"It is not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? It is not enough for you to drink of the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?" Ezekiel 34:18

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Beware of exotic carnivores

This summer when our illustrious leaders tried as hard as they could to shut down the federal government, I got in the habit of rolling my eyes at folks when they excitedly exclaimed that we would all be better off if the federal government did indeed shut down. I rolled my eyes because we Americans take for granted all the great things that yes, gasp, the bureaucrats inside the Beltway actually do for us. These things I am referring to include the availability of clean drinking water, the development of life-saving vaccines, and providing safe air travel.  I am now happy to add another item that the federal government should take up: protection of citizens from exotic animals. If you somehow have missed out on this story it goes something like this: Ohio has some of the weakest exotic species laws on the books in the U.S. A crazy man (he qualifies as crazy in my mind) was able to house upwards of 50 exotic species of mammals on his property. These animals included lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Local officials had to warn people to stay in the cars and homes for fear of becoming dinner.

Where the federal government comes into play with this issue is that federal legislation should be enacted to prohibit the private ownership of exotic animals. Amazingly, the illegal trade in wildlife is second only to that of drugs in the United States, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Federal law is often circumvented by breeding these animals in captivity and selling them with state lines. No one needs to keep a Bengal Tiger as a pet. Most people can barely take care of their golden labs.