Section 95.50. Transportation and disposal of animal carcasses.

 

(1)   Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Carcass" means the dead body, or any part of the dead body, of a livestock animal or other domestic animal.

(b) Notwithstanding s. 95.001 (2) , “contagious or infectious disease" means a disease that is spread by contact, bodily secretions, or fomites or that is caused by a pathogenic agent.

(c) “Diseased carcass" means the carcass of a livestock animal or other domestic animal if the animal was any of the following at the time of death:

1. Infected with a contagious or infectious disease.

2. Potentially infected with a contagious or infectious disease, based on known exposure to a contagious or infectious disease.

3. Reasonably suspected of being infected with a contagious or infectious disease, based on symptoms or testing.

(d) “Fomite" means an inanimate object or a substance that transfers infectious organisms from one animal to another.

(2)   Carcass transportation and disposal prohibitions. No person may do any of the following, either directly or through an employee or agent:

(a) Transport or dispose of a carcass that the person knows or reasonably should know to be a diseased carcass in a manner that creates a significant and foreseeable risk of transmitting disease to humans or animals.

(b) Dispose of a carcass in the waters of the state. This paragraph does not prohibit the use of farm-raised fish as bait.

(3)   Timely disposition of carcasses. No person who owns or controls a carcass, or who owns or controls the land on which a carcass is located, may leave the carcass exposed to access by dogs or wild animals for more than 24 hours during the months of April to November or for more than 48 hours during the months of December to March if the person knows or reasonably should know that the carcass is exposed.

(4)   Regulation of carcass transportation and disposal. The department may, by rule or order, regulate the transportation and disposal of carcasses to prevent and control contagious and infectious diseases.

2009 a. 42 .