(a) The following procedure is to establish a nuisance wildlife management process to selectively remove specific species of wildlife from the Village of West Unity.
(b) With this process the wildlife animal that is subject to selective removal will be listed in Exhibit A as follows in subsection (c) hereof. Domesticated/companion animals are not subject to this process and if trapped will be required to be released and set free on site.
(c) Exhibit A: Nuisance wildlife species that will be included in this process are as follows: woodchucks (groundhogs), opossums, raccoons, moles, rates, skunks, coyote’s, rabbits, and squirrels.
(d) the listed nuisance wildlife species may be taken year around if they are doing or about to do damage on private land. This process will not be facilitated by any employee of the Village West Unity during work hours except for under the direction of the Chief of Police, Mayor and or the Village Administrator as they see it necessary. It will be the responsibility of the property owner to carry out the trapping process. If further assistance is needed with trapping or dispatching of a nuisance animal it will be the responsibility of the property owner to bring in a nuisance trapper at their own expense.
Procedure:
(1) When a complaint is filed with the Village, consent may be granted to the property owner to set up a live trap to catch the nuisance specifies. This may be given by the Police Department, Village Administrator or Mayor of the Village of West Unit.
A. Traps will not be supplied by the Village.
B. Traps must be supplied by the property owner.
C. Traps must be tagged identifying the property owner. The name and phone number of the property owner must be placed on the tag.
D. The trap must be checked within twenty-four (24) hours of last checking the trap. During times of extreme weather such as hot and cold the trap is to be checked more frequently.
(2) If a nuisance animal from Exhibit A is trapped it must be released where it was trapped or dispatched humanely and in compliance with the Ohio Revised Code.
(3) A. The use of a firearm is not permitted within the Village for dispatching a nuisance animal. In this case the property owners are allowed to transport the nuisance animal outside of the Village limits to a place where they are legally allowed to dispatch the nuisance animal.
B. Animals such as raccoons are not allowed to be relocated and set free outside of the Village, therefore are required to be dispatched.
(4) Fur trade, taxidermy or any other use of the animal is not permitted following it being dispatched. After being dispatched the animal must properly be disposed of.
(e) All Ohio hunting and trapping laws must be followed when trapping outside of the scope for a nuisance species. The property owner is responsible for knowing the laws and assuring they are in compliance with them. Property owners are subject to the laws and penalties of Ohio if they do not comply with this procedure along with hunting and wildlife laws.
(f) Whoever fails to comply with such order is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 2020-4. Passed 7-14-20.)