37-559 Destruction of predators; permit required; when; mountain lion; actions authorized. - Nebraska Statutes

37-559. Destruction ofpredators; permit required; when;mountain lion; actions authorized.(1)Any farmer or rancher owning or operating a farm or ranch may destroy or havedestroyed any predator preying on livestock or poultry or causing other agriculturaldepredation on land owned or controlled by him or her without a permit issuedby the commission. For purposesof this subsection, predator means a badger, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, long-tailedweasel, mink, opossum, raccoon, red fox, or skunk.(2) Any farmeror rancher owning or operating a farm or ranch, or his or her agent, may killa mountain lion immediately without prior notice to or permission from thecommission if he or she encounters a mountain lion and the mountain lion isin the process of stalking, killing, or consuming livestock on the farmer'sor rancher's property. The farmer or rancher or his or her agent shall beresponsible for immediately notifying the commission and arranging with thecommission to transfer the mountain lion to the commission.(3) Any personshall be entitled to defend himself or herself or another person without penaltyif, in the presence of such person, a mountain lion stalks, attacks, or showsunprovoked aggression toward such person or another person.(4) This section shall notbe construed to allow a farmer or rancher or his or her agent to destroyor have destroyed species which are protected by theNongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act or rules and regulations adopted and promulgated underthe act, the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.,the federal Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 661et seq., the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, as amended, 16U.S.C. 668 et seq., the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as amended, 16U.S.C. 703 et seq., or federal regulations under such federalacts. SourceLaws 1998, LB 922, § 279; Laws 2010, LB836, § 4.Effective Date: July 15, 2010 Cross ReferencesNongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act, see section 37-801.