Proposed Ordinance Focuses On Exotic Animals

Bannnock County is working on a new ordinance to make it illegal to breed or possess wild or exotic animals in the county.

If it becomes law, the ordinance would keep Dotti Martin and Robert Fieber from re-establishing Ligertown. They face more than 100 criminal misdemeanor charges filed after 19 lions escaped from the ramshackle collection of cages and fences near Lava Hot Spring in September and were shot to death.

The proposed ordinance would make it a misdemeanor to keep or breed any non-native animal that weighs more than 50 pounds when fully grown.

The ordinance defines exotics as any animal not native to Idaho and specifically lists lions, tigers, bears, wolves, cougars, skunks, raccoons, crocodiles, some snakes and primates such as monkeys.

County officials said their ordinance is being proposed in anticipation that the Legislature will enact a new state law next session.

The ordinance would make it a misdemeanor to keep or harbor such an animal, to assist anyone in illegally keeping a wild animal and for failing to provide information about exotic animals to the sheriff’s office.

It also would grant deputies authority to inspect any property suspected of harboring exotic animals, with penalties for violations up to $300 fine and three months in jail for each animal. Undersheriff Lorin Nielsen said his department is investigating reports Martin and Fieber gave young cats, possibly lion cubs, to people outside the county. But under current law, he said the county can do nothing.

However, federal authorities have confirmed they are investigating whether the couple violated federal regulations on the sale of exotic animals.”This ordinance will give a little teeth,” he said.

Commissioner Tom Katsilometes said the ordinance, which is scheduled for a hearing Dec. 8, is intended as a temporary measure until the Legislature passes a new state law.