Unusual Animal Legislation Across States: A Focus on Bigfoot Regulation in Washington
In the spirit of shedding light on the quirks and curiosities of the legal world, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) regularly releases a list of the Top Ten Weirdest Animal Laws on the Books. This week, we delve into some of these intriguing laws across the United States.
Based in California, the ALDF is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing animal abuse and strengthening anti-cruelty laws. The organization's latest list includes a surprising entrant: Bigfoot. The inclusion of this mythical ape-like creature, considered fictional, is not without reason. Bigfoot symbolises the importance of legal protection for all sentient creatures, and its inclusion highlights commonalities between humans and other animals.
California, known for its diverse wildlife, has its own peculiar laws. For instance, bullfrogs are considered better jumpers and tastier, leading to a unique law that prohibits the consumption or use of competitive frogs that have died or been killed. In contrast, bats face health and safety concerns, and historically, human property interests have outweighed animal rights in Texas. Interestingly, it is illegal to hunt or kill bats in Texas unless they are inside or on top of buildings.
In the Pacific Northwest, Skamania County, Washington, considers Bigfoot an 'endangered' ape-like creature and has an ordinance that penalises killing it with a year in jail, a $1000 fine, or both. The county even prides itself as a Bigfoot refuge.
Moving east, Ohio has a unique law that prohibits horse owners from letting their stallions mate with mares anywhere near a public street or alley. Most police horses are gelded, or neutered males, due to safety concerns if a stallion tries to mount a mare with a rider on it.
In West Virginia, ferrets are not allowed to accompany hunters, and in Juneau, Alaska, it is illegal to take a dog with you into a beauty salon or barbershop.
The ALDF's staff attorney, David Rosengard, explains that U.S. laws reflect various ways humans relate to animals. For example, in Ohio, an animal law states that a mare will initiate copulation with a stallion by going nose-to-nose, scenting out his pheromones, tucking up one foreleg, and turning her head back.
Despite the peculiarities, there are no known areas in the United States with laws specifically prohibiting hunting Yetis or similar fictional creatures. However, the ALDF's list serves as a reminder that our relationship with animals, whether real or mythical, is deeply ingrained in our laws and culture.
So, the next time you find yourself pondering the weird and wild world, remember to look to the laws of the land for some fascinating insights. After all, every Saturday, the ALDF provides an answer to that very question.
