Wild animal permit bill clears panel: DNR oversight would be reinstated

The Senate Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 195, which would give the Indiana Department of Natural Sources specific authority to permit and inspect such animals.

“Every hour we don’t get something in place is an hour we end up with more problems,” said the bill’s author, Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield.

The DNR halted its wild animal possession program last summer after an appellate court ruling found it had no authority to impose rules, restrictions or permits on legally owned wild animals. The Supreme Court declined to review the case.

The result was that hundreds of wild animals in the state suddenly became completely unregulated, including several dozen particularly dangerous species.

At the time of the change, there were 263 wild animal possession permits. The vast majority are for smaller animals, such as raccoons, squirrels and striped skunks.