Last week we discussed the Federal Law concerning “Endangered Species.” This week let’s take a look at Ohio Law pertaining to possessing “Wild Animals.” The United States Constitution still allows what our founding fathers considered to be “States Rights.” Under the Constitution the State of Ohio is the governing body over the animals within its borders and as such regulates what animals can be hunted and fished by issuing the proper license to its residents. The state also regulates what it has defined as dangerous animals and just who can possess them.
I remember as a child going to the Cincinnati Zoo and riding the elephant, huge turtle and seeing all the wild animals in captivity. We have had the circus come to the county with a display of the wild animals parading down Main St., USA. I never gave it a second thought about who regulated those shows but as a police, I learned to understand that it is the State of Ohio. So let’s take a look at what Ohio allows when it comes to those elephants and tigers.
On the local level, the City of Tipp City regulates what is required of a person who has a wild animal escape from their control. That situation states it must be reported within one hour. And as we already discussed, the Federal Government only control’s “Endangered Species.”
Ohio Revised Code Section 935.02 prohibits any person from possessing a “…dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014.” The law does permit certain people the right to possess the animals such as if they owned the animal prior to the law’s enactment. It also allows zoos, circus owners, pet rescue farms, petting zoos, veterinarians and so on to keep and harbor dangerous animals.
Just like the Federal Government controls what animals are considered to be endangered, the State of Ohio controls what animals are considered dangerous. Here is a list of what animals Ohio prohibits its residents from possessing without a license because as common sense dictates are dangerous animals.
My thought is if it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, then it is a dangerous animal and you should not take it home with you.
935.02 Possession of dangerous wild animal prohibited.
(A) No person shall possess a dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014.
(1) Except as provided in divisions (G)(1) and (2) of section 935.06 of the Revised Code, no person shall acquire, buy, sell, trade, or transfer possession or ownership of a dangerous wild animal on or after the effective date of this section.
(2) Notwithstanding division (B) (1) of this section, a person that operates a rescue facility may acquire, except by purchase, possession or ownership of a dangerous wild animal if one of the following applies:
(a) Prior to January 1, 2014, the person is authorized to do so by the director of agriculture in accordance with procedures adopted by the director.
(b) On or after January 1, 2014, the person has obtained a rescue facility permit under section 935.101 of the Revised Code.
Chapter 935: POSSESSION OF WILD ANIMALS AND SNAKES
(C) “Dangerous wild animal” means any of the following, including hybrids unless otherwise specified:
(1) Hyenas
(2) Gray wolves, excluding hybrids
(3) Lions
(4) Tigers
(5) Jaguars
(6) Leopards, including clouded leopards, Sunda clouded leopards, and snow leopards
(7) All of the following, including hybrids with domestic cats unless otherwise specified:
(a) Cheetahs
(b) Lynxes
(1) Sell, trade, or barter the animal or the animal’s body parts
(2) Use the animal in any manner for profit
(3) Breed the animal
(4) Allow the public the opportunity to come into contact with the animal
(L) “Restricted snake” means any of the following:
(1) All of the following constricting snakes that are twelve feet or longer
(a) Green anacondas
(b) Yellow anacondas
(c) Reticulated pythons
(d) Indian pythons
(e) Burmese pythons
(f) North African rock pythons
(g) South African rock pythons
(h) Amethystine pythons
(2) Species of the following families
(a) Atractaspididae
(b) Elapidae
(c) Viperidae
(3) Boomslang snakes
(4) Twig snakes
Tipp City Code:
§ 90.11 REPORTING ESCAPE OF CERTAIN ANIMALS REQUIRED.
(A) The owner or keeper of any member of a species of the animal kingdom that escapes from the owner’s or keeper’s custody or control and that is not indigenous to this state or presents a risk of serious physical harm to persons or property, or both, shall, within one hour after the owner or keeper discovers or reasonably should have discovered the escape, report it to a law enforcement officer of the municipality and the sheriff of the county where the escape occurred, and the Clerk of the Legislative Authority where the escape occurred.
(B) If the office of the Clerk of the Legislative Authority is closed to the public at the time a report is required by division (A) of this section, it is sufficient compliance with division (A) of this section if the owner or keeper makes the report within 1 hour after the office is next open to the public.
(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
