DNR Could Require Animal Control Workers To Kill ‘Nuisance Animals’

Hoosiers are being asked to submit public comments by the end of this week on new proposals by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.  One such change that’s causing a lot of discussion would require animal control workers to euthanize certain nuisance animals.   That includes raccoons, coyotes, and opossums.                                                                  

Mike Meservy with Advanced Pest Control has been doing animal control work for 14 years. He says many residents use his service because he traps and relocates most animals. He also questions the morality of such a state policy.

“It’s just heart breaking,” Meservy says. “If you’ve ever had to put down a momma with babies clinging to her fur, and we’re going to have to put them in a box and gas them with, usually it’s with carbon monoxide, but there are other ways and some of them are quite gruesome.”

Meservy says he should be able to choose not to euthanize the animals.

But DNR Furbearer Biologist Geriann Albers says animal control operators can opt out of taking those jobs if they’re uncomfortable.

“If they chose to take a raccoon or coyote job that would be the point where they acknowledge this rule is in place,” Albers says. “We don’t want to move this problem around and this is what the rule states as a have to euthanize this animal and just making that clear to the landowner.”

 Albers says the policy wouldn’t have a significant impact and would only be used in rare situations when removal is necessary.

The DNR is taking public comments online through the end of this week.  The agency will likely take up policy changes at a meeting in May.