Tag: Dangerous Animals

Board to Revise List of W.Va. Dangerous Animals

  A board asked to produce a list of animals that are illegal to keep as pets in West Virginia plans to amend an earlier list after receiving public comments.

The original list developed by the Wild and Dangerous Animal Board includes chimpanzees, crocodiles, giraffes, elephants, piranha, and several types of pythons. But it also includes some types of birds, turtles, tetra fish and geckos.

The Charleston Gazette reports the board Thursday decided to have a subcommittee work on a compromise.

The law passed this year clamps down on new animals brought into West Virginia. Residents who already own creatures on the list can keep them if they get a board permit, pay a fee and not breed or replace the animals.

The comment period ends Aug. 1.

West Virginia Listing Animals Too Dangerous to Own

  State officials want to ensure West Virginians aren’t making pets out of animals better suited for Africa than Appalachia.

State regulators are responding to a 2011 Ohio release of wild animals by determining what types of wildlife will be illegal for people to own. A draft list in the works.

Residents who already have soon-to-be-illegal creatures won’t lose them if they follow a new permitting process.

In 2011, an eastern Ohio man released 56 animals from his farm before he committed suicide. They included black bears, mountain lions and Bengal tigers. Fearing for the public’s safety, authorities killed 48 of the animals.

Penalties for illegally owning an animal would range as low as $200. Penalties can reach $5,000 and three years in prison if a released animal hurts someone.

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