D.C. bill would make life easier for pesky critters

The D.C. Council thinks pesky animals like opossums, raccoons and foxes are getting a tough break when they’re snared in traps, so council members are pushing forward with legislation to ease the animals’ burden.

The legislation introduced by Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh that sets new standards for the treatment of wild animals by the professionals hired to boot the critters out of homes received tentative approval Tuesday from the full council. The bill was backed heavily by the Humane Society, which also runs a for-profit company in Washington that critics of the legislation say would receive a competitive edge from the new regulations.