1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to game and fish; authorizing taking feral swine causing damage; amending
1.3 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 97A.56, subdivision 2; 97B.655, subdivision
1.4 1.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.56, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 2.Prohibited actions; penalty.(a) Unless authorized by permit under section
1.817.457, subdivision 3, a person may not possess or release feral swine or otherwise allow
1.9feral swine to run at large.
1.10 (b) A person may not hunt or trap feral swine, except as authorized under section 97B.655
1.11or as authorized by the commissioner for feral swine control or eradication. It is not a
1.12violation of this section if a person shoots a feral swine and reports the taking to the
1.13commissioner within 24 hours. All feral swine taken in this manner must be surrendered to
1.14the commissioner.
1.15 (c) A person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor.
1.16 (d) A person who violates this subdivision is liable for the actual costs incurred by the
1.17state for the possession or release of the feral swine.
1.18 (e) A person who violates this subdivision is liable for the damages caused by the
1.19possession or release of the feral swine.
1Section 1.
REVISOR CKM/VJ 25-0226501/15/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 1298
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Roach, Davis and Van Binsbergen02/20/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy 2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.655, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.2 Subdivision 1.Owners and occupants may take certain animals.(a) A person or the
2.3person's agent may take bats, snakes, salamanders, lizards, weasel, mink, squirrel, rabbit,
2.4hare, raccoon, bobcat, fox, opossum, muskrat, feral swine as defined in section 97A.56, or
2.5beaver on land owned or occupied by the person where the animal is causing damage. The
2.6person or the person's agent may take the animal without a license and in any manner except
2.7by artificial lights in the closed season or by poison. Raccoons may be taken under this
2.8subdivision with artificial lights during open season.
2.9 (b) Any traps used under this subdivision must be tagged as required under section
2.1097B.928 if placed by an agent of the landowner or occupant.
2.11 (c) A person or the person's agent who kills mink, raccoon, bobcat, fox, opossum,
2.12muskrat, or beaver under this subdivision must notify a conservation officer or employee
2.13of the Fish and Wildlife Division within 24 hours after the animal is killed. A person or the
2.14person's agent who kills feral swine under this subdivision must notify a conservation officer
2.15or employee of the Fish and Wildlife Division within 48 hours after the animal is killed but
2.16is not required to surrender the swine to the commissioner.
2Sec. 2.
REVISOR CKM/VJ 25-0226501/15/25