Trumbull commissioners expected to approve Wild Animal Response Plan

WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are expected Wednesday to approve the establishment of the Trumbull County Dangerous Wild Animal Response Plan and the appointment of 10 people to serve on a team to review the plan each year.

Ohio’s Dangerous Wild Animal Act, approved by the Ohio Legislature June 5, 2012, requires all Ohio counties to create a response plan and a team.

The legislation followed an incident in October 2011 in Zanesville in which the owner of an exotic animal farm freed 56 animals into the streets before committing suicide. They included tigers, lions, bears and wolves.

Linda Beil, Trumbull County Emergency Management and Homeland Security director, wrote the county’s plan and submitted it to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources last week.

It says the response to a release of a dangerous wild animals will involve calling 911 dispatchers, who will dispatch law enforcement officers to address it.