Steer-tailing, a rodeo event where riders chase and slam steers by their tails, has recently appeared in several northern Illinois counties despite being banned in some other states. Animal rights group Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) has documented instances of animal abuse at these events, including injuries to horses and steers. However, prosecuting these cases is challenging because Illinois law does not explicitly ban steer-tailing, only animal cruelty in general, making it difficult for local officials to regulate or outlaw the practice under current statutes.

Prosecutors in Will and Boone counties have filed animal cruelty charges related to steer-tailing incidents, but legal hurdles remain due to the lack of specific legislation. State Sen. Rachel Ventura introduced a bill to ban steer-tailing in Illinois, though it has yet to be voted on. Meanwhile, the Senate passed a non-binding resolution condemning the practice. Local officials and advocates emphasize the need for clearer laws to effectively address and prevent steer-tailing, with some counties working on their own statutes to ban the events and reduce animal suffering.