CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state’s veterinarian says she expects the long list of animals that would be banned in West Virginia without a permit under the proposed Dangerous Wild Animals Act to be reduced.
Cuts to that list could be made as early as Thursday when Dr. Jewell Plumley and the other members of the state’s Dangerous Wild Animals Board meet. “You could pretty much say this list is a living document. It will change,” Plumley said on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
“What we are currently doing is compiling the list of the submitted comments and we will look at what the public has recommended not being a part of the list.”
With the proposed 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.
“What’s really important is for us to know where these animals are located and, if there is a release that happens, just like in Zanesville, that we will actually know what is released, what is out there,” Plumley said.
“The other component of this is we’re totally concerned about the animal welfare too.”
In 2011 in Zanesville, Oh., 49 animals — including 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, six black bears, two grizzly bears, three mountain lions, two wolves and a baboon — had to be shot and killed when a preserve owner released them before killing himself.
West Virginia is one of the few states without existing regulations addressing possession of wild animals.
The list of possible banned animals, in its current form, is available here. A public comment period on what’s being proposed continues through Aug. 1 at 12 p.m. Reviews of the submitted comments, though, are already underway.
“We certainly appreciate all the public comments that are being submitted,” Plumley said. “We will consider these and look at reducing the list from comments that were submitted.”
All comments on the proposal can sent via email to jodeemartin@wvda.us or regular mail to the following address :
West Virginia Department of Agriculture
Attn: Jodee Martin
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305