WTH? Wildlife Protection Act of 2010 is an example

[kwillia]

... of legislation gone bad.


Cuccinelli said D.C.'s new rat law--the Wildlife Protection Act of 2010 (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010.pdf) --is “crazier than fiction” because it requires that rats and other vermin not be killed but captured, preferably in families; no glue or snap traps can be utilized; the rodents must be relocated from where they are captured; and some of these animals may need to be transferred to a “wildlife rehabilitator” as part of their relocation process.

The law does not allow pest control professionals “to kill the dang rats,” Cuccinelli told CNSNews.com. “They have to capture them--then capture them in families. [Not sure] how you’re going to figure that out with rats. And then you have to relocate them. That brings us to Virginia. Now, if you don’t relocate them about 25 miles away, according to experts, rodents will find their way back. Well, an easy way to solve that problem is to cross a river, and what’s on the other side of the river? Virginia.”

While the law exempts “commensal rodents”--varieties of which most people know (or have seen) as common rats or house mice--the rice rat and deer mouse, which are found in the District, are not defined as commensal and apparently are not exempt from the law. In addition, the new law expands the definition of wildlife and sets the rules for handling it to include raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and other animals that can carry disease, such as rabies. The law applies to trained animal control officers, not to homeowners.

The law (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010.pdf) specifically says that wildlife “shall include any free-roaming wild animal, but shall not include: (A) Domestic animals; (B) Commensal rodents; (C) Invertebrates; and (D) Fish." Commensal rats include the House mouse (Mus musculus), the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), and the Roof rat (Rattus rattus).

In an e-mail to CNSNews.com, Brian Gottstein, communications director for Attorney General Cuccinelli, said, “While certain commensal rodents are exempted from the law, the rice rat and the deer mouse are species that wildlife control experts note are within the District that are NOT defined as commensal rodents, so they would appear not to be exempt from the law.”

VA AG Fears DC Law May Relocate Rat 'Families' to Virginia | CNSnews.com

[libertytyranny]

ugh. I agree with the glue trap thing..those things are disgusting and cruel. But really, how are they sup to determine the exact type of rat before they kill it? Looks like maybe they could include any rodents in a dwelling are exempt. Either way..you can't relocate them, they will just come back or have to be relocated again. That's just dumb. Kill them quickly and humanely and make sure whatever was attracting them is gone.

[bcp (Premo)]

Best thing virginia, and Maryland for that matter can do is to make it against the law to release rodents in the state. Then when the DC employees are caught doing so, put them in a state prison for at least 5 years. If you cant find people to take the job, you cant get rid of the rodents.

Not a big surprise however, DC has been infesting Virginia and Maryland with its unwanted vermin since the mid 1970s.

[Crewdawg141]

Originally Posted by kwillia

... of legislation gone bad.


Cuccinelli said D.C.'s new rat law--the Wildlife Protection Act of 2010 (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010.pdf) --is “crazier than fiction” because it requires that rats and other vermin not be killed but captured, preferably in families; no glue or snap traps can be utilized; the rodents must be relocated from where they are captured; and some of these animals may need to be transferred to a “wildlife rehabilitator” as part of their relocation process.

The law does not allow pest control professionals “to kill the dang rats,” Cuccinelli told CNSNews.com. “They have to capture them--then capture them in families. [Not sure] how you’re going to figure that out with rats. And then you have to relocate them. That brings us to Virginia. Now, if you don’t relocate them about 25 miles away, according to experts, rodents will find their way back. Well, an easy way to solve that problem is to cross a river, and what’s on the other side of the river? Virginia.”

While the law exempts “commensal rodents”--varieties of which most people know (or have seen) as common rats or house mice--the rice rat and deer mouse, which are found in the District, are not defined as commensal and apparently are not exempt from the law. In addition, the new law expands the definition of wildlife and sets the rules for handling it to include raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and other animals that can carry disease, such as rabies. The law applies to trained animal control officers, not to homeowners.

The law (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010.pdf) specifically says that wildlife “shall include any free-roaming wild animal, but shall not include: (A) Domestic animals; (B) Commensal rodents; (C) Invertebrates; and (D) Fish." Commensal rats include the House mouse (Mus musculus), the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), and the Roof rat (Rattus rattus).

In an e-mail to CNSNews.com, Brian Gottstein, communications director for Attorney General Cuccinelli, said, “While certain commensal rodents are exempted from the law, the rice rat and the deer mouse are species that wildlife control experts note are within the District that are NOT defined as commensal rodents, so they would appear not to be exempt from the law.”

VA AG Fears DC Law May Relocate Rat 'Families' to Virginia | CNSnews.com

Does this surprise you that DC would make such a law?

[bcp (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Crewdawg141

Does this surprise you that DC would make such a law?

What they should do is find a way to prepare them in a tasty yet nutritious way. They could then cook them up and feed the homeless.
Kinda takes care of two problems at once.

[Crewdawg141]

Originally Posted by bcp

What they should do is find a way to prepare them in a tasty yet nutritious way. They could then cook them up and feed the homeless.
Kinda takes care of two problems at once.

Not to make this sound racist or demeaning to anyone, but such critters are cooked in Asia. I am certain that they have a few good recipes for them. It could work out very well for all parties involved (minus the critters).

[bcp (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Crewdawg141

Not to make this sound racist or demeaning to anyone, but such critters are cooked in Asia. I am certain that they have a few good recipes for them. It could work out very well for all parties involved (minus the critters).

Facts can never be racist. Only if you make things up about another race can it be considered racist.

[Crewdawg141]

Originally Posted by bcp

Facts can never be racist. Only if you make things up about another race can it be considered racist.

I agree but there are plenty of left leaning individuals in the world that would take my statment as a form of profiling or stereotyping and then it just snowballs into racism at that point.

[vraiblonde]

Why is it that we allow mentally ill people to make laws in this country?

[buddscreek]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Why is it that we allow mentally ill people to make laws in this country?

They are elected by the majority. Says alot about the majority!