MOUNT VERNON — Efforts are ongoing this morning in search of a number of exotic animals which reportedly escaped from a private farm in Muskingum County near Zanesville on Tuesday.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources wildlife officer Mike Miller was heading to the Zanesville area early this morning to assist in the search for the escaped animals. “We had wildlife personnel there assisting since [Tuesday] night. We’ve been called out for assistance with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the (Muskingum County) sheriff’s office.
“I doubt that they would make their way into Knox County,” said Miller. “That’s pretty far away. They would have to come across Interstate 70 and all kinds of stuff.”
In looking at regulations concerning this type of animal, “There are basically no regulations,” said Miller about regulating exotic animals in Ohio. “They only regulate native species ... coyotes, black bears, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, things like that.”
Miller said a committee has been set up and is currently formulating plans to come up with some regulations on this issue.

