372.98  Possession of nutria; license; inspection; penalty for violation.--

(1)  No person shall release, permit to be released, or be responsible for the release of, within the state, any animal of the species myocastor coypu and known commonly in Florida and referred to herein as nutria.

(2)  No person shall have in her or his possession for sale or otherwise any nutria until such person has obtained a license as provided herein. The fee for such license shall be $25 per year. Application for such license shall be made with the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission on forms providing therefor.

(3)  All persons licensed under this law to keep, possess or exhibit nutria shall provide safe, secure and proper housing for said nutria which will adequately safeguard against the escape of any nutria. Requirements for the construction of such pens or housing shall be as prescribed by the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.

(4)  All premises upon which nutria are kept shall be subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Such officers shall determine whether the said nutria are securely, properly and safely housed. In the event the said nutria are not securely, properly and safely housed, the inspecting officer shall so advise in writing the person owning said nutria. Failure of the owner to provide within 30 days after such written notice secure, proper, and safe housing as prescribed by the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission shall be grounds for revocation of the license herein provided and confiscation and disposal of the said nutria as a public nuisance.

(5)  Any person violating any provision of this section or any rule and regulation of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission pursuant hereto shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.