Wyo. Code R. 010-0007-25
Animal Damage Management Board
Chapter 25: Rabies Prevention in Wildlife
Effective Date: 11/19/2003 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 010.0007.25.11192003
(a.) Pursuant to authority as required by W.S. 11-6-304 in the Animal Damage Management Board, the Animal Damage Management Board after consultation with the Livestock Board and the Department of Health, shall promulgate rules pertaining to rabies prevention in wildlife including surveillance, public education, vaccination protocol, post-exposure procedures and quarantines.
(b.) Nothing in these rules shall preempt the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission authority to manage wildlife or determine damage pursuant to any provision in title 23 of the Wyoming Statutes.
(a) The following definitions apply to these rules.
(i) 'Board or ADMB' shall mean the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board.
(ii) 'Domesticated wild animal' means a wild or hybrid animal that is confined or controlled by a human and for which the rabies incubation and viral shed time are unknown.
(iii) 'Owner' shall mean legal owner of animal(s), or the owner's agent, or the person in possession of or caring for such animal(s).
(iv) 'Person' shall include an individual, partnership, corporation, joint stock company, or any other association or entity, public or private.
(v) 'Pet' means an animal for which there is a licensed Rabies vaccine and which is ordinarily maintained in the home of the owner.
(vi) 'Positive Rabies case' means an animal diagnosed as positive for rabies.
(vii) 'Rabies specimen' means that part of an animal or an entire animal submitted for rabies examination.
(viii) 'Rabies Suspect' means an animal showing signs suggestive of Rabies.
(ix) 'Under the supervision of a veterinarian' means that a veterinarian is on the premises and is responsible for the Rabies vaccination.
(x) “Vaccinated” means an animal immunized for Rabies.
(xi) “Veterinarian” means a graduate of an accredited college of veterinary medicine and licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state in which he practices.
(xii) “Wild animal” means a nonhuman terrestrial mammal or a bat that is wild by nature or feral.
(a.) In order to meet the intent of the established statutes and regulations, the ADMB shall develop and implement a Wyoming Rabies Management Plan. The plan shall be reviewed annually and should cover areas statutorily defined below:
(a.) Pursuant to authority vested to the County Commissioners by virtue of W.S. 11 -31 -212.
(i.) The board of County Commissioners of any county may establish a rabies control district by resolution when in the judgment of the board of County Commissioners and the county health officer a district is necessary. The resolution shall designate the boundaries of the district, which may include any incorporated city or town, and shall identify the district by name.
(ii.) The resolution creating the rabies control district shall be published at least once a week for two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county wherein the district is located.
(iii.) The resolution creating rabies districts may address the following:
1. District boundaries.
2. Duration of time for which the district will exist.
3. Protocols for domestic animal/pet vaccination requirements.
4. Law enforcement responsibilities.
5. Enforcement and penalties.
6. District cooperators and lead contact.
(b.) The ADMB shall recognize the creation of a rabies district as the defining factor in initiating a rabies management program as outlined in the Wyoming Rabies Management Plan. The ADMB may enter into a cooperative agreements with the rabies control districts and structure locally supervised management strategies based upon available and cooperative resources.
Section 5. Public education and prevention.
(a.) The ADMB shall within allocated resources, conduct a public education and prevention program as required by statute and outlined in the Wyoming Rabies Management Plan.
Section 6. Relationship with the Livestock Board, Department of Health, and State Veterinary Laboratory
(a.) The ADMB shall consult with the Wyoming Livestock Board, the Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory in its deliberations regarding the implementation of the Wyoming Rabies Management Plan.
(b.) Wyoming Livestock Board. The Wyoming Livestock Board is responsible for the management of rabies within the domestic livestock/animal industries. Nothing in this article shall preempt the Wyoming Livestock Board authority to manage domestic livestock or animals pursuant to any provision in title 11 of Wyoming Statutes.
(c.) Wyoming Department of Health. The Wyoming Department of Health is responsible for the management of human health issues and diseases. Nothing in this article shall preempt the Wyoming Department of Health authority to manage human health issues and diseases pursuant to any provision in title 35 of Wyoming Statutes.
(d.) Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory is responsible for the testing and verification of rabies within an animal population. The ADMB may elect to use the services of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory upon the execution of memorandums of understanding. Payments for services rendered shall be negotiated and agreed upon between parties.
(a.) The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory establishes the guidelines and protocols for submission of animals for testing. These guidelines and protocols are available from the laboratory.
(a) Domestic Animals. All cat and dog owners are encouraged to have their pets kept current on their rabies vaccinations. Municipalities or county governments may require vaccinations. Upon establishment of a rabies district, all cat and dog owners are required to have their pets vaccinated.
(a) All human exposures must be reported to the department of health.
(b) All domestic animal exposures must be reported to the livestock board.
(c) Wild Animals. Wild animals, domesticated wild animals, or hybrids for which there is no licensed rabies vaccine, must be euthanized if exposed to a rabid animal.
(a.) No unregulated animal species or animal species defined as predators under W.S. 11-6-302 (ix) shall be imported into the state. Animals imported under permit as sanctioned by the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board for research or study are exempt from this provision.
(a.) The ADMB may enter into agreements with any person or government agency to carry out the provisions of the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Program.
(a.) Local animal control, health and law enforcement agencies in rabies control districts have authority to enforce the provisions established in these rules and the applicable requirements set forth by the rabies control district.