CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Ownership of Tasmanian devils, Komodo dragons, giraffes and dolphins — along with a long list of other animals — would be prohibited in West Virginia, without a permit, if the proposed Dangerous Wild Animals Act takes effect as is.
A committee created the list and residents can now weigh in on the possible restrictions.
Public comments are being accepted through the Secretary of State’s Office until early next month. “It’s a 30 day public comment period that ends at 12 p.m. on Aug. 1,” said Butch Antolini, spokesperson for the state Department of Agriculture.
As part of the regulations, permits for harboring the animals covered in the Act would cost $100 and would be subject to the approval of the Dangerous Wild Animal Board which would review the permits each December.
Domestic animals, traditional livestock and alternative livestock already identified in state code will be exempt from the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.
Lawmakers took the first step to create the list earlier this year, since no such ban on wild animals currently exists in the Mountain State, and will finalize it as early as the 2015 Regular Legislative Session. See the complete list of prohibited animals here.
“It is a process,” Antolini told MetroNews. “The Legislature will make the final decision on that.”
All comments can sent via email to jodeemartin@wvda.us or by regular mail to the following address :
West Virginia Department of Agriculture
Attn: Jodee Martin
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305