(Columbus, Ohio) In 1861, the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus was officially completed and President Abraham Lincoln spoke before a joint session of the Ohio Legislature in the House Chamber. Since that time, the venerable and historic building has been the enduring center of law for the people of the State of Ohio.
Unfortunately, during the same time period, the Ohio Statehouse also became home to an enduring infestation of rats. For well over a century, Ohio's elected lawmakers have lived in uncompromised harmony with buck-toothed, omnivorous, and disease-carrying rats.
That is, until about a year ago, when a dozen or so stray pussycats started making themselves at home on the Statehouse grounds. Despite their cozy coexistence with the legislators, the rats could not get along with feral felines. So, the rats moved. According to spokeswoman Pat Groseck, of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Commission,
"The cats have done a yeoman's job. There have been no rat-sighting reports since the cats have been there."Consequently, the Statehouse strays are now being fed, sheltered, and given health care by state employees and volunteers. The rats are gone and everything is hunky-dory.
Or, is it? There are no reports of how the influx of feral cats have affected the songbird population. Typically, a vigorous feral cat population will eradicate all songbirds in the area. Gone are the sweet chirps and calls of cardinals, robins, and chickadees. Call it an unintended consequence.
In closing, I'm skeptical of the assertion that all of the rats have left the Statehouse. If true, how come my taxes keep going up?
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