Photo by Karon.

UPDATE: Original reports had indicated that mice and rats were covered under the Wildlife Protection Act, but that is not the case. The Washington Post reports that “rats and mice are exempt from the life-saving protections, meaning homeowners could still trap and kill them.” Several other animals, including raccoons, squirrels, possums and pigeons are still covered under the legislation.

Councilmember Mary Cheh means well, I have no doubt. Cheh’s last big effort — the imposition of a one cent-per-ounce tax on sugary beverages — fell flat after intense lobbying from big cola, despite academic evidence that it would probably do a world of good. So maybe she’s aching for a legislative victory. And hey, who doesn’t like animals, right?

But Cheh’s latest piece of lifestyle legislation has government observers around the District bristling. The Ward 3 Councilmember has introduced a Wildlife Protection Act to the Council, which would require D.C. “wildlife control operators” to sympathetically trap wild animals that infiltrate our residences. Yes, that includes mice and rats.

The passage of the bill in question:

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.