§ 17-318 — Disease assessment and treatment before importing wildlife and transporting big game

A. The department shall test all cloven-hoofed wildlife it introduces or imports into this state, and all cloven-hoofed big game transported and released in this state for the purpose of creating new or expanding existing populations, for presence of diseases that can be transmitted to livestock. The tests to be conducted shall be determined by consultation with the state veterinarian. The department shall treat and cure all wildlife infected with any known disease that can be transmitted to livestock before the wildlife are released in this state.

B. Before introducing or importing cloven-hoofed wildlife into this state, or transporting and releasing cloven-hoofed big game in this state for purposes of creating new or expanding existing populations, the department shall determine the potential for livestock and domestic animals infecting the wildlife and, if possible, immunize the wildlife before they are released in this state.