COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio would have a total ban on casual ownership of certain restricted dangerous wild animals beginning Jan. 1, 2014, according to recommended framework suggested by a work group, said Erica Pitchford, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA).

The work group, formed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), had already been in place but its work was expedited when owner Terry Thompson fatally shot himself Oct. 18 after releasing 56 wild and dangerous animals on his farm in Zanesville. Deputies were forced to kill 48 of the animals.

In response to that incident Gov. John Kasich issued an Executive Order on dangerous wild animals. He ordered the work group to submit its proposals to him by Nov. 30. The ban, which has two phases, is a part of those proposals.

ODA would be the lead regulatory agency for promulgating rules and standards of care, confinement and security of these species, as well as developing a permitting process, Pitchford said. Legislation must first be established which gives ODA the authority to make and enforce those rules.

Sixty days after that legislation becomes effective anyone who owns an animal on the restricted species list will be required to register it with the ODA, she said.

“Six months after that legislation becomes enacted – anyone who owns one of those animals should already have registered by then – they are going to have to meet some minimum safety standards such as perimeter fencing and cage locks,” Pitchford said.

“After that, the animal owners would have until January 1, 2014, to decide what is going to be best for them and for their animals. After that date only accredited zoos, circuses, ODA-licensed sanctuaries or propagators will be able to own restricted dangerous wild animals.”

ODA is working with other organizations to reach out to sanctuaries in the state and across the country to identify potential homes for people who are trying to figure out what to do with animals they now have, Pitchford said. The list of restricted species includes large carnivores, such as big cats, bears, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, venomous snakes and large constrictor snakes.

While the ODA will be regulating the program, four native species are on the restricted list: black bears, Eastern timber rattlesnake, massasauga rattlesnake and Northern copperhead. The other species are all non-native. The ODNR’s Division of Wildlife will manage those four native species, said Laura Jones, ODNR chief of communications.

“ODNR will continue on the oversight of those four native species,” she said. “They will be subject to ODA’s standards but enforcement will occur under ODNR. Assistance will be provided by ability to go onto property, and assistance and support will be provided by other law enforcement and other entities.”

In other news, Thompson’s widow, Marian, had requested a hearing by ODA in an attempt to take back six of the animals which have been quarantined and are at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, but she has postponed that for now, Pitchford said.

“We are anticipating to start testing the animals probably around December 15, assuming they continue to improve in health at the seem rate that they have been,” Pitchford said. “The concern was to test for a wide array of infectious diseases ... At this point we’re not sure what would happen after that.”

To read the complete proposed framework visit www.odnr.state.oh.us and click on “Dangerous Wild Animals” and “Final Report.”