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West Virginia Legislators Examining Exotic Animals Laws
By: Associated Press
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West Virginia has joined a string states looking to regulate or ban exotic animal kept as pets.
The move comes in the wake of the release of dozens of wild animals in Ohio last year.
The Senate introduced a bill this week that would require current owners of such animals to obtain a permit and inspection from the Division of Natural Resources and generally bans breeding and possession of non-native wild animals.
A related bill introduced in the House of Delegates would ban future purchases and prohibit breeding but does not provide a permitting process.
Animals that would fall under the ban could include snow leopards, cobras and crocodiles.
The Senate Natural Resources Committee could consider the issue as early as next week.