GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

SESSION LAW 2017-46

SENATE BILL 249

AN ACT to create a coyote tagging and bounty program in Richmond County.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 153A‑131 reads as rewritten:

"§ 153A‑131.  Possession or harboring Possession, harboring, or control of dangerous animals.

A county may by ordinance regulate, restrict, or prohibit the possession or harboring of animals which are dangerous to persons or property. No such ordinance shall have the effect of permitting any activity or condition with respect to a wild animal which is prohibited or more severely restricted by regulations of the Wildlife Resources Commission.Commission, except that the Commission shall permit a county to develop and implement a coyote tagging and bounty program within the county that includes the following elements:

(1) The county may capture and tag, tattoo, or otherwise mark up to 10 coyotes prior to releasing them. The county shall neuter any coyote captured under this subdivision prior to release.

(2) The county or a local nonprofit organization may offer a bounty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) per tagged coyote."

SECTION 2.  This act applies to Richmond County only.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 26^th day of June, 2017.

                                                                    s/  Daniel J. Forest

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives