FLINT JOURNAL (Michigan) 24 April 08 City calls emergency meeting to consider exotic animal ban in Burton (Elizabeth Lowe)

Burton, Michigan: Alligators, venomous snakes and poisonous spiders aren't welcome in the city, but it could take a while to show them the door.

That's the word from the city's legislative committee, which met in special session Wednesday after receiving reports of an alligator in a DeCamp Street house.

Committee members recommended adopting a proposed ordinance to ban keeping exotic, dangerous or out-of-the-ordinary household pets.

If approved, the city would be required to give the owner of a banned animal 10 days to remove the animal from the home. The owner could additionally be required to show proof of where the animal was taken after leaving the home.

The proposed ordinance also bans releasing banned animals into the wild.

"I'd hate to see an alligator in Kelly Lake or Thread Creek," said Councilwoman Ellen Ellenburg, a legislative committee member.

The legislation excludes fowl, ferrets and "small rodents of varieties used for laboratory purposes" and makes an exception for accredited zoos or aquariums, wildlife sanctuaries, nature preserves, circuses and legitimate scientific, medical or educational research facilities.

Species of animals not native to Michigan aren't regulated by state or federal government.

It's up to cities and townships to write laws to protect residents against living near species that may be considered dangerous, said Lt. Ron Utt, DNR district law supervisor.

Federal regulations apply to endangered species, but have special rules applying to specific varieties and where they originated, said Dan Sheill, a special agent for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services in Ann Arbor. Federal rules also regulate bringing certain species across state lines without a permit.

Violating the proposed ordinance could be a civil infraction, requiring the violator to answer to a judge and potentially pay fines and fees.

Now the City Council must twice approve the legislation and publish the ordinance before it takes effect.

That could mean waiting until early June.

Councilwoman Laurie Tinnin, who chairs the legislative committee, said she hopes to persuade Council President Tom Martinbianco to set a special council meeting to speed along the process.

There's an alternative to following the steps enacting an ordinance, said City Attorney Richard Austin: Instituting circuit court nuisance abatement proceedings.

"You would have to prove the existing alligator constitutes a nuisance," said Austin, who said the process likely wouldn't be speedier unless the animal inflicted an injury.

In the case of the DeCamp Street home, the ordinance could be a moot point.

Jennifer Watson, a resident of the DeCamp Street home in question, said Tuesday the alligator is not kept there. A male, who would not give his name, said he owns the animal, which he describes as a 33.5-inch fresh water alligator. The male said he is not living in the home.
City calls emergency meeting to consider exotic animal ban in Burton

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