NUISANCE WILDLIFE - BURDEN OF PROOF ON HOMEOWNERS


Please sign our Petition to improve animal cruelty laws to stop practicing "speciesism" and "selective compassion", by including backyard wildlife, even if it has been labeled a nuisance.


We want the burden of proof put on the homeowner that the animal truly is a nuisance:


1) Provide pictures of the correct species that is doing the damage


2) Provide proof of monetary damage


3) Provide proof of the specific animal by hopefully identifying the markings


4) Provide proof that they tried to enlist the help of professional animal control agencies, trappers, or preferably wildlife educator experts before taking matters in their own hands.


Homeowners shouldn't be allowed to get away with unnecessary cruel disposal of these necessary animals. With inadequate laws to protect wildlife that are "categorized" as a nuisance, cruel methods such as bludgeoning, setting on fire, shooting with arrows, leaving traps in the sun, etc., will continue to take place in the inexperienced hands of homeowners. Cruelty in any form should be punishable to the full extent of the law just like any other animal.


There are numerous humane alternatives that are readily available to every person (through the media, library, Internet, from trappers, animal control and humane officers, state and federal wildlife agencies, zoos, wildlife rehabilitators and educators, veterinarians, pet stores, etc.), and we all have access to each other's information. Even if one doesn't have a computer, they have friends that do, as well as library access. There is NO excuse for such cruelty to go unpunished.


One example - In 2003, Kirk James Broomall in CA severely tortured opossums and was not punished AT ALL! It is just too easy to lie to keep from being prosecuted justly.


The laws must be changed to be more fair and just. We would like the courts to take certain things into consideration when determining what a homeowner's rights are concerning animals that aren't even theirs. The wild animals belong to ALL of us. Other neighbors are impacted by the actions of the offenders, as well as the offspring left orphaned. As it stands, the law is undefined in this situation, so impossible to adequately punish homeowners that choose cruel methods in handling wild animals on their property.


If you would like to know more details for our recommendations, please visit www.ProtectRWildlife.org (under "R" Projects).


Unfortunately, in the huge percentage of these situations, the homeowner merely wants the animal gone for the following reasons: a) the opossum is considered ugly and they don't want it there; b) the skunk is there and they are afraid of being sprayed; c) the raccoon, coyote, etc. might do damage; d) fear of wild animals harming their animals (it's usually the other way around); e) spreading disease (can be eliminated by the exclusion methods mentioned above), keeping pets indoors (at least when noctural animals are roaming), and educating children about sanitation and leaving wild animals alone.


Since the majority of the time, wild animals are killed because of ignorance and fear, we will continue to educate the public anywhere we can and hope that signing this Petition will help us accomplish this.