Update (Sept. 26, 2012): Unexpectedly and unfortunately, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed this bill.
Update (September 2012): This bill passed the Assembly floor on Aug. 23 and passed the Senate floor a second time on Aug. 27, and now it is headed to the governor’s office.
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Update (June 2012): This bill recently passed the Senate floor and the Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee. It will be heard next in Assembly Appropriations Committee, if passed, it will go to a full Assembly floor vote. Contact your state Assemblymember and urge him or her to vote yes on SB1480. Find your legislator here.
Bill description: This bill is co-sponsored by Born Free USA and the San Francisco Wildlife Center. SB 1480 will bring much-needed oversight to nuisance wildlife trappers in California. [teaserbreak]Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) and co-authored by Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Oakland), Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Long Beach) and Assemblyman Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), SB 1480 will protect wildlife from unnecessary death and cruelty, reduce costs incurred by animal control and wildlife rehabilitation centers, decrease the chances of family dogs and cats being inadvertently killed in traps, and protect homeowners who are often mislead by scofflaw wildlife trappers.
Among other protection measures SB1480 will:
- Require trappers to provide a written contract to consumers that include a summary of the laws related to dealing with wildlife.
- Require trappers to take steps to avoid orphaning dependant young and leaving them to die.
- Prohibit the most heinous methods of killing wildlife: drowning, chest-crushing and injection with chemical solvents, such as nail polish remover.
- Require that special precautions be taken when dealing with bats. In California,10 of our 24 bat species are classified as “Species of Special Concern,” meaning urgent protection is needed to prevent them from becoming threatened or endangered species.
- Place additional restriction on the use of kill-type traps to reduce the chances of family pets being inadvertently killed.
The text and status of California bills are available here.