§262. Nongame quadrupeds; breeding, propagation, and exhibition

            A. Whoever desires to engage in the business of raising and/or exhibiting imported or native nongame quadrupeds shall apply to the department for a license to do so. If it appears that the application is made in good faith, upon a payment of twenty dollars, a nongame quadruped exhibitor license may be issued permitting the applicant to breed and/or exhibit such animals provided he meets rules and regulations of the department.

            B. Whoever desires to engage in the business of raising, exhibiting, and selling imported or native nongame quadrupeds or collecting and selling wild alligator eggs shall apply to the department for a license to do so. If it appears that the application is made in good faith, upon payment of fifty dollars, a nongame quadruped breeder license may be issued permitting the applicant to breed, propagate, exhibit, and sell such animals alive or sell their parts; and to kill and transport them and sell their pelts, skins, or carcasses as hereinafter provided in this Section.

            C. Nongame quadruped breeder and exhibitor licenses shall expire on the thirty-first of December of each year. On or before the first of December of each year, every licensee shall apply for a renewal of his exhibitor or breeder license. In conjunction with this application, or without application if not renewing the license, the licensee shall provide a report including all information as specified by the department.

            D. Nongame quadrupeds raised on such licensed breeding farms may be sold alive or taken for their pelts, skins, or for food according to rules and regulations of the commission. All skins shall be tagged according to rules and regulations of the commission.

            E. All nongame quadruped carcasses or parts intended for sale shall be shipped, transported, sold, or offered for sale according to commission regulations.

            F. The department may issue a permit to a duly licensed breeder to take such wild animals as needed for use as breeding stock. The licensed breeder shall apply in writing, stating where the animals are to be taken, at what time, and in what numbers.

            G. Whoever under the authority of this Section has in his lawful possession any such animal or parts thereof on such posted or fenced breeding area shall have a property right therein and shall be the owner thereof. Whoever enters the nongame quadruped farm or catches, takes, or molests such animals when the area has been posted or fenced according to law shall be punished as though the animals were ordinary domestic animals and subject to the property rights of the state of Louisiana.

            H. The department may revoke the license of any person violating the provisions of this Section.

            I. All other rules and regulations pertaining to the breeding, propagation, and sale of nongame quadrupeds shall be determined solely by the commission.

            J. Violation of this Section constitutes a class 2-B violation.

            Added by Acts 1974, No. 121, §1. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 736, §1; Acts 1981, No. 837, §3; Acts 1981, No. 838, §1; Acts 1982, No. 730, §2; Acts 1990, No. 194, §1, eff. July 2, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 273, §1; Acts 1992, No. 499, §1, eff. June 22, 1992; Acts 2021, No. 241, §1; Acts 2021, No. 356, §2, eff. Nov. 15, 2021.