§ 11-7-301 — Apiaries; powers and duties of the department

Wyoming § 11-7-301

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 11: Agriculture, Livestock and Other Animals
• Ch. 7: APIARY REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION
• Art. 3: INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION - APIS BEES

Text

(a) To prevent the spread of bee diseases, bee parasites
or bee pests among bees and apiaries, to protect apiaries
against depredation by wildlife and to assist law enforcement
agencies in an effort to alleviate losses due to theft, the
department may:
(i) Order the transfer of colonies of bees from hives
or containers which cannot be properly examined for brood or
other bee diseases, bee parasites or bee pests to other hives or
containers;
(ii) Order disinfection of any bee, beehive, brood
comb or any other equipment which is infected or contaminated
and burn any infected or contaminated bee, beehive, brood comb
or any other equipment if, in its judgment, disinfection will
not remove the infection or contamination. Before burning any
property, the department shall give the owner or person in
charge a written notice at least ten (10) days before the date
on which the property will be burned. The notice shall be given
by certified mail or personal service upon the owner or person
in charge of the property;
(iii) Quarantine any apiary where foulbrood or any
contagious or infectious bee diseases, bee parasites or bee
pests are present and, during the quarantine, prevent the
removal from the apiary of any bees or equipment except under a
special permit issued by the department permitting the removal
under conditions it prescribes. A person may not sell or offer
for sale any apiary, bees or equipment which are under
quarantine unless the department issues a permit authorizing the
sale or removal. Written notice of quarantine shall be posted by
the department, owner or person in charge at the quarantined
apiary at a conspicuous place, and a copy shall be personally
served or sent by certified mail to the owner of the apiary or
person in charge. The quarantine continues in effect until it is
ordered removed and a copy of the removal order served in the
same manner;
(iv) Inspect any apiary, hives, equipment or premises
for the presence of bee diseases, bee parasites or bee pests.
Hives belonging to persons owning apiaries within the state
shall be inspected for contagious diseases according to
schedules established by the department. Apiary inspectors
shall establish the date for the inspection of any apiary with
the beekeeper. The inspection date shall be agreeable to the
inspector and the beekeeper and shall include a total of seven
(7) consecutive days upon which the inspection can be undertaken
due to weather and unforeseen circumstances. Any beekeeper
responsible for an apiary who refuses an inspection on any of
the seven (7) agreed upon dates is subject to penalties provided
pursuant to W.S. 11-7-133;
(v) Order the hives within an apiary which is not
legally registered with the state to be confiscated. The owner
of the apiary shall be notified at least seven (7) days prior to
the date of confiscation. Notification shall be by certified
mail addressed to the last known address of the owner or by
personal service upon the owner;
(vi) Promulgate and enforce rules adopted to carry
out the purpose of this chapter;
(vii) Enter into agreements with the game and fish
commission as necessary to protect bees and hives against wild
animals;
(viii) Assist any sheriff, peace officer or district
attorney in any county in the discharge of their duties or
investigations relating to the apiary industry.
(b) Any owner of bees possessing more than fifty (50)
colonies shall furnish one (1) helper to assist the inspector.
Apiary inspectors may inspect bee colonies at any time without
previous notice.
(c) Any person failing to comply with a rule, order or
provision of a quarantine pursuant to this section is subject to
penalties provided in W.S. 11-7-133.