The District of Columbia is currently considering legislation that would severely restrict the trapping of animals within the District. The legislation is being backed by the Humane Society of the United States and Councilmember Mary Cheh, recipient of the Humane Society’s 2008 Humane Legislator of the Year Award for helping to overhaul D.C.’s animal welfare and control laws.

The Animal Protection Act of 2009 would limit trapping to animal control companies only, and outlaw “lethal control” of raccoons, bats, rabbits, squirrels, possums, pigeons and other wild animals except in cases where all non-lethal methods have been exhausted and when the public health is deemed to be at risk, The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance reports.

Foot-hold traps, snares and other commonly used traps would be prohibited if the bill passes. Live traps must be checked at least every 24 hours, and wildlife control officers are instructed to attempt to reunite live, trapped animals with their “families” in order to preserve the animal’s “family unit.”

“Wildlife control, utilizing the most practical and efficient methods, is essential to protect public health and to prevent property damage,” Evan Huesinkveld, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance director of state services, said. “This bill removes the most effective way to control pests in all but the most extreme cases, and also forces citizens to pay for this control. This is just another example of unreasonable and burdensome legislation pushed by animal rights’ groups.”