Sioux City Journal

Spider for a pet? Check city law

Critter bans vary, ranging from elephants to poisonous bugs

By Dolly A. Butz, Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, September 09, 2008

SIOUX CITY -- Although poisonous spiders such as tarantulas are prohibited under Sioux City's ordinance, some similar-sized Siouxland cities allow them.

Last week, Sioux City Animal Control seized 15 tanks filled with various species of venomous spiders from a home in the 2400 block of Shield Avenue after getting a tip from an anonymous caller.

Tarantulas, which contain venom and are not indigenous to Iowa, are prohibited under the city's animal ordinance.

Galen Barrett of Animal Control in Council Bluffs, Iowa, said tarantulas are allowed within the city limits. He said Council Bluffs' animal ordinance pertaining to "animals that are dangerous per se" is lengthy and consists of fur-bearing animals such as racoons, opossums and foxes. Pronghorned animals, such as moose and caribou, also are prohibited.

Cedar Falls' animal ordinance allows residents to keep gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, mice, birds, snakes, insects and lizards in their homes. An animal control officer for the Iowa city said tarantulas are allowed within the city. She said constrictive snakes are prohibited in Waterloo but allowed in Cedar Falls.

According to Sioux Falls, S.D.'s city animal ordinance, "any wild, nondomestic animals, reptiles or birds" that are known to be "dangerous, poisonous, vicious or ferocious" in captivity in the city must be registered with the animal control officer, the police department and the humane society.

Sioux City's animal ordinance lists the following as dangerous animals: bears, wolves, wolf hybrid dogs, foxes, coyotes, lions, tigers, panthers, lynx, bobcats, elephants, bison, poisonous snakes and spiders, alligators, crocodiles, anacondas, pythons, boa constrictors and piranhas.

City Attorney Andrew Mai said the animal ordinance is up to the City Council's discretion and can be amended at any time.

"When it was adopted they discussed what types of animals they wanted to include within their dangerous animal category," he said. "These various animals were debated and adopted."

Cindy Rarrat, owner of Animal Control, said Monday that unlike most tarantulas sold at pet stores, some of the tarantulas confiscated from the Morningside area home were not defanged. She said the large quantity of them, as well as the fact that they were being sold, were also important factors in their removal.

"Some people, like with bee stings, it can be very life threatening," Rarrat said of a tarantula's bite. "It can be very, very dangerous. I don't know if it would cause death, but in a small child it wouldn't be a good situation."

Story Comments

Nate wrote on Jan 19, 2009 2:01 AM:

" I have kept tarantulas, scorpions, and centipedes for about 10 years now. All the various articles i am reading about this incident are riddled with lies and falsities. It shows how misinformed and ignorant these supposed individuals with a title really are. No tarantula has ever contributed to a human fatality... compare that to dogs or cats or even birds. They cannot be compared to bees or hornets or scorpions because you cannot have an allergy to tarantula venom like the above mentioned. The venom is different as another poster mentioned. These people need to educate themselves and get rid of that stupid ban because it is unnecessary and overly restrictive! And another thing, the peoples from these news articles need to research things before they write about incidents like this and throw in falsifications based upon hollywood myths and poor research (if any)! "

Donna MacGonegal wrote on Sep 17, 2008 6:56 PM:

" rofl, Sioux City has a really ignorant animal control officer. No one DEFANGS tarantulas, that would kill them, lol. That was the worst part of the entire excuse for confiscating the man's animals. "

dan wrote on Sep 13, 2008 5:40 AM:

" I'm 33years old and I have own many Tarantulas through out the years. but i have never own so many @ the same time! Thats just crazy to own so many @ the same time! Ever since i was 15 years old I have handled them. And i have never been bitten,but if you don't know how to handle them right you will be bitten. If anyone ever get one I highly suggest you do your homework on them first before buying one. But they are great pets if you know what you are doing. "

oblivion wrote on Sep 11, 2008 3:27 AM:

" I'm not understanding how they confiscated them. If the ordinance says no poisonous spiders, tarantulas are venomous not poisonous. There is a distinction between the two. And dp, you really need to inform yourself a little better before you try to force your beliefs on someone else. I bet your gonna vote for Obama also. "

Jason wrote on Sep 10, 2008 4:40 PM:

" I second that. Tarantulas are not dangerous to people who are allergic to be stings. If taken well care of i.e. cages with tops that cannot "fall" off, fed, watered(when needed) than i can see no reason to restrict this. In fact. it's like saying dogs are illegal in the city since they can bite and cause pain.
Now. with a lawyer, if hte law is stated poisonous spiders.. i would enjoy seeing that hold up with the scientific or even mariam websters definition of the word "poisonous".
now i guess i wouldn't keep any poisonous ones, but heck, these venomous ones would be ok =) lol..

US species are mild bites, asians are much worse. either way go read the bite reports in some of the forums and you'll see most people just feel lots of pain from even the nastiest species. You are more likely to get struck by lightning and win the lottery in the same day, than suffer any serious effects from any bite like this. "