Is Killing Rats Illegal?
WouterIf you live in the District of Columbia and want to kill rats, you may be wondering whether or not killing them is illegal. This question has become a source of controversy due to recent statements by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. He accuses District lawmakers of being soft on rats. Councilwoman Mary Cheh has introduced legislation to protect rats and has received threatening emails. Some use vulgar language and threaten Cheh with violence.
While most jurisdictions permit killing rats, some areas are prohibited from doing so. In New York City, for example, the New York City Health Department does not permit rat hunting. Nonetheless, animal rights activists say killing rats is deplorable and should not be done for sport. Regardless of legality, animal rights activists say rat hunting won’t solve the city’s rat problem.
The federal government has warned cities that the use of dry ice to kill rats violates federal law. Dry ice, which is made from frozen carbon dioxide, suffocates rats as it sublimates. This method is more effective than other conventional rat poisons. Several cities, including Chicago, New York and Boston, have been testing dry ice as a rat killer.
Although rats aren’t known to cause human diseases, they are notorious for causing a lot of damage. Besides eating human food, rats are also notorious for attacking people. In fact, many vehicle fires are caused by rats.
