Sen. Crider’s SB 195 concerning ownership of wild animals has passed out of committee. Current law provides that, with certain exceptions, “all wild animals are the property of the people of Indiana.” Under current law, one exception is for those “legally owned” under a license or permit; another is for those “being held in captivity” under a license or permit. This legislation removes the “held in captivity” as an exception.
The bill then goes on to declare that that article of the code (providing, among other things that wild animals belong to the People) does not apply to “legally owned captive bred cervidae.” Cervidae primarily refers to deer and includes elk, moose, and reindeer.
I think, but would welcome correction, that this is intended to help people who run canned hunting operations and want to get DNR out of the way.
Who get to define what is a ‘wild animal”? I fear it will be the determination of DNR as to what they consider a “wild animal” is. Pet stores in Indiana will no longer be able to sell lizards, snakes, and amphibians that have been kept as pets for years.