Buncombe County Sec. 6-61 makes it unlawful to keep any venomous reptile or any other wild or exotic animal within the county. Zoos, performing-animal exhibitions, circuses, and licensed wildlife rehabilitators are exempt.
Sec. 6-61 (Wild animals) flatly prohibits keeping, maintaining, or possessing any venomous reptile or any other wild or exotic animal within the county. The code (Sec. 6-28) defines a wild animal as one normally found in the wild, particularly feral, exotic, dangerous, or nondomestic animals not living around human habitation, including deer, lions, monkeys, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, tigers, and snakes. Exemptions apply only to zoological parks, performing-animal exhibitions, circuses, and licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Keeping a wild animal is one of the most serious offenses in the ordinance. North Carolina also regulates possession of certain wildlife through the Wildlife Resources Commission.
Keeping a wild animal (Sec. 6-61) is a Level III civil penalty under Sec. 6-106: $100 first offense, $250 second, $500 third and each additional. The animal is subject to seizure and impoundment; injunctive abatement is available under Sec. 6-108.
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