do catch other species unintentionally and cause much suffering.

The law would require the permissible traps be checked every 24 hours to make sure no animals are stuck in them for long periods, when they might be injured or confined and in stress.

The law’s main point is to have wild animals in the city be treated with care, “A wildlife control operator shall make every reasonable effort to preserve family units using humane eviction and/or displacement and reunion strategies. Wildlife captured by a wildlife control operator may be held in captivity for up to 72 hours when reunion attempts are employed. A wildlife control operator shall not knowingly abandon dependent young in a structure.” (Source: WTOP.com)

The reason it is important to keep animal families intact, is that mothers separated from their young will return to wherever they believe they are. If a mother skunk has been relocated after being captured, she will return to a nesting site repeatedly, even if the babies are no longer there.

Rats and mice are exempt from the law’s protections. Lethal traps could still be used if the bill is passed into law.

Councilwoman Mary Cheh, who sponsored the bill said, “They use traps that effectively torture animals, that non-targeted animals like pets sometimes get captured in them. When they do kill animals, they use horrific methods like beating them to death or drowning them.” (Source: USA9.com)

Thirty states across the country already have similar wildlife regulations. One way to reduce wild animals on residential property is to secure all trash. Also, not feeding them intentionally, or unintentionally by leaving pet food out, helps.

Image Credit: garyjwood

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Camilla V.

11:50PM PDT on Jun 12, 2011

that´s about time

send a green star

Sumit j.

7:58AM PDT on Apr 12, 2011

THANKS

Melissah C.

6:10AM PDT on Mar 15, 2011

thanks

Robert O.

3:10PM PST on Jan 22, 2011

Very important. Thanks.

Linda G.

7:41PM PST on Jan 4, 2011

I'm glad attention is being paid and legislation is starting to help stop inhumane methods of wildlife control.

Bon L.

4:39AM PST on Dec 8, 2010

Thanks for the info.

Roberto V.

9:55AM PDT on Oct 17, 2010

Lets remember that the city was once a forest, the animals are gonna roam around to find shelter in their old homes.

Susan S.

7:03PM PDT on Oct 14, 2010

I hope and pray that these laws can be applied to the country as well. All animals deserve respect and protection whether they live in the city or the country. One of the motives behind this is possibly that no-one wants children to come across suffering animals (or possibly be hurt themselves). It is a step in the right direction.

Lupe G.

11:26AM PDT on Oct 14, 2010

this is true. often times, the people capturing them aren't professionals

Chinmayee J.

5:29AM PDT on Oct 14, 2010

The horrible things people do...I'm so glad these animals are being protected...