CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME CODE SECTION 2185-2192

Procedures- Importing Wild Animal to California

 

2185.

Any person who transports, receives, or imports into the State, or transports within the State, any live wild animal enumerated in or designated pursuant to Section 2118, shall hold said animal in confinement for inspection and immediately notify the nearest enforcing officer of the arrival thereof. If there is found in any shipment any species not specified in the permit issued under this chapter, or more than the number of any species specified, said animals shall be refused admittance as provided in Section 2188 of this chapter.

2186.

If during inspection upon arrival any wild animal is found to be diseased, or there is reason to suspect the presence of disease, or there is reason to suspect the presence of disease which is or may be detrimental to agriculture, to native wildlife, or to the public health or safety, the diseased animal, and if necessary, the entire shipment shall be destroyed by, or under the supervision of the enforcing officer, unless no detriment can be caused by its detention in quarantine for a time and under conditions satisfactory to the enforcing officer for disinfection, treatment, or diagnosis, or no detriment can be caused by its return to point of origin at the option and expense of the owner or bailee.

2187.

Whenever any wild animal is brought into this state under permit, as provided in this chapter, the enforcing officers shall, from time to time, examine the conditions under which such species is kept, and report to the department any suspicion or knowledge of any disease or violations of the conditions of the permit or of the regulations promulgated under the provisions of this chapter. The enforcing officer may order the transfer of the animal to new owners or the correction of the conditions under which the species is being kept if not in conformance with the terms of the permit, at the expense of the owner or bailee. If neither transfer or improvement of conditions is accomplished, the officer may order destruction of the animal.

2189.

(a) No person shall import into this state any live nonnative wild animal except pursuant to this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(b) Any live nonnative wild animal which is possessed or transported within this state in violation of this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall, upon notice of and within the time specified by the enforcing officer, be disposed of in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Section 2122, at the option and expense of the owner or bailee.

(c) Any live, nonnative wild animal found at large within this state shall be either summarily destroyed or, if captured, shall be confined for not less than 72 hours following notification of the local humane society.

(d) If during the 72-hour holding period, any person claims ownership of the animal, that person shall be allowed to dispose of the animal pursuant to subdivision (b) and this shall be the person's only option.

(e) After the 72-hour holding period, if the animal is unclaimed, it shall be disposed of in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Section 2122 unless the animal is listed as a threatened or endangered species by either state or federal regulation. If the animal is listed as a threatened or endangered species in either regulation, the department shall be notified of the animal's location and the department shall be responsible for proper disposition.

2190.

It is unlawful for any person who keeps in confinement, with or without a permit, any wild animal of a species enumerated in or designated pursuant to Section 2118, to liberate, ship, or transport the animal except in accordance with the conditions of a permit first obtained from the department.

2192.

Notwithstanding Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18900) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code, Section 11356 of the Government Code, or any other provision of law, regulations of the commission relating to the construction, fixtures, and other minimum caging standards adopted by the commission for the confinement of live wild animals pursuant to this chapter or live cats pursuant to Section 3005.9 are not building standards subject to the approval of the State Building Standards Commission.