Download Exotic Feral and Nuisance Animal Policy

CITY OF OCALA
RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
Exotic, Feral, and Nuisance Animal Policy
PREAMBLE
Exotic and Feral Animals
Exotic and feral animals are species not indigenous to Florida that occur here usually because of human-aided
range expansion or translocation. Exotic and feral animal populations are regarded, together with exotic
invasive plants, as the main threats to healthy natural biological diversity within the City. In order to protect and
preserve native wildlife and plants from predation, disease, and other impacts presented by exotic and feral
animals and to maintain the integrity of ecosystems and ecological processes it is necessary to control the
number of exotic and feral animals. Examples of exotic and feral animal species include, but are not limited to
foreign wildlife, feral dogs, feral cats, feral hogs, and muscovy ducks.
Nuisance Animals
Nuisance animals are animals of native species whose actions create special management problems. Examples
of animal species from which nuisance cases may arise include raccoons, gray squirrels, armadillos, bears,
poisonous snakes, coyotes and alligators. The following problems with nuisance animals in general may occur:
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Potential threat to humans of physical injury (bites; scratches) or disease occurs due to diseased animals,
abnormal or conditioned animal behavior patterns, including persistence in high public use areas.
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Unacceptable damage occurs to park facilities or other public or private property.
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Unacceptable damage occurs to valuable park natural resources.
POLICY
1. The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department, through the Parks Operations Division, will seek to
reduce the adverse impact of exotic and/or feral animals on the natural biodiversity of the City by:
1.1. Educating landholders and the public generally on the reasons why exotic and/or feral animal control
programs are desirable and necessary and how human action (i.e. feeding exotic feral animals) impacts
the natural habitats of native species.
1.2. Anticipating, detecting and resolving exotic and/or feral animal situations before they become critical,
including proactive measures in regard to population control of same.
1.3. Removing, where practical, all exotic and/or feral animals from parks except where provisions are
included in park management plans for retaining some feral animals for specific management or
conservation purposes.
1.4. Ensuring that animal control methods for exotic and/or feral animals are performed in the most humane
and appropriate manner. Control may include commercial harvesting and utilization but it is understood
that in many situations this may be inappropriate and other control methods must be used. Exotic and
feral animals may be trapped or taken by lethal projectile from a bang stick or other appropriate device
on site, when appropriate.
1.5. Implementing approved exotic and/or feral animal management programs which have clear measurable
objectives, including follow-up monitoring to gauge effectiveness and suggested revisions as control
priorities change.
1.6. Cooperating with landholders and wildlife/land management authorities to ensure that all unmanaged
exotic and feral animal populations are controlled as far as is practical.
2. The Recreation and Parks Department, through the Parks Operations Division, will seek to reduce the threat
to humans and adverse impact of nuisance animals on park lands, public facilities and adjacent private
property of the City by:
2.1. Educating park visitors through appropriate methods to avoid careless or deliberate encounters with
potential nuisance animals and thereby avoid exposure to their hazards.
2.2. Anticipating, detecting, and resolving nuisance animal situations before they become critical.
2.3. Eliminating or modifying a food source or visitor behavior which attracts animals to public areas
including feeding of wildlife by visitors.
2.4. Discouraging nuisance animals that approach humans for food, or that approach high public use areas.
2.5. Relocating nuisance animals, if practical and permissible, after consultation with Florida Fish &
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Relocation shall occur within the same property whenever
possible, and if not, to other properties with permission and FWC permit, if required. It is understood
that in many situations relocation may be inappropriate, inadequate and/or non permissible and other
control methods must be used.
2.6. Ensuring that animal control methods for persistent nuisance animals are performed in the most humane
and appropriate manner. Control may include actions such as firing paintballs and loud noise devices to
discourage the animal from continuing its nuisance activity.
2.7. Trapping, capturing and humanely destroying native animals exhibiting behaviors of being diseased
(i.e. rabies; distemper) or taking by lethal projectile from a bang stick or other appropriate device on
site if necessary to reduce the threat to humans and other animals. To the extent possible, the animal
carcass will be sent to a testing facility and if found to be infected with a disease that is dangerous or
fatal to humans, immediately report the findings to the County Health Department and take any other
appropriate action necessary.
2.8. Coordinating with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and/or other appropriate
agencies when addressing animal control issues for animals listed on the State or Federal protected
species list.
3. Designated staff must be pre-approved by the Recreation and Parks Director to carry in his/her City owned
vehicle and/or on City owned/managed lands any device that fires a projectile to utilize when necessary for
management of exotic, feral and nuisance animals. Only licensed trappers or certified animal control
officers shall be authorized to engage in trapping services for the City of Ocala.