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Proposed rodent farm in Racine Co. causing controversy
Proposed rodent farm in Racine Co. causing controversy
TOWN OF RAYMOND (WITI) -- A proposal for a rodent farm is causing controversy in Racine County, in the Town of Raymound. Two Waukesha men have applied for a permit for a rodent breeding business near Eight Mile Road and 19th Street.
The area is overgrown and dilapidated, and two Waukesha men have come up with a plan to put the space to use.
They have applied for a permit to create a rodent breeding business called C-Squared. The two plant to produce 30,000 rodents a month to euthanize, freeze and sell to zoos and labs for reptile food and dissection.
Some who live in the area are opposed to the plan -- and it's not the first time this particular farm has led to controversy.
In the 1980s, 1990s and in 2001, the farm's former owner, Glenn Staege was in the news for numerous citations for failing to clean up his property, and other run-ins with the law, including sexual assault allegations.
The property is now owned by the bank, but rodent breeders are not what some had in mind.
"Not real happy about the idea. I prefer this remain farmland. Not a rat farm," Scott Smith said.
The rodent breeders say the barns will be proofed so that rodents don't escape and other animals don't get in.
Smith says he is skeptical.
"Running a business is one thing. What happens when, and it's not a question of if, it's a question of when, something escapes? How is it going to mingle with the livestock, coming over to our house with dogs? We don't want to find anything like that in our yards," Smith said.
FOX6 News spoke with one of the prospective rodent breeders by phone. He declined to comment at this point.
A Racine County official says as required by law, they notified those with land touching the property or directly across the street.
The Racine County Economic Development Committee takes up the issue Monday night, August 19th.