Idaho Fish and Game says this is due to the animals being carriers for rabies and stems from a statute first enacted in 1981, prohibiting any possession of foxes, skunks, and raccoons. Snowdon, however, added in their post that the statute had never been enforced during more than 30 years of animal rehab.
Idaho Humane Society CEO Jeff Rosenthal told Idaho News 6 that they also hadn’t experienced enforcement of the statute until just under a year ago, ending decades of transferring injured or orphaned wildlife to licensed rehabilitators, such as Snowdon.
According to Rosenthal, Idaho Fish and Game told IHS that euthanasia is the only option for the orphaned or injured wild animals.
Rosenthal added that he feels the statute was intended to prevent the general public from keeping wild animals and expressed hope that public comments, which can be submitted through Dec. 24, will push Fish and Game to find a solution to allow for rehabilitation through the proper channels. Read more…
Related Media:
- https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/decades-old-idaho-law-wildlife-idaho-humane-society-seeks-change/277-58a02da5-08d6-4d70-b2a9-f341d1851840