TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Economic Impact Statement
LSA Document #10-614
IC 4-22-2.1-5 Statement Concerning Rules Affecting Small Businesses
Estimated Number of Small Businesses Subject to this Rule:
25.
Estimated Average Annual Reporting, Record Keeping, and Other Administrative Costs Small Businesses Will Incur for Compliance:
None.
Estimated Total Annual Economic Impact on Small Businesses to Comply:
$300 per year per business for the costs of additional cages, lighting, and food.
Justification Statement of Requirement or Cost:
The DNR has the statutory mandate in
IC 14-22-2-3 and
IC 14-22-2-6 to provide for the welfare of wild animals and believes that it is necessary to establish housing and care requirements for these wild animals that are being kept in captivity for up to six months (in the case of coyotes). The DNR is aware of at least one trapper that was cited by a city police department for what appeared to be improper housing of coyotes during the trapping season and has received other complaints in the past of furbearing mammals kept during the season in enclosures that are too small for the animal to even move around. The DNR has similar standards for the housing of wild animals possessed under the game breeder license (
IC 14-22-20 and
312 IAC 9-10-4), wild animal possession permit (
IC 14-22-26 and
312 IAC 9-11), and wild animal rehabilitation permits (
312 IAC 9-10-9). Staff from the DNR met with the Indiana State Trapper's Association and Furtakers of America representatives to determine appropriate housing requirements, and they have indicated support for these requirements.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis of Alternative Methods:
The DNR does not believe that any alternatives are needed for these rule proposals. If the DNR did not propose these changes, these businesses would continue to be able to house these animals in any type of cage and without proper care. The DNR is required by state statute to provide for the welfare of wild animals (
IC 14-22-2-3 and
IC 14-22-2-6) and believes that these changes are necessary to comply. Furthermore, many of the trappers understand the need for these proposals and support them. On the other hand, the DNR could prohibit the possession of any species of furbearers alive during the trapping season and not have a need for housing requirements for any species. However, the DNR believes that these four species of animals can be retained alive for a legitimate purpose such as the collection of urine to use for trapping other animals, and also allows trappers another source of revenue by allowing for the collection and sale of the urine. The prices of hides for muskrats, opossums, and skunks are so low (less than $4 per animal) that trappers do not typically keep these animals alive during the rest of the trapping season. They would spend more money housing and caring for the animals than in selling the hide or carcass.
Posted: 01/26/2011 by Legislative Services Agency
DIN: 20110126-IR-312100614EIA
Composed: May 04,2024 11:49:59PM EDT
A
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