By Gazette News ServicesHELENA - The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission has banned four more exotic species from being brought into the state for possession or sale as pets.
They are: walking catfish, short-tailed opossum, southern flying squirrel and new world monkeys.
The commission banned the animals while classifying exotic wildlife species for personal possession. A new state law requires the commission to classify exotic species into three categories: controlled, non-controlled or prohibited.
"Thirteen species and two wildlife families were added to the rules governing the import and personal possession of exotic species," said Eileen Ryce, FWP aquatic nuisance species coordinator.
Among the controlled species added to the list were koi and goldfish used in outdoor ponds, and baikal teal and Siberian red-breasted geese, which are exotic waterfowl.
The import, possession and sale of exotic species is regulated to minimize potential health and safety risks to humans, wildlife, livestock and agriculture, state wildlife officials said. More than 40 exotic species have been classified as prohibited.
Exotic species not yet classified cannot be imported into Montana, Ryce said.
Published on Tuesday, November 21, 2006.
Last modified on 11/21/2006 at 12:21 am
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