Missouri to Add Fees, Require Liability Insurance for Wild-Animal Raisers

Missouri lawmakers have approved new regulations, including fees and an insurance requirement, for people who raise wild animals such as lions, bears and tigers.

Legislation sent to the governor will require anyone possessing, breeding or transporting large carnivores to get a permit from the Department of Agriculture beginning in 2012. The permits could cost up to $2,500.

The bill also requires people possessing the animals to carry at least $250,000 of liability insurance.

Another section of the bill would impose a tenfold increase on the fees charged to companies that sell pesticides in Missouri. Supporters of the increase say it could generate $1.6 million for the Agriculture Department and bring Missouri’s fees closer to those charged by neighboring states.

The agriculture bill is SB795.

Latest Comments

• May 17, 2010 at 2:37 am

  nk says:

  What a stupid bill. Very inadequate in fees and fines, They should have made the minimum limit 1 mil to say the least although I would have suggested banning the ownership o... read more
• May 17, 2010 at 1:37 am

  Lilly says:

  First of all let me say that politicians suck. The way they piggy-back less popular bills onto favorable ones. Having said that, this regulation is a joke. If any one of these... read more
• May 17, 2010 at 12:56 pm

  Stumped in AZ says:

  An exactly what do pesticides have to do with raising wild animals? Never ceases to amaze me what our legislatures will tack onto a bill that they know will pass!