Relating to taking certain animals that are deemed a nuisance

This bill relates to the taking of fur-bearing animals without prior permission of the natural resource commission (NRC). Under current law, a person may kill, trap, or ensnare a fur-bearing animal outside of the open season if the killing, trapping, or ensnaring is for the protection of a person or public or private property and with the prior permission of a duly appointed representative of NRC. A person may take a fur-bearing animal without receiving prior permission if prior permission is impractical or impossible to obtain and the fur-bearing animal represents a threat to a person, domestic animal, or private property. Under the bill, an owner or tenant of agricultural property or an associated residence, or an agent of the owner or tenant, may take, capture, shoot, or temporarily possess, for the purpose of destroying or disposing of, a raccoon, opossum, or skunk without receiving prior permission if the owner, tenant, or agent deems the animal to be a nuisance. The bill does not authorize a person to take, capture, shoot, or temporarily possess an animal listed pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act or listed as endangered by NRC.87 shall be disposed of onsite or shall be relinquished to a representative of the commission.