The Shark and Ray Touch Pool at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, in November 2024. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Iowa lawmakers are considering a proposal to add a new animal to its list of dangerous wild animals: sharks.
A subcommittee in the Iowa House met Thursday to discuss House File 24, a bill that would add sharks that can grow to a length of 23 inches or more, or that have a documented history of biting humans, to the state’s existing code prohibiting contact with dangerous wild animals.
State law already limits public contact and private ownership of many animals classified as dangerous, like lions, tigers, great apes and crocodiles, with exceptions for accredited institutions like zoos and wildlife sanctuaries.
Shark bites are not a concern many people associate with Iowa, but the legislation was prompted by an July incident at Blue Zoo in West Des Moines where a staff member of the private aquarium was bitten by a bamboo shark. The staff member was bitten while transporting the animal from an interactive exhibit to a larger tank because it was showing signs of distress. Emergency responders were called to help, and the shark was ultimately euthanized as the shark’s teeth were not able to be removed from the staff member’s hand.
Angela Caulk, a lobbyist for the Humane Society of the United States, told lawmakers Thursday that the proposal was brought forward to prevent these situations from occurring in the future — ensuring these animals cannot be in exhibits where members of the public can touch them, and requiring staff to have training to handle such animals.
“EMS have to take the time to come out and take care of an incident that could have been easily, easily rectified had those types of interactions not that allowed,” Caulk said.
Though lawmakers did not express opposition to the intent of the measure, Rep. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake said he was not sure the Legislature was the best avenue to address a single incident.
“My personal opinion is, I have a tough time doing any bill to go over one business or one town,” Wills said, but added that there will be continuing discussions on the measure.