CONNECTICUT TO REGULATE “WILD ANIMAL” POSSESSION
** PUBLIC HEARING FEBRUARY 15th **
*** COMMENT DEADLINE MARCH 1st ***
The Issue:
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has issued a proposed rulemaking regarding the establishment of a list of wild animals to be banned from possession and import/export from the state. The department will hold a public hearing on the proposal on February 15th and will accept written comments until March 1st.
The Impact:
This proposed regulation creates new state rules pertaining to the importation and possession of wild birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Lists.
The proposal creates four lists, dividing species into four different “wild animal” categories. The listings of the four categories can be found by clicking HERE.
Prohibitions.
The proposal introduces the following prohibitions:
• No person may import or possess any “Category One Wild Animal” except for municipal parks, zoos, public nonprofit aquaria, nature centers, museums, exhibitors licensed or registered with the United States Department of Agriculture, laboratories registered with the United States Department of Agriculture, or research facilities registered with the United States Department of Agriculture;
• No person may import or possess any “Category Two Wild Animal” except for municipal parks, zoos, marine mammal parks, aquaria, circuses, nature centers, museums, exhibitors, laboratories, research facilities, or veterinarians for the purposes of treatment and care;
• No person may import or export any “Category Three Wild Animals” except for zoos, aquaria, circuses, laboratories, research facilities, municipal parks, museums, nature centers, exhibitors, or schools, or as provided for pursuant to CGS sections; and
• The proposal defines “Category Four Wild Animal” as “any wild animal, and gametes listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern according to state law”. Under this proposed rulemaking, a permit would be required in order to “import, possess, or liberate any Category Four Wild”.
January 28, 2011
(CT Wild Animal Regs)
PET INDUSTRY JOINT ADVISORY COUNCIL (PIJAC)
1140 19th Street, NW, Ste 300, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 452-1525 / (800) 553-PETS,
info@pijac.org
NOTE: The proposal sets forth the criteria necessary in order to be considered a “museum, nature center or exhibitor’ for purposes of exemption.
Key Definitions.
The proposal defines “wild animal” as “any bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian and invertebrate, which is now or historically has been found in the wild, or in the wild state, and is not otherwise a domestic animal”.
“Domestic animal” means “any animal that has been domesticated by having undergone a process of selective breeding in captivity to a degree which has resulted in genetic changes affecting the temperament, color, conformation, or other attributes of the species to an extent that makes them unique and distinguishable from wild individuals of their species, and raised in a life intimately associated with and advantageous to humans. Wild animals raised in captivity, even over many generations, which have merely become trained but are still wild by nature are not domestic animals.”
Notification Requirements.
Any person possessing a Category One or Two Wild Animal whose animal is lost through escape or release is required to notify the department no later than 24 hours after loss of an animal.
PIJAC Position:
This PetAlert is for informational purposes only. Please review the lists carefully to see if your pet or animals you may have imported/exported are affected. NOTE: The proposal does not provide any proposed fee costs for permits for Category Four Wild Animals.
Recommended Action:
As stated above, the department will accept written comments on this proposal until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1st. Anyone who wishes to state their views in person may do so at a public hearing on Tuesday, February 15th at 6:00 p.m. at the Department of Environmental Protection, Phoenix Auditorium, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut.
If you have any additional questions or comments please feel free to contact PIJAC Bambi Nicole Osborne at: 202/452-1525, ext. 105 or by email at:
bambi@pijac.org.