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85.1. Definitions.
A. As used in this act, "domestic animals" shall include all domestic animals
including but not limited to cattle, bison, hogs, sheep, goats, equidae, chickens or other
poultry and exotic livestock. The term "domestic animals" shall not include
dogs, cats and feral hogs.
B. As used in this section:
1. "Exotic livestock" means commercially raised exotic livestock including
animals of the families bovidae, cervidae and antilocapridae or birds of the ratite group;
and
2. "Feral hog" means any hogs (Sus Scrofa), including, but not limited to,
Russian and European wild boar which are running at large upon public lands or upon
private lands in this state whose owner is unknown in the vicinity of the premises where
such feral hogs are found. If the owner of a stray hog is known, a hog running at large
upon public lands or upon private lands in this state shall not be considered feral until
five (5) calendar days after escaping from domestic confinement. If notice is provided to
adjacent landowners within those five (5) calendar days, the hog shall not be considered
feral for an additional ten (10) calendar days.
85.2. Estrays--Taking and killing of feral hogs
A. Any domestic animal found running at large upon public or private lands in the State of
Oklahoma, whose owner is unknown in the vicinity of the premises where found, shall be
known as an "estray", and it shall be unlawful for any person, company or
corporation or either of their employees or agents to take up an estray and retain
possession of same, except as provided in this act.
B. Any person may take and kill feral hogs provided that:
1. Feral hogs taken on public property during any established hunting season must be taken
with weapons and methods authorized by the Department of Wildlife Conservation for that
hunting season;
2. Feral hogs may be taken on any land where the hunter has legal access unless prohibited
by the landowner pursuant to the Oklahoma Wildlife Code; and
3. No person whose hunting license is revoked may take or kill feral hogs during the
period of the revocation.
85.3. Taking up by landowner or lessee--Investigation--Reports
Any landowner or lessee of land may take up any domestic animal that strays upon his
premises or any public thoroughfare adjoining the same. When any person shall take up any
stray animal, he shall make a reasonable investigation immediately to ascertain the owner
of such animal and, within seven (7) days, he shall report such taking up to the county
sheriff of the county in which the animal was taken up, giving a description of the
animal, setting forth the brand, sex, and approximate age of such animal. When the
identity of the owner of any stray animal is known to the taker-up he shall communicate to
the said owner that the animal has strayed and that he has taken it up. The taker-up may
require the owner of any strayed animal he has taken up to pay the actual cost of its keep
while so taken up plus all damages that the strayed animal caused to the premises. When
one who has taken up a strayed animal is unable, after investigation, to ascertain by whom
the animal is owned, or when an owner of a strayed animal is identified and known to be
such but neglects or fails to pay the cost of the animal's keep while taken up plus all
damages it caused to the premises of the taker-up and remove the animal from the
possession of the taker-up the latter shall report all facts relative to the matter to the
sheriff of the county in which the animal was taken up.
85.4. Rights and duties of taker-up
Upon taking up an estray animal or animals, and after sending a description to the county
sheriff, the taker-up shall be entitled to hold the same lawfully until relieved of its
custody by the sheriff. Should a claimant for said animal apply to the taker-up for
possession of this animal, the taker-up shall at once notify the sheriff, and should the
sheriff be satisfied that said applicant is the rightful owner, he shall issue an order
authorizing the taker- up to grant possession of the estray to the rightful owner. The
owner shall be required to pay to the taker-up the actual cost for keeping the estray,
together with the actual amount of any damages suffered by the taker-up as a result of the
estray being upon his premises and such costs and damages shall be approved by the
district judge and shall be entered on the order by the sheriff.
85.5. Duties of peace officer
A. Upon receiving notice of the taking up of any strayed animal, it shall be the duty of
any peace officer, unless the owner thereof is identified and known by the peace officer
to be the owner, to make or cause to be made an examination of the brand records and
reports of lost, strayed and stolen livestock. If from these records the name of the owner
or probable owner can be determined, the owner shall be notified forthwith of the taking
up of the strayed animal.
B. Upon the owner's proving to the satisfaction of the peace officer that the animal is
lawfully the owner's, the peace officer shall allow the animal to be taken by the owner,
upon payment of the actual cost for keeping it together with the amount of any damages
suffered by the taker-up as a result of the strayed animal being upon the premises of the
taker-up.
C. If the owner fails to pay the charges, the animal shall be sold according to provisions
of Section 85.6 of this title.
D. After all costs and expenses incurred for the care, transportation, and sale of such
animal have been deducted from the gross sale proceeds, the net amount shall be paid to
the owner.
85.6. Sale of unclaimed animals
A. If a peace officer is unable to determine the owner or probable owner of any strayed
animal from brand records and other reports of lost, strayed and stolen livestock, the
sheriff shall cause to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the
county in which the strayed animal has been taken up, a description of the animal which
shall contain sex, age and brand or brands but shall not contain color, or marks or other
descriptive information. The notice shall be published for two (2) consecutive weekly
issues. If after such publication the sheriff is still unable to determine the owner, the
animal shall be sold by the sheriff, at the nearest approved and licensed or federally
inspected livestock auction market from where taken up, inside the State of Oklahoma.
B. The approved selling firm shall forward by mail to the sheriff a check for the
proceeds and other sales information, listing a description, sex, weight, selling price
per pound and total sales price less normal and customary marketing fees.
C. The sheriff shall pay to the taker-up of an unclaimed stray animal the actual cost for
keeping it, together with the actual amount of any damages suffered by the taker-up as a
result of the strayed animal being upon the premises.
D. All remaining money, if any, shall be deposited with the county treasurer to be held by
the treasurer in a special fund from which payment may be made to a claimant who has been
determined by the district court to be the owner of the stray animal. If not expended
pursuant to court order within one (1) year the funds so deposited shall be credited to
the County General Fund.
85.7. Adverse claimants
In the event that there is more than one (1) claimant to any estray after the
publication of the notice, as provided by this act, and if a contest or controversy
ensues as a result of adverse claimants, then after the publication the sheriff shall
certify the matter to the district court of the county in which the estray is taken up,
and the small claims division of the district court shall docket said matter in a proper
docket supplied by the county for such purpose, and the claimants shall have ten (10) days
from the date of such docketing of said matter to file affidavits in support of their
several claims. The district court shall also have the right and authority to hear oral
testimony at any reasonable time on notice to the claimants to determine the ownership of
such estray, and after said hearing the district court shall enter a finding determining
the ownership of said estray. Such finding shall have the same effect and force as a
judgment and shall be appealable as other matters from the district court but such appeals
shall be taken within ten (10) days. In the event two (2) or more claimants are found to
be the owners of such estrays, the expenses incurred by the taker-up shall be assessed pro
rata to the owners. They shall jointly pay for the keeping of such estrays as is customary
in the community for pasturing, feed and keeping of such animals, together with the cost
of the proceeding including publication costs.
85.10. Duty to feed and care for estrays
Any person taking up an estray as hereinbefore provided shall feed and care for said
estray.
85.11. Penalties
If any person unlawfully takes up or conceals an estray, or fails to comply with the
provisions of this act, [FN1] such person so offending shall be guilty of the felony of
larceny of domestic animals and shall be punished according to the provisions of Section
1716 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
85.12. Jurisdiction to settle disputes and claims
In event the taker-up and the owner and/or claimant cannot agree as to the amount
of damages or expenses involved, the small claims division of the district court in the
county where estray is located shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter, as well
as determine claims between more than one person who claim ownership of the estray.
85.13. Claim to ownership of exotic livestock under this chapter-- Conditions
A. A person may claim to be the owner of exotic livestock under this chapter
[FN1] only if:
1. The exotic livestock is tagged, branded, banded, or marked in another manner that
identifies the exotic livestock as being the property of the claimant; or
2. The person acquired the exotic livestock by purchase, gift, devise, inheritance, or
other lawful transfer or the exotic livestock was born or hatched on property owned or
leased by the claimant or on other property under an agreement with the claimant in which
the claimant may assert ownership of the exotic livestock and:
a. the exotic livestock, when normally in the possession of the owner, is impounded within
a fence or by another restraining device that is generally appropriate to prevent the
escape of the type of animal claimed, or
b. the animal claimed is of such rarity or has such genetic marking or other attributes as
to identify the exotic livestock as having come from the claimant's stock having the same
rarity or attributes.
B. Under subsection A of this section, a lawful transfer does not include the live taking
of an exotic livestock in this state on property that is owned or leased by a person other
than the claimant.
98. Restraint of all domestic animals--Damages for trespass
All domestic animals shall be restrained by the owner thereof at all times and seasons of
the year from running at large in the State of Oklahoma. Damages sustained by reason of
such domestic animals trespassing upon lands of another shall be recovered in a manner
provided by law. For the purpose of this act, [FN1] domestic animals shall include cattle,
horses, swine, sheep, goats, exotic livestock and all other animals not considered wild.
The term "domestic animals" shall not include domestic house pets or feral hogs.
99. Failure to keep domestic animals enclosed--Release of hog to live in wild or
feral state--Penalties
A. Any person who:
1. Willfully omits to keep a domestic animal such person owns or has charge of within a
suitable enclosure;
2. Allows the animal to be unrestrained or to run at large, with notice, actual or
constructive, that the enclosure within which such animal is kept is open; or
3. Knowingly causes a domestic animal to escape confinement, shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than Fifty
Dollars ($50.00) for each offense, or not more than thirty (30) days' imprisonment in the
county jail for each offense, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
B. 1. No person shall willfully release any hog to live in a wild or feral state upon
public land or upon private land.
2. Any person who violates this subsection shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and
upon conviction shall be subject to a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
C. For the purpose of this act, the term "domestic animals" shall not include
domestic house pets or feral hogs.
132. Removal of stock from distraint without leave of possessor--Penalty-- Civil
liability
If any person, by force or otherwise, without leave of the person having the stock under
distraint remove the stock from such distraint, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
shall pay a fine of not less than ten (10) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), or
be imprisoned in the county jail not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days,
and shall in addition thereto, be liable in a civil action for the recovery of the stock
so relieved from distraint, or for damages and costs, as the party distraining may elect.
133. Stock "owner" defined
The word "owner" as used in this article shall include the person entitled to
the immediate possession of the animal, and also the person having charge or care of the
same, and also the person having the legal title thereto.
134. Land "owner" defined
For the purposes of this article, the owner, homesteader, tenant, or other person in
the possession of, or cultivating the land trespassed upon, shall be deemed to be the
owner thereof.
135. Proceedings after distraint--Assessment of damages--Notices--Sale-- Surplus
A. Within forty-eight (48) hours after stock has been distrained, Sunday not being
included, the party distraining, or such party's agent, shall notify the owner of the
stock when known, or, if unknown, the party having them in charge. If the owner fails to
satisfy the person whose lands are trespassed upon, the party injured shall, within
twenty-four (24) hours thereafter, notify in writing the county sheriff to come upon the
premises to view and assess the damages.
B. The county sheriff shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after receiving such notice,
Sundays and holidays excepted, proceed to view and assess the damages, and determine a
reasonable amount to be paid for seizing and keeping said stock. If the person owning the
distrained stock fails to pay the damages as assessed, the sheriff shall provide for the
public notice and sale of the distrained stock as provided by Section 85.6 of this title.
C. Any money or stock left after satisfying such claims shall be returned to the owner of
the stock sold.
136. Assessment of damages--Filing--Review--Bond--Supersedeas--Delivery of
stock to owner appealing--Certification of papers
The county sheriff shall make his assessment in writing and file the same with the county
clerk, to be kept in his office. Any person aggrieved by the action of the county sheriff
under this article, [FN1] may appeal therefrom, to the district court. The person
appealing shall file with the county sheriff a bond, in a penalty double the value of the
property distrained, or if the value of the property exceed the amount of damage claimed,
then in double the amount of damages, with good and sufficient sureties, to be approved by
the county sheriff, and from and after the filing of the appeal bond, the same shall
operate as a supersedeas. In case the owner of such stock be the appellant, the same shall
be delivered to him. The county sheriff shall, after the appeal is taken, certify all the
original papers in the case to the district court.
139. Controversy over partition fence--Application to fence viewers--
Notice--Authority of viewers
When a controversy arises between the respective owners about the obligation to erect or
maintain a partition fence, either party may apply to the fence viewers, who, after due
notice to each party, may inquire into the matter and assign to each his share thereof,
and direct the time in which each shall erect or repair his share in the manner provided
above.
140. Repair or reconstruction of fence by complainant--Recovery of value and
viewers' fees from landowner--Interest
If such fence be not repaired or built accordingly, the complainant may repair or rebuild
it, and the same being adjudged sufficient by the fence viewers, and the value thereof,
with their fees, being ascertained by them, and certified under their hands, the
complainant may demand of the owner of the land where the fence was deficient, the sum so
ascertained, and in case of neglect to pay the same, for one (1) month after demand, may
recover it by civil action together with one percent (1%) a month interest thereon.
141. Fence viewers--Number--Qualifications--Appointment--Compensation
Fence viewers herein designated shall consist of three (3) disinterested freeholders, one
to be chosen by each of the interested parties, and the two so chosen shall choose the
third person, and the three so chosen shall proceed to discharge the duties of fence
viewers as herein provided. Such fence viewers to be allowed One Dollar ($1.00) per day
each, to be paid by the interested parties: Provided, that if either party shall fail or
refuse to appoint such fence viewers, as herein provided, within three (3) days after so
requested to do by the other interested party, then the county sheriff shall, on
application of the party making the request for fence viewers, appoint such fence viewer
for such party so failing or refusing to appoint.
142. Fence repair
All partition fences shall be kept in good repair throughout the year, unless the
owners on both sides otherwise agree in writing.
143. Commons--Owners not required to fence--Lands enclosed or used otherwise than
as commons--Duty to fence
Any person not wishing his land enclosed, and not occupying or using it otherwise than as
commons, shall not be compelled to contribute to erect or maintain any fence between him
and an adjacent owner; but when he encloses or uses his land otherwise than as a commons,
he shall contribute to the partition fences as in this article [FN1] provided.
144. Severalty owned lands enclosed in common without partition fence--
Division of fence line--Construction of fence
When lands owned in severalty have been enclosed in common without a partition
fence, and one of the owners is desirous of occupying his in severalty and the other
refuses or neglects to divide the line where the fence shall be built, or refuses to build
a sufficient fence on his part of the line, when divided, the party desiring it may have
the same divided and assigned by the fence viewers, who may, in writing, assign a
reasonable time within six (6) months, having regard for the season of the year, for
making the fence, and if either party neglects to comply with the decision of the viewers
the other, after making his own part, may make the other part and recover as hereinbefore
provided.
145. Opening field for use as commons--Notice
In the case mentioned in the preceding section, when one of the owners desires to throw
open any portion of his field not less than sixteen (16) feet in width and leave it
unenclosed to be used as a commons by the public, he shall first give the other party six
(6) months' notice thereof.
146. Joinder to partition fence--Payment for or rebuilding of half of fence
When land which has lain unenclosed is enclosed the owner thereof, before he join to any
partition fence, already erected, shall pay for one-half ( 1/2 ) of each partition fence
between his lands and the adjoining lands, the value to be ascertained by the fence
viewers, and if he neglects for thirty (30) days after notice and demand to pay the same,
the party to whose fence he joins may recover as before provided, or such person,
enclosing such land, may, at his election, rebuild and make one-half ( 1/2 ) of the fence,
and if he neglects so to do for two (2) months after making such election, he shall be
liable as above provided.
147. Recorded fence division--Effect on owners and successors
When a division of fence between the owners of improved land shall have been made, either
by fence viewers or agreement in writing, and is recorded in the office of the county
clerk of the county where the lands are, the owners and their heirs and assigns shall be
bound thereby, and shall support them accordingly.
148. Application of term "owner"
In the provisions of this article relating to fences the term "owner" shall
apply to the occupant or tenant where the owner does not reside in the county, but these
proceedings will not bind the owner unless notified.
149. Fence or improvements on land of another--Removal--Damages--Notice to
remove--Effect of nonremoval
When a person has made a fence or other improvements on land, which, on
afterwards making division lines, is found to be on the land of another, such person shall
not remove such fence or other improvements, until he shall have paid to the owner of such
land all damages by reason of such improvements or fence being so located, and if the
person making such fence or other improvements fail to pay such damages and remove the
said improvements within six (6) months after such division line has been established, and
after having thirty (30) days' notice from the owner of said land to remove such fence or
improvements, then said fence or improvements shall become a part of the real estate and
belong to the owner thereof: Provided, that when the parties interested in such land and
such fence and improvements cannot agree as to the amount of such damages, by reason of
such improvements being upon the land of another, the fence viewers may determine the
amount of such damages as in other cases.
150. Fence or improvements on land of another--When not removable
But such fence or other improvement, except substantial buildings, shall not be
removed if they were made of timber or other material taken from the land on which they
lie, until the party pays the owner the value of the timber, or other material, to be
ascertained by fence viewers, nor shall a fence be removed at any time when the removal
will throw open or expose the crop of the other party, but it shall be removed in a
reasonable time after the crop is secured, although six (6) months has passed.
151. Additional powers of fence viewers
When any question arises between parties other than those stated, concerning their rights
in fences or their duties in relation to building or maintaining or removing them, such
question may be determined by the fence viewers.
152. Erection and removal of line fence
A person building a fence may erect the same upon the line between him and the
adjacent owners, so that the fence may be partly on one side and partly on the other, and
the owner of such fence shall have the same right to remove it as if it were wholly on his
land: Provided, that such fence is not more than five (5) feet from such line.
153. Legal proceedings or agreement not barred
The foregoing provisions of this article, shall not bar any other legal proceedings, for
the determination of the title of land, or dividing the line between contending owners,
nor do they preclude agreement by the parties.
154. Lawful fence--Construction--Material--Height--Tightening
A fence made of three rails of good substantial material, or three boards not less than
six (6) inches wide and three-quarters ( 3/4 ) of an inch thick, such rails or boards to
be fastened in or to good substantial posts not more than ten (10) feet apart where rails
are used, and not more than eight (8) feet apart where boards are used, where either
wholly or in part substantially built and kept in good repair, or any other kind of fence,
which, in the opinion of the fence viewers shall be equivalent thereto, shall be declared
a lawful fence: Provided, that the lowest or bottom rail, wire or board shall not be
more than twenty (20) or less than sixteen (16) inches from the ground, and that
such fence shall be fifty-four (54) inches in height, except that a barb wire fence may
consist of three barb wires, or four wires, two of which shall be barbed, the wires to be
firmly fastened to the posts not more than two (2) rods apart, with two stays between the
posts, or with posts not more than one rod apart without such stays, the top wire to be
not less than fifty-four (54) nor more than fifty-eight (58) inches in height, and the
bottom wire to be not more than twenty (20) or less than sixteen (16) inches from the
ground: Provided, further, that all partition fences may be made tight at the expense of
the party desiring it, and such party may take from such fence the material by him added
thereto whenever he may elect: And provided, further, that when the owner or occupants of
adjoining lands both use the fence for the purpose of restraining swine, goats or sheep,
each of said owners or occupants shall keep their respective share of the partition fence
sufficiently tight to restrain such sheep, goats or swine.
155. Damages by animals breaking fences--Seizure
In districts where fences are required, as in this article, provided, the owner
of stock shall be liable for all damages done by animals breaking through or over lawful
fences and trespassing upon the enclosed lands of another, and the animals so breaking
through or over such fence may be seized as trespassing animals and proceeded with as
provided in this article.
156. Lien of judgment for damages on trespassing stock--Execution
In all cases where the plaintiff may recover judgment for damages caused by the
trespassing of animals of another the judgment shall be a lien upon the stock so
trespassing and the plaintiff may have special execution for the sale of such stock to
satisfy the judgment and costs or general execution as he may elect.
141. Duty to fence
It shall be the duty of every person or corporation owning or operating any railroad in
the State of Oklahoma to fence its road, except at public highways and station grounds,
with a good and lawful fence.
142. Lawful fence defined
A lawful fence, under the provisions of the preceding section, shall be composed of
posts and barb wires, four wires to be firmly fastened to the posts, such posts to be not
more than one (1) rod apart, the top wire to be not less than fifty-four (54) nor more
than fifty-eight (58) inches from the ground, and the bottom wire to be not more than
twenty (20) nor less than fourteen (14) inches from the ground.
144. Failure to fence--Penalty
Whenever any railroad corporation or the lessee, person, company or corporation
operating any railroad, shall neglect to build and maintain such lawful fence, such
railroad corporation, lessee, person, company or corporation operating the same, shall be
liable for all animals killed by reason of the failure to construct such fence.
Reviewed by AAHS in December 2001.