University of Idaho to no longer euthanize nuisance animals

The University of Idaho will continue to trap wild, stray or feral animals on its campus, but it will end its practice of euthanization, according to the university’s Nuisance Animal Program implemented Tuesday.

According to a website containing questions and answers, pet owner tips and basic information about the program, the UI worked with the Humane Society of the Palouse and the Moscow Police Department to put together the program and accompanying policy 40.22, which concerns landscape and exterior services on campus.

The updated policy and program defines nuisance animals as those that pose a risk to health or property on campus, and states if such an animal is identified, it will be trapped by a licensed contractor or university personnel and removed from campus by the Moscow Police Department’s animal control division.

UI facilities personnel will determine whether the animal is a nuisance, based on policy education. Those animals not deemed to be a nuisance will remain on campus.

The program will operate under the Department of Infrastructure and deals with all animals on campus with the exception of students’ pets – which must remain inside student residences – and laboratory animals.

The program was created in response to public outcry upon the discovery UI personnel trapped and killed at least eight cats and kittens, one beaver and more than 1,200 birds between January and August of last year.

The aftermath of the discovery led to UI President Chuck Staben appointing a task force to investigate problems with the previous practice, which used a gas chamber built by UI Campus Veterinarian Peter Autenried to dispatch the animals. The program was referred to in emails between Autenried and members of UI Facilities as “Vermin Control,” although only cats, wild mammals and birds were euthanized.

The issue inspired numerous residents of the Palouse to turn animal activist, collecting public records from the university at high costs in a search for answers, writing letters, attending pertinent public meetings and creating a Change.org petition that yielded more than 10,000 signatures of those requesting and demanding the UI cease its practice of killing the animals.

The UI requests that anyone who sees a possible nuisance animal contact campus facilities at (208) 885-6246 or Public Safety at (208) 885-2254.