DC City Councilmember Mary Cheh recently introduced the "Wildlife Protection Act of 2009." The legislation, B18-0498, looks to afford wildlife the highest level of protection that DC has seen and above all, the bill would ensure that the animals don't suffer. WHS worked with Councilmember Cheh's staff for months on this bill and brought in scientists, wildlife control experts, and members of other humane societies to draft a bill that worked for both homeowners and the wildlife in danger.

Today, as you read this, somewhere in the District a raccoon or a squirrel is looking to find food or shelter in a city that has encroached on their natural habitat. Their search will likely bring them to a house where the trash isn't properly secured or a house with open access to the attic or basement. While the animals may find this acceptable, more often than not, the homeowners will disagree and contact a Wildlife Control Company, or pest control, as they are sometimes called. These companies come out and "remove" the animals in question and solve the "problem."

But at what cost? These companies are not required to be licensed in DC as they are in other states, and there is absolutely no oversight of how they conduct their business. That means that the animals are usually killed either on site with a cruel trap (one that would not discriminate between the "target" animal or any other animal that happens to walk by...even pets!), or is removed alive with a box trap and taken to another location and killed by means known only to the operator.

A hearing on the bill will soon take place and this is your chance to use your voice to help animals in dire need. WHS asks everyone who lives in the District to call their councilmember and urge them to support B18-0498, The Wildlife Protection Act of 2009.

"Photo courtesy Photos8.com"