Raleigh votes for brand new ‘harmful wild animal’ guidelines

Raleigh leaders have voted for brand new guidelines outlawing “harmful wild animals” almost one yr after a venomous zebra cobra escaped a northwest Raleigh residence.

The ultimate ordinance will come again to the Raleigh Metropolis Council for a last vote on July 5 with the ban going into impact 60 days after the ordinance is adopted.

The ban applies to “inherently harmful” animals that don’t typically stay with people and particularly embody: lions, tigers, wolves, non-human primates, medically vital venomous snakes and crocodilians.

The foundations ban new pet house owners from proudly owning “harmful wild animals” inside metropolis limits however present pet house owners are grandfathered in so long as the animals are registered underneath the brand new guidelines. Registration would start July 1, 2023.

The brand new guidelines have been accredited 5-3 with Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin and Council members Nicole Stewart and Stormie Forte voting towards.

Council David Knight started pushing for brand new guidelines after the zebra cobra noticed in northwest Raleigh in the summertime of 2021 and despatched regulation enforcement on a two-day search earlier than the snake was captured. The escaped snake was considered one of a number of discovered saved within the residence of Christopher Gifford, who did not report the cobra was lacking again in November 2020. The zebra cobra is ready to spit venom from a number of toes away and precipitated a frenzy of native and world media consideration. Gifford plead responsible in August 2021.

Neighbors who lived close to the place the snake was unfastened have been ‘traumatized,” he stated. And whereas others could have laughed it might have been worse, he stated.

“It appeared a bit surreal to us,” Knight stated. “And it did get some laughs alongside the way in which. Like ‘Might this actually be occurring in Raleigh?’ However it wouldn’t have been a laughing matter if considered one of our first responders who handled this or an harmless bystander would have been bitten or spit on by the snake.”

There was by no means any “actual hurt” for residents from the snake, stated Mayor Professional Tem Nicole Stewart. It was a “perceived risk,” she stated.

“There was by no means any actual risk,” Stewart stated. “And I would like people to know that. There’s quite a lot of issues we’re afraid of. And plenty of of them we shouldn’t be afraid of. There’s quite a lot of issues happening in our metropolis proper now that want our consideration. And I don’t suppose that is considered one of them.”

The brand new animal guidelines

The brand new guidelines embody a $500 wonderful per animal. The brand new guidelines don’t apply to accredited zoos, scientific analysis laboratories, veterinarians, training or scientific establishments or wildlife rehabilitators.

Individuals who already personal animals deemed “harmful and wild” could be grandfathered in so long as they adjust to the ordinance, together with registering the pet.

After a yr of debate, town reviewed 4 choices that ranged from outright banning the animals no matter how lengthy an individual had owned the animal to permitting the animals so long as they’re registered.

The unique guidelines would have banned animals that ranged from tigers, monkeys and alligators to geese and squirrels. And the unique guidelines appeared to ban unusual pets like sugar gliders, ferrets and most reptiles, prompting concern from native and nationwide teams just like the U.S. Affiliation of Reptile Keepers.

Clarification: This story has been up to date to make clear {that a} second vote will probably be wanted to finalize the ordinance.

This story was initially printed June 21, 2022 4:17 PM.