"The impact of this bill on the public will be tremendous. It requires that any animal causing damage be turned over to a wildlife rehabilitator or released whenever possible."

This makes it kind of hard for farmers to poison or trap rats, doesn't it?

Not really, you poison the rat, then hand it over to be rehabilitated. If they can't resurrect the rat, well, guess they better get better with their rehab program.

I once had a dog that liked to dig in the trash when I wasn't around. I rehabilitated him by putting a couple mouse traps on top of the trash. I came home one day to find the traps sprung and the dog cowering in the corner. He lived about 12 years after that and never stuck his nose in a trash can again.

In another case, when I was a kid the neighbor's dog used to come over at night and chew on our rabbits' feet through the cage. Dad rehabilitated him with a load of 7-1/2 birdshot in his hindquarters -- the dog was always polite after that and never came over without permission.

Yet somehow I think Illinois would probably have some sort of PETA-approved, 12-step program to convince rogue wildlife to leave people alone.

[ This Message was edited by: expatriate on 2003-03-01 22:45 ]

Yeah rehab is really in the eyes of the beholder.

Rest assured though, PETA's 12 step plan would probably be as effective as rehab for Willy. At any rate it makes for entertaining news.