BISMARK TRIBUNE (N Dakota) 31 December 04 Bill bites keepers of venomous snakes (Tom Rafferty)
A Bismarck legislator wants to make it illegal to possess venomous snakes, spiders and other creatures.
Rep. Margaret Sitte, R-Bismarck, said she is having a bill drafted in response to Bismarck police finding four deadly snakes in an apartment earlier this year.
Sitte said North Dakota law prohibits having skunks, raccoons and wolves, but not venomous animals. By putting the law in place, it would cover cities that don't have ordinances against venomous animals, as well as rural areas.
In July, Bismarck police found four poisonous snakes -- an East African green mamba, a death adder, an albino monocle cobra and a yellow-bellied racer -- in a Bismarck apartment.
Andrew Greff and Doug Feist were charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment for having the snakes.
Greff was sentenced to one year with all but six months suspended for having the snakes, and Feist will go to trial on the reckless endangerment charge Jan. 6.
Greff told the Tribune earlier this year that he had purchased the snakes over the Internet and had them delivered via UPS.
Bismarck ordinances state that "the keeping of dangerous animals is prohibited."
According to the ordinance, "dangerous animals" means animals which, because of their poisonous bite or sting, their size, or their propensity to viciousness or aggressiveness, would constitute a hazard or threat to the safety of the citizens of Bismarck.
The ordinance has exceptions for educational, scientific or research purposes.
Although the bill would allow permits to be given for people keeping venomous animals for educational purposes, Sitte doesn't expect it to pass without a fight.
"It will be controversial because a lot of pet owners want to have them," Sitte said.
Sitte said a constituent asked her to introduce the bill.
The bill is in the process of being drafted, and she is still looking for co-sponsors. She said the bill will include venomous reptiles, arachnids and insects. There will be a special exemption for bees.
Sen. Ralph Kilzer, R-Bismarck, a co-sponsor, said the bill will make it a Class B misdemeanor to possess the animals included in the bill.
Sitte is working with Terry Lincoln, director of the Dakota Zoo, in how the bill should be worded. Lincoln said the zoo keeps some venomous spiders, but doesn't plan on having venomous snakes. However, Lincoln said he wants to make sure people can have venomous animals if they have a legitimate purpose for them.
Wording of the bill will be important.
Sitte said her bill initially included "poisonous" animals, but that had to be changed to read "venomous" animals.
Lincoln said some animals are poisonous, including the poison dart frog on display at the zoo, but they are not harmful unless they are eaten. A venomous animal is one that will bite, Lincoln said.
Although instances of people being caught with venomous animals are rare in North Dakota, Lincoln said it is surprising how many people have been bitten by venomous pets nationwide. "It's pretty incredible how many instances there are of people getting killed by these types of things."
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2004/12/31/news/local/nws03.txt
KFYR (Bismark, N Dakota) 01 January 05 Bite Legislation
Bismark, N.D. (AP): A Bismarck legislator wants to make it illegal to have venomous animals and insects as pets. Representative Margaret Sitte says a constituent asked her to introduce the legislation. She says it's in response to Bismarck police finding four deadly snakes in an apartment in July. She says it's illegal in to have skunks, raccoons and wolves in North Dakota -- but not venomous creatures. Sitte says her bill would cover cities and rural areas that don't have ordinances against venomous animals and insects. She says the bill has an exemption for bees. North Dakota typically ranks near the top of the nation in honey production.
http://www.kfyr.com/cc-common/local_news_common.html?ID=20050101064004&feed=local
