2023 -- H 5742

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LC001542

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- FURBEARING ANIMALS

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Chippendale, Corvese, and Casey

     Date Introduced: February 21, 2023

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 20-16-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-16 entitled "Furbearing

Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     20-16-1. Furbearers protected.

     (a) No person shall hunt, pursue, shoot, or trap, or attempt so to do, the following furbearing

mammals in this state, except in accordance with rules and regulations governing seasons, bag

limits, and methods of taking adopted by the director pursuant to § 20-1-12.

     (b) For the purposes of this chapter, “furbearers” shall be considered to include:

     (1) Carnivores (Order Carnivora):

     (i) Family Canidae, genus Canis (coyote); genus Urocyon (gray fox); genus Vulpes (red

fox).

     (ii) Family Procyonidae, genus Procyon (raccoon).

     (iii) Family Mustelidae, genus Martes (fisher); genus Mustela, M. erminea (ermine)(short-

tailed weasel), M. frenata (longtailed weasel), M. genus Neovision, N., vison (mink), genus

Mephitis (striped skunk), genus Lutra genus Lontra (river otter).

     (iv) Family Mephitidae, genus Mephitis (striped skunk).

     (iv)(v) Family Felidae, genus Lynx (bobcat).

     (vi) Family Ursidae, genus Ursus (black bear).

     (2) Rodents (Order Rodentia):

     (i) Family Castoridae, genus Castor (beaver).

     (ii) Family Sciuridae, genus Sciurus (gray squirrel), genus tamiascurus (red squirrel).

     (iii) Family Cricetidae, genus Ondatra (muskrat).

     (iv) Family Erethizontidae, genus Erethizon (porcupine).

     (3) Marsupials (Order Marsupialia): Family Didelphidae, genus Didelphis (opossum).

     (4) Rabbits and hares (Order Lagomorpha): Family Leporidae, genus Sylvilagus (Eastern

and New England cottontail), genus Lepus (snowshoe hare).

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- FURBEARING ANIMALS

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     This act would add additional species to the prohibition of hunting, shooting or trapping

except in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the department of environmental

management governing hunting seasons and limits.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001542

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