CHAPTER 825. PREDATORY ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PESTS

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Texas > Health-and-safety-code > Title-10-health-and-safety-of-animals > Chapter-825-predatory-animals-and-animal-pests

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 10. HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ANIMALS

SUBCHAPTER A. COOPERATION BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES IN

CONTROLLING PREDATORY ANIMALS AND RODENTS

Sec. 825.001. COOPERATION BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES IN

CONTROLLING PREDATORY ANIMALS AND RODENTS. The state shall

cooperate through The Texas A&M University System with the

appropriate federal officers and agencies in controlling coyotes,

mountain lions, bobcats, Russian boars, and other predatory

animals and in controlling prairie dogs, pocket gophers,

jackrabbits, ground squirrels, rats, and other rodent pests to

protect livestock, food and feed supplies, crops, and ranges.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.002. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. The director of the Texas

Agricultural Extension Service shall execute a cooperative

agreement with the appropriate federal officers or agencies to

perform the cooperative work in predatory animal and rodent

control in the manner and under the regulations stated in the

agreement.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.003. EXPENDITURE OF APPROPRIATIONS. The state funds

appropriated to administer this subchapter shall be spent in

amounts as authorized by the Board of Regents of The Texas

A&M University System and disbursed on vouchers or payrolls

certified by the director of the extension service.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.004. APPROPRIATIONS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. The

commissioners court of a county or the governing body of a

municipality may appropriate funds to perform predatory animal

and rodent control work described by this subchapter and, in

cooperation with federal and state authorities, may employ labor

and purchase and provide supplies required to effectively perform

that work.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.005. SALE OF FURS, SKINS, AND SPECIMENS. (a) Except

as provided by Subsection (b), all furs, skins, and specimens of

value taken by hunters or trappers paid from state funds under

this subchapter shall be sold under rules adopted by The Texas

A&M University System. The proceeds of the sales shall be

deposited to the credit of the fund established for predatory

animal and rodent control.

(b) Any specimen taken under this subchapter may be presented

free of charge to any state, county, or federal institution for

scientific purposes.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.006. BOUNTIES PROHIBITED. (a) A hunter or trapper

acting under this subchapter may not collect a bounty from a

county or any other source for an animal taken under this

subchapter.

(b) The scalp of each animal taken under this subchapter shall

be destroyed and each skin that has commercial value shall be

sold.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.007. CONSTRUCTION WITH PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE.

Section 71.004(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, does not apply to a

hunter or trapper while performing duties under this subchapter.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.008. TAMPERING WITH TRAPS; CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A

person commits an offense if the person maliciously or wilfully

tampers with all or any part of a trap set under this subchapter

or removes a trap from the position in which it is placed by a

hunter or trapper acting under this subchapter.

(b) An offense under this section is punishable by a fine of not

less than $50 or more than $200.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.009. STEALING TRAPS; CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person

commits an offense if the person steals or fraudulently takes a

trap belonging to the state or the United States Department of

the Interior.

(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by

a fine of not less than $100 or more than $200.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.010. STEALING ANIMALS FROM TRAPS; CRIMINAL PENALTY.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person steals an animal

listed in Section 825.001 from a trap set under this subchapter

or takes the animal from the trap without authority.

(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by

a fine of not less than $100 or more than $200.

the property of the state. A complaint alleging a violation of

this section must allege that the animal is owned by the state,

and the only proof necessary to establish ownership shall consist

of proving that the animal was taken from a trap that had been

set by a hunter or trapper acting under this subchapter.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

SUBCHAPTER B. PURCHASE OF POISON TO DESTROY CERTAIN ANIMAL PESTS

Sec. 825.021. COMMISSIONERS COURT MAY PURCHASE POISON. (a) The

commissioners court of a county may purchase poisons and related

accessories required by citizens of the county to destroy prairie

dogs, wildcats, gophers, ground squirrels, wolves, coyotes, rats,

English sparrows, and ravens.

(b) The commissioners court may furnish the poison to citizens

of the county free or at cost.

general fund of the county and shall deposit the proceeds of any

sale to the credit of that fund.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.022. NOTICE CONCERNING POISON. (a) The commissioners

court of a county acting under this subchapter shall determine

the days on which the poison will be put out and shall give

notice at least 20 days before the first day it is put out.

(b) The notice required by this section must be:

(1) published in at least one county newspaper, if one is

available, for three successive issues; and

(2) posted in public places.

fact that it may be obtained from the commissioners court, and

the terms on which it may be obtained.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.024. DUTIES OF LAND HOLDERS, LESSEES, AND TENANTS. (a)

Each land holder whose premises are infested with any pests

listed in Section 825.021 shall obtain and apply the poison as

provided in the plans furnished by the commissioner of

agriculture.

(b) Each lessee or tenant occupying any premises under contract

shall obtain the poison and destroy any pests listed in Section

825.021 that infest the premises. Any expenses incurred under

this subsection by a lessee or tenant shall be charged against

the landowner and are collectible as any other valid debt.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

SUBCHAPTER C. BOUNTIES FOR PREDATORY ANIMALS

Sec. 825.031. BOUNTIES FOR PREDATORY ANIMALS. (a) The

commissioners court of a county may pay bounties for killing

predatory animals not listed on any state or federal protected

species list.

(b) The commissioners court may determine which animals are

predatory animals in that county.

to be paid under this section for each animal. The bounty shall

be paid from the general fund of the county by a warrant drawn on

that fund by the county judge on presentation of proof of

destruction required by the commissioners court. A bounty paid

under this section may not exceed $50 for each animal unless

approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

(d) The commissioners court may determine eligibility criteria

for receiving a bounty under this section.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 84, Sec. 1,2, eff. Aug. 30,

1993; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1279, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.

Sec. 825.032. ANGELINA, HENDERSON, OR TRINITY COUNTY: WOLVES AND

OTHER PREDATORY ANIMALS. (a) The Commissioners Court of

Angelina, Henderson, or Trinity County may pay bounties for the

destruction of wolves and other predatory animals in the county.

(b) The commissioners court may, by resolution entered on its

minutes, provide for the destruction of wolves and other

predatory animals, the method of destruction and proof necessary

to entitle the person destroying the animal to receive the

bounty, and the amount of the bounty to be paid for each animal.

drawn on the general fund of the county by the county judge on

presentation of proof of destruction required by the

commissioners court.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.033. ARANSAS, BEE, REFUGIO, OR SAN PATRICIO COUNTY:

RATTLESNAKES, WOLVES, COYOTES, PANTHERS, BOBCATS, AND OTHER

PREDATORY ANIMALS. (a) The Commissioners Court of Aransas, Bee,

Refugio, or San Patricio County may pay bounties for the

destruction of rattlesnakes, wolves, coyotes, panthers, bobcats,

and other predatory animals in the county to preserve game and to

protect the interests of livestock and poultry raisers.

(b) The commissioners court may set the bounty in an amount not

to exceed:

(1) $5 for each wolf, coyote, panther, or bobcat;

(2) 50 cents for each raccoon, skunk, opossum, or other similar

animal; and

(3) 10 cents for each rattlesnake.

minutes, specify the amount of the bounty to be paid for each

animal and prescribe regulations and require proof necessary to

protect the county's interest.

(d) The bounties paid under this section shall be paid by

warrant drawn on the general fund of the county by the county

judge.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.034. PANOLA COUNTY: WOLVES. (a) The Commissioners

Court of Panola County may pay bounties on wolves in order to

preserve game.

(b) The commissioners court may set the bounty in an amount not

to exceed $25 for each wolf killed. The bounty shall be paid from

the general fund of the county.

the interest of the county and may require proof necessary to

assure that one wolf has been killed for each wolf paid for.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.035. BORDEN COUNTY: RABBITS. (a) The Commissioners

Court of Borden County may pay bounties for lawfully killing wild

rabbits in the county to prevent property damage.

(b) The bounty may not exceed 10 cents for each rabbit and shall

be paid from the general fund of the county.

the interest of the county and may require proof necessary to

assure that one rabbit has been killed for each rabbit paid for.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.036. PRAIRIE DOGS. Prairie dogs are a public nuisance.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 825.037. EFFECT OF OTHER LAWS. This subchapter does not

authorize:

(1) the killing of an animal if the killing is prohibited by

federal or state law or rule; or

(2) the payment of a bounty for killing an animal if the killing

is prohibited by federal or state law or rule.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

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