50 CFR Part 21

50 CFR Part 21 (up to date as of 3/06/2023)
Migratory Bird Permits

50 CFR Part 21

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries
Chapter I - United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Subchapter B - Taking, Possession, Transportation, Sale, Purchase, Barter, Exportation, and
Importation of Wildlife and Plants
Part 21 Migratory Bird Permits
Subpart A Introduction and General Requirements
§ 21.2 Purpose of this part.
§ 21.4 Scope of this part.
§ 21.6 Definitions.
§ 21.8 Information collection requirements.
§ 21.10 General permit requirements.
Subpart B Exceptions to Permit Requirements
§ 21.12 General exceptions to permit requirements.
§ 21.42 Authorization of take incidental to military readiness activities.
§ 21.45 Permit exceptions for captive-reared mallard ducks.
§ 21.47 [Reserved]
§ 21.48 Permit exceptions for captive-bred migratory waterfowl other than mallard ducks.
Subpart C Specific Permit Provisions
§ 21.63 Taxidermist permits.
§ 21.67 Import and export permits.
§ 21.70 Banding or marking permits.
§ 21.73 Scientific collecting permits.
§ 21.76 Rehabilitation permits.
§ 21.82 Falconry standards and falconry permitting.
§ 21.85 Raptor propagation permits.
§ 21.88 Waterfowl sale and disposal permits.
§ 21.95 Special purpose permits.
Subpart D Provisions for Depredating, Overabundant, or Otherwise Injurious Birds
§ 21.100 Depredation permits.
§ 21.120 Special Canada goose permit.
§ 21.123 Special double-crested cormorant permit.
§ 21.150 Depredation order for blackbirds, cowbirds, crows, grackles, and magpies.
§ 21.153 Depredation order for horned larks, house finches, and white-crowned sparrows in
California.
§ 21.156 Depredation order for depredating California scrub jays and Steller's jays in
Washington and Oregon.
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§ 21.159
§ 21.162
§ 21.165
§ 21.168
§ 21.171
§ 21.174
§ 21.177
§ 21.180
§ 21.183

50 CFR Part 21

Control order for resident Canada geese at airports and military airfields.
Depredation order for resident Canada geese nests and eggs.
Depredation order for resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities.
Public health control order for resident Canada geese.
Control order for purple swamphens.
Control order for Muscovy ducks in the United States.
Control order for invasive migratory birds in Hawaii.
Conservation order for light geese.
Population control of resident Canada geese.

PART 21 - MIGRATORY BIRD PERMITS
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703-712.
Source: 39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A - Introduction and General Requirements
Source: 39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 87 FR 880, Jan. 7, 2022.

§ 21.2 Purpose of this part.
The regulations contained in this part supplement the general permit regulations of part 13 of this subchapter with
respect to permits for the taking, possession, transportation, sale, purchase, barter, importation, exportation, and
banding or marking of migratory birds. This part also provides certain exceptions to permit requirements for public,
scientific, or educational institutions, and establishes depredation orders which provide limited exceptions to the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712).
[54 FR 38150, Sept. 14, 1989. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 880, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.4 Scope of this part.
(a) Migratory birds, their parts, nests, or eggs, lawfully acquired prior to the effective date of Federal
protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712) may be possessed or transported
without a permit, but may not be imported, exported, purchased, sold, bartered, or offered for purchase,
sale or barter, and all shipments of such birds must be marked as provided by part 14 of this subchapter:
Provide, no exemption from any statute or regulation shall accrue to any offspring of such migratory birds.
(b) This part, except for § 21.12(a), (c), and (d) (general permit exceptions); § 21.70 (banding or marking); §
21.76 (rehabilitation); and § 21.82 (falconry), does not apply to the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
or the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), for which regulations are provided in part 22 of this subchapter.
(c) The provisions of this part are in addition to, and are not in lieu of other regulations of this subchapter B
which may require a permit or prescribe additional restrictions or conditions for the importation,
exportation, and interstate transportation of wildlife (see also part 13).
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50 CFR 21.6

[39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 46 FR 42680, Aug. 24, 1981; 68 FR 61137, Oct. 27, 2003; 73 FR 59465, Oct. 8, 2008.
Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 880, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.6 Definitions.
In addition to definitions contained in part 10 of this chapter, and unless the context requires otherwise, as used in
this part:
Armed Forces means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the National Guard of any State.
Bred in captivity or captive-bred refers to raptors, including eggs, hatched in captivity from parents that mated or
otherwise transferred gametes in captivity.
Captivity means that a live raptor is held in a controlled environment that is intensively manipulated by man for
the purpose of producing raptors of selected species, and that has boundaries designed to prevent
raptors, eggs or gametes of the selected species from entering or leaving the controlled environment.
General characteristics of captivity may include, but are not limited to, artificial housing, waste removal,
health care, protection from predators, and artificially supplied food.
Conservation measures, as used in § 21.42, means project design or mitigation activities that are reasonable
from a scientific, technological, and economic standpoint, and are necessary to avoid, minimize, or
mitigate the take of migratory birds or other adverse impacts. Conservation measures should be
implemented in a reasonable period of time.
Falconry is caring for and training raptors for pursuit of wild game, and hunting wild game with raptors. Falconry
includes the taking of raptors from the wild to use in the sport; and caring for, training, and transporting
raptors held for falconry.
Hacking is the temporary release of a raptor held for falconry to the wild so that it must survive on its own.
Hybrid means any bird that results from a cross of genetic material between two separate taxa when one or
both are listed at 50 CFR 10.13, and any progeny of those birds.
Imprint, for the purposes of falconry, means a bird that is hand-raised, from 2 weeks of age until it has fledged,
and has identified itself with humans rather than its own species. An imprinted bird is considered to be so
for its entire lifetime.
Livestock depredation area means a specific geographic location in which depredation by golden eagles has
been recognized. The boundaries and duration of a livestock depredation area are declared by U.S.D.A.
Wildlife Services or by a State governor.
Military readiness activity, as defined in Pub. L. 107-314, § 315(f), 116 Stat. 2458 (Dec. 2, 2002) [Pub. L. §
319 (c)(1)],
includes all training and operations of the Armed Forces that relate to combat, and the adequate and
realistic testing of military equipment, vehicles, weapons, and sensors for proper operation and suitability
for combat use. It does not include
(a) routine operation of installation operating support functions, such as: administrative offices; military
exchanges; commissaries; water treatment facilities; storage facilities; schools; housing; motor
pools; laundries; morale, welfare, and recreation activities; shops; and mess halls,
(b) operation of industrial activities, or
(c) construction or demolition of facilities listed above.
50 CFR 21.6 “Military readiness activity, as defined in Pub. L. 107-314, § 315(f), 116 Stat. 2458 (Dec. 2, 2002) [Pub. L. § page 3 of

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50 CFR 21.6 “Population”

Population, as used in § 21.42, means a group of distinct, coexisting, conspecific individuals, whose breeding
site fidelity, migration routes, and wintering areas are temporally and spatially stable, sufficiently distinct
geographically (at some time of the year), and adequately described so that the population can be
effectively monitored to discern changes in its status.
Raptor means a migratory bird of the Order Accipitriformes, the Order Falconiformes, or the Order Strigiformes
listed in § 10.13 of this chapter, including the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and the golden eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos).
Resident Canada geese means Canada geese that nest within the lower 48 States and the District of Columbia
or that reside within the lower 48 States and the District of Columbia in the months of April, May, June,
July, or August.
Secretary of Defense means the Secretary of Defense or any other national defense official who has been
nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Service or we means the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
Significant adverse effect on a population, as used in § 21.42, means an effect that could, within a reasonable
period of time, diminish the capacity of a population of migratory bird species to sustain itself at a
biologically viable level. A population is “biologically viable” when its ability to maintain its genetic
diversity, to reproduce, and to function effectively in its native ecosystem is not significantly harmed. This
effect may be characterized by increased risk to the population from actions that cause direct mortality or
a reduction in fecundity. Assessment of impacts should take into account yearly variations and migratory
movements of the impacted species. Due to the significant variability in potential military readiness
activities and the species that may be impacted, determinations of significant measurable decline will be
made on a case-by-case basis.
[48 FR 31607, July 8, 1983, as amended at 64 FR 32774, June 17, 1999; 71 FR 45986, Aug. 10, 2006; 72 FR 8949, Feb. 28, 2007;
72 FR 46408, Aug. 20, 2007; 73 FR 59465, Oct. 8, 2008; 75 FR 931, Jan. 7, 2010; 78 FR 65578, 65864, Nov. 1, 2013; 84 FR 28773,
June 20, 2019. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 880, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.8 Information collection requirements.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements contained in
this part and assigned OMB Control Number 1018-0022. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control
number. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the
Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
[87 FR 880, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.10 General permit requirements.
No person may take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter,
any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such bird except as may be permitted under the terms of a valid
permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this part and part 13 of this chapter, or as permitted by regulations in
this part, or part 20 of this subchapter (the hunting regulations), or part 92 of subchapter G of this chapter (the
Alaska subsistence harvest regulations). Birds taken or possessed under this part in “included areas” of Alaska as
defined in § 92.5(a) are subject to this part and not to part 92 of subchapter G of this chapter.
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50 CFR 21.12

[68 FR 43027, July 21, 2003. Redesignated at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

Subpart B - Exceptions to Permit Requirements
Source: 39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 87 FR 880, Jan. 7, 2022.

§ 21.12 General exceptions to permit requirements.
The following persons or entities under the following conditions are exempt from the permit requirements:
(a) Employees of the Department of the Interior (DOI): DOI employees authorized to enforce the provisions of
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of July 3, 1918, as amended (40 Stat. 755; 16 U.S.C. 703-(711), may, without
a permit, take or otherwise acquire, hold in custody, transport, and dispose of migratory birds or their
parts, nests, or eggs as necessary in performing their official duties.
(b) Employees of certain public and private institutions:
(1) State game departments, municipal game farms or parks, and public museums, public zoological
parks, accredited institutional members of the American Association of Zoological Parks and
Aquariums (AAZPA) and public scientific or educational institutions may acquire by gift or purchase,
possess, transport, and by gift or sale dispose of lawfully acquired migratory birds or their progeny,
parts, nests, or eggs without a permit: Provided, That such birds may be acquired only from persons
authorized by this paragraph or by a permit issued pursuant to this part to possess and dispose of
such birds, or from Federal or State game authorities by the gift of seized, condemned, or sick or
injured birds. Any such birds, acquired without a permit, and any progeny therefrom may be disposed
of only to persons authorized by this paragraph to acquire such birds without a permit. Any person
exercising a privilege granted by this paragraph must keep accurate records of such operations
showing the species and number of birds acquired, possessed, and disposed of; the names and
addresses of the persons from whom such birds were acquired or to whom such birds were donated
or sold; and the dates of such transactions. Records shall be maintained or reproducible in English
on a calendar year basis and shall be retained for a period of five (5) years following the end of the
calendar year covered by the records.
(2) Employees of Federal, State, and local wildlife and land management agencies; employees of
Federal, State, and local public health agencies; and laboratories under contract to such agencies
may in the course of official business collect, possess, transport, and dispose of sick or dead
migratory birds or their parts for analysis to confirm the presence of infectious disease. Nothing in
this paragraph authorizes the take of uninjured or healthy birds without prior authorization from the
Service. Additionally, nothing in this paragraph authorizes the taking, collection, or possession of
migratory birds when circumstances indicate reasonable probability that death, injury, or disability
was caused by factors other than infectious disease and/or natural toxins. These factors may
include, but are not limited to, oil or chemical contamination, electrocution, shooting, or pesticides. If
the cause of death of a bird is determined to be other than natural causes or disease, Service law
enforcement officials must be contacted without delay.
(c) Licensed veterinarians: Licensed veterinarians are not required to obtain a Federal migratory bird permit to
temporarily possess, stabilize, or euthanize sick and injured migratory birds. However, a veterinarian
without a migratory bird rehabilitation permit must transfer any such bird to a federally permitted
migratory bird rehabilitator within 24 hours after the bird's condition is stabilized, unless the bird is
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50 CFR 21.12(c)(1)

euthanized. If a veterinarian is unable to locate a permitted rehabilitator within that time, the veterinarian
must contact his or her Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office for assistance in locating a permitted
migratory bird rehabilitator and/or to obtain authorization to continue to hold the bird. In addition,
veterinarians must:
(1) Notify the local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services Office immediately upon receiving a
threatened or endangered migratory bird species. Contact information for Ecological Services offices
can be located on the Internet at http://offices.fws.gov;
(2) Euthanize migratory birds as required by § 21.76(e)(4)(iii) and § 21.76(e)(4)(iv), and dispose of dead
migratory birds in accordance with § 21.76(e)(4)(vi); and
(3) Keep records for 5 years of all migratory birds that die while in their care, including those they
euthanize. The records must include: the species of bird, the type of injury, the date of acquisition,
the date of death, and whether the bird was euthanized.
(d) General public: Any person may remove a migratory bird from the interior of a building or structure under
certain conditions.
(1) You may humanely remove a trapped migratory bird from the interior of a residence or a commercial
or government building without a Federal permit if the migratory bird:
(i)

Poses a health threat (for example, through damage to foodstuffs);

(ii) Is attacking humans, or poses a threat to human safety because of its activities (such as
opening and closing automatic doors);
(iii) Poses a threat to commercial interests, such as through damage to products for sale; or
(iv) May injure itself because it is trapped.
(2) You must use a humane method to capture the bird or birds. You may not use adhesive traps to
which birds may adhere (such as glue traps) or any other method of capture likely to harm the bird.
(3) Unless you have a permit that allows you to conduct abatement activities with a raptor, you may not
release a raptor into a building to either frighten or capture another bird.
(4) You must immediately release a captured bird to the wild in habitat suitable for the species, unless it
is exhausted, ill, injured, or orphaned.
(5) If a bird is exhausted or ill, or is injured or orphaned during the removal, the property owner is
responsible for immediately transferring it to a federally permitted migratory bird rehabilitator.
(6) You may not lethally take a migratory bird for these purposes. If your actions to remove the trapped
migratory bird are likely to result in its lethal take, you must possess a Federal Migratory Bird Permit.
However, if a bird you are trying to remove dies, you must dispose of the carcass immediately unless
you have reason to believe that a museum or scientific institution might be able to use it. In that
case, you should contact your nearest Fish and Wildlife Service office or your State wildlife agency
about donating the carcass.
(7) For birds of species on the Federal List of Threatened or Endangered Wildlife, provided at 50 CFR
17.11(h), you may need a Federal threatened or endangered species permit before removing the
birds (see 50 CFR 17.21 and 50 CFR 17.31).

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50 CFR 21.12(d)(8)

(8) You must have a permit from your Regional migratory bird permits office to remove a bald eagle or a
golden eagle from a building (see 50 CFR Part 22).
(9) Your action must comply with State and local regulations and ordinances. You may need a State,
Tribal, or Territorial permit before you can legally remove the bird or birds.
(10) If an active nest with eggs or nestlings is present, you must seek the assistance of a federally
permitted migratory bird rehabilitator in removing the eggs or nestlings. The rehabilitator is then
responsible for handling them properly.
(11) If you need advice on dealing with a trapped bird, you should contact your closest Fish and Wildlife
Service office or your State wildlife agency.
[39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 50 FR 8638, Mar. 4, 1985; 54 FR 38151, Sept. 14, 1989; 68 FR 61137, Oct. 27, 2003; 72
FR 56928, Oct. 5, 2007; 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.42 Authorization of take incidental to military readiness activities.
(a) Take authorization and monitoring.
(1) Except to the extent authorization is withdrawn or suspended pursuant to paragraph (b) of this
section, the Armed Forces may take migratory birds incidental to military readiness activities
provided that, for those ongoing or proposed activities that the Armed Forces determine may result
in a significant adverse effect on a population of a migratory bird species, the Armed Forces must
confer and cooperate with the Service to develop and implement appropriate conservation measures
to minimize or mitigate such significant adverse effects.
(2) When conservation measures implemented under paragraph (a)(1) of this section require monitoring,
the Armed Forces must retain records of any monitoring data for five years from the date the Armed
Forces commence their action. During Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan reviews, the
Armed Forces will also report to the Service migratory bird conservation measures implemented and
the effectiveness of the conservation measures in avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating take of
migratory birds.
(b) Suspension or Withdrawal of take authorization.
(1) If the Secretary determines, after seeking the views of the Secretary of Defense and consulting with
the Secretary of State, that incidental take of migratory birds during a specific military readiness
activity likely would not be compatible with one or more of the migratory bird treaties, the Secretary
will suspend authorization of the take associated with that activity.
(2) The Secretary may propose to withdraw, and may withdraw in accordance with the procedures
provided in paragraph (b)(4) of this section the authorization for any take incidental to a specific
military readiness activity if the Secretary determines that a proposed military readiness activity is
likely to result in a significant adverse effect on the population of a migratory bird species and one or
more of the following circumstances exists:
(i)

The Armed Forces have not implemented conservation measures that:
(A) Are directly related to protecting the migratory bird species affected by the proposed
military readiness activity;

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50 CFR 21.42(b)(2)(i)(B)

(B) Would significantly reduce take of the migratory bird species affected by the military
readiness activity;
(C) Are economically feasible; and
(D) Do not limit the effectiveness of the military readiness activity;
(ii) The Armed Forces fail to conduct mutually agreed upon monitoring to determine the effects of
a military readiness activity on migratory bird species and/or the efficacy of the conservation
measures implemented by the Armed Forces; or
(iii) The Armed Forces have not provided reasonably available information that the Secretary has
determined is necessary to evaluate whether withdrawal of take authorization for the specific
military readiness activity is appropriate.
(3) When the Secretary proposes to withdraw authorization with respect to a specific military readiness
activity, the Secretary will first provide written notice to the Secretary of Defense. Any such notice will
include the basis for the Secretary's determination that withdrawal is warranted in accordance with
the criteria contained in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, and will identify any conservation measures
or other measures that would, if implemented by the Armed Forces, permit the Secretary to cancel
the proposed withdrawal of authorization.
(4) Within 15 days of receipt of the notice specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the Secretary of
Defense may notify the Secretary in writing of the Armed Forces' objections, if any, to the proposed
withdrawal, specifying the reasons therefore. The Secretary will give due consideration to any
objections raised by the Armed Forces. If the Secretary continues to believe that withdrawal is
appropriate, he or she will provide written notice to the Secretary of Defense of the rationale for
withdrawal and response to any objections to the withdrawal. If objections to the withdrawal remain,
the withdrawal will not become effective until the Secretary of Defense has had the opportunity to
meet with the Secretary within 30 days of the original notice from the Secretary proposing
withdrawal. A final determination regarding whether authorization will be withdrawn will occur within
45 days of the original notice.
(5) Any authorized take incidental to a military readiness activity subject to a proposed withdrawal of
authorization will continue to be authorized by this regulation until the Secretary makes a final
determination on the withdrawal.
(6) The Secretary may, at his or her discretion, cancel a suspension or withdrawal of authorization at any
time. A suspension may be cancelled in the event new information is provided that the proposed
activity would be compatible with the migratory bird treaties. A proposed withdrawal may be
cancelled if the Armed Forces modify the proposed activity to alleviate significant adverse effects on
the population of a migratory bird species or the circumstances in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (iii) of
this section no longer exist. Cancellation of suspension or withdrawal of authorization becomes
effective upon delivery of written notice from the Secretary to the Department of Defense.
(7) The responsibilities of the Secretary under paragraph (b) of this section may be fulfilled by his/her
delegatee who must be an official nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
[72 FR 8949, Feb. 28, 2007. Redesignated at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

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50 CFR 21.45

§ 21.45 Permit exceptions for captive-reared mallard ducks.
Captive-reared and properly marked mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), alive or dead, or their eggs may be
acquired, possessed, sold, traded, donated, transported, and disposed of by any person without a permit, subject to
the following conditions, restrictions, and requirements:
(a) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the taking of live mallard ducks or their eggs from the
wild.
(b) All mallard ducks possessed in captivity, without a permit, shall have been physically marked by at least
one of the following methods prior to 6 weeks of age and all such ducks hatched, reared, and retained in
captivity thereafter shall be so marked prior to reaching 6 weeks of age.
(1) Removal of the hind toe from the right foot.
(2) Pinioning of a wing: Provided, That this method shall be the removal of the metacarpal bones of one
wing or a portion of the metacarpal bones which renders the bird permanently incapable of flight.
(3) Banding of one metatarsus with a seamless metal band.
(4) Tattooing of a readily discernible number or letter or combination thereof on the web of one foot.
(c) When so marked, such live birds may be disposed of to, or acquired from, any person and possessed and
transferred in any number at any time or place: Provided, That all such birds shall be physically marked
prior to sale or disposal regardless of whether or not they have attained 6 weeks of age.
(d) When so marked, such live birds may be killed, in any number, at any time or place, by any means except
shooting. Such birds may be killed by shooting only in accordance with all applicable hunting regulations
governing the taking of mallard ducks from the wild: Provided, That such birds may be killed by shooting,
in any number, at any time, within the confines of any premises operated as a shooting preserve under
State license, permit, or authorization; or they may be shot, in any number, at any time or place, by any
person for bona fide dog training or field trial purposes: Provided further, That the provisions:
(1) The hunting regulations (part 20 of this subchapter), with the exception of § 20.108 (Nontoxic shot
zones), and
(2) The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act (duck stamp requirement) shall not apply to shooting preserve
operations as provided for in this paragraph, or to bona fide dog training or field trial operations.
(e) At all times during possession, transportation, and storage until the raw carcasses of such birds are finally
processed immediately prior to cooking, smoking, or canning, the marked foot or wing must remain
attached to each carcass: Provided, That persons, who operate game farms or shooting preserves under a
State license, permit, or authorization for such activities, may remove the marked foot or wing when either
the number of his State license, permit, or authorization has first been legibly stamped in ink on the back
of each carcass and on the container in which each carcass is maintained, or each carcass is identified by
a State band on leg or wing pursuant to requirements of his State license, permit, or authorization. When
properly marked, such carcasses may be disposed of to, or acquired from, any person and possessed and
transported in any number at any time or place.
[40 FR 28459, July 7, 1975, as amended at 46 FR 42680, Aug. 24, 1981; 54 FR 36798, Sept. 5, 1989. Redesignated and amended
at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.47 [Reserved]
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50 CFR 21.48

§ 21.48 Permit exceptions for captive-bred migratory waterfowl other than mallard ducks.
You may acquire captive-bred and properly marked migratory waterfowl (family Anatidae) of all species other than
mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), alive or dead, or their eggs, and possess and transport such birds or eggs and
any progeny or eggs for your use without a permit, subject to the following conditions and restrictions. Additional
restrictions on the acquisition and transfer of muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) are in paragraph (g) of this
section.
(a) You may acquire live waterfowl or their eggs only from a holder of a valid waterfowl sale and disposal
permit in the United States. You also may lawfully acquire them outside of the United States with
appropriate permits (see § 21.67 of subpart C of this part).
(b) All progeny of captive-bred birds or eggs from captive-bred birds must be physically marked as set forth in
§ 21.45(b).
(c) You may not transfer or dispose of captive-bred birds or their eggs, whether alive or dead, to any other
person unless you have a waterfowl sale and disposal permit (see § 21.88 of subpart C of this part).
(d) Lawfully possessed and properly marked birds may be killed, in any number, at any time or place, by any
means except shooting. Such birds may be killed by shooting only in accordance with all applicable
hunting regulations governing the taking of like species from the wild (see part 20 of this subchapter).
(e) At all times during possession, transportation, and storage until the raw carcasses of such birds are finally
processed immediately prior to cooking, smoking, or canning, you must leave the marked foot or wing
attached to each carcass, unless the carcass was marked as provided in § 21.88(b)(6) and the foot or
wing was removed prior to your acquisition of the carcass.
(f) If you acquire captive-bred waterfowl or their eggs from a waterfowl sale and disposal permittee, you
must retain the FWS Form 3-186, Notice of Transfer or Sale of Migratory Waterfowl, from the permittee for
as long as you have the birds, eggs, or progeny of them.
(g) You may not acquire or possess live muscovy ducks, their carcasses or parts, or their eggs, except to raise
them to be sold as food, and except that you may possess any live muscovy duck that you lawfully
acquired prior to March 31, 2010. If you possess muscovy ducks on that date, you may not propagate
them or sell or transfer them to anyone for any purpose, except to be used as food. You may not release
them to the wild, sell them to be hunted or released to the wild, or transfer them to anyone to be hunted or
released to the wild.
(h) Dealers in meat and game, hotels, restaurants, and boarding houses may serve or sell to their customers
the carcass of any bird acquired from a holder of a valid waterfowl sale and disposal permit.
[75 FR 9320, Mar. 1, 2010. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

Subpart C - Specific Permit Provisions
§ 21.63 Taxidermist permits.
(a) Permit requirement. A taxidermist permit is required before any person may perform taxidermy services
on migratory birds or their parts, nests, or eggs for any person other than himself.

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50 CFR 21.63(b)

(b) Application procedures. Submit application for taxidermist permits to the appropriate Regional Director
(Attention: Migratory bird permit office). You can find addresses for the Regional Directors in 50 CFR 2.2.
Each application must contain the general information and certification required in § 13.12(a) of this
subchapter, and the following additional information:
(1) The address of premises where taxidermist services will be provided;
(2) A statement of the applicant's qualifications and experience as a taxidermist; and
(3) If a State permit is required by State law, a statement as to whether or not the applicant possesses
such State permit, giving its number and expiration date.
(c) Permit authorizations. A permit authorizes a taxidermist to:
(1) Receive, transport, hold in custody or possession, mount or otherwise prepare, migratory birds, and
their parts, nests, or eggs, and return them to another.
(2) Sell properly marked, captive-reared migratory waterfowl (family Anatidae) which they have lawfully
acquired and mounted. Such mounted birds may be placed on consignment for sale and may be
possessed by such consignee for the purpose of sale.
(d) Additional permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter B,
taxidermist permits shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) Permittees must keep accurate records of operations, on a calendar year basis, showing the names
and addresses of persons from and to whom migratory birds or their parts, nests, or eggs were
received or delivered, the number and species of such, and the dates of receipt and delivery. In
addition to the other records required by this paragraph, the permittee must maintain in his files, the
original of the completed Form 3-186, Notice of Transfer or Sale of Migratory Waterfowl, confirming
his acquisition of captive reared, properly marked migratory waterfowl from the holder of a current
waterfowl sale and disposal permit.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section, the receipt, possession, and storage
by a taxidermist of any migratory game birds taken by another by hunting is not authorized unless
they are tagged as required by § 20.36 of this subchapter. The required tags may be removed during
the taxidermy operations but must be retained by the taxidermist with the other records required to
be kept and must be reattached to the mounted specimen after mounting. The tag must then remain
attached until the mounted specimen is delivered to the owner.
(e) Term of permit. A taxidermist permit issued or renewed under this part expires on the date designated on
the face of the permit unless amended or revoked, but the term of the permit will not exceed five (5) years
from the date of issuance or renewal.
[39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 54 FR 38151, Sept. 14, 1989; 63 FR 52637, Oct. 1, 1998; 70 FR 18320, Apr. 11, 2005.
Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.67 Import and export permits.
(a) Permit requirement. Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section, you must have a
permit to import or export migratory birds, their parts, nests, or eggs. You must meet the applicable permit
requirements of the following parts of this subchapter B, even if the activity is exempt from a migratory
bird import or export permit:
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50 CFR 21.67(a)(1)

(1) 13 (General Permit Procedures);
(2) 14 (Importation, Exportation, and Transportation of Wildlife);
(3) 15 (Wild Bird Conservation Act);
(4) 17 (Taking, Possession, Transportation, Sale, Purchase, Barter, Exportation, and Importation of
Wildlife and Plants);
(5) 20 (Migratory Bird Hunting);
(6) 21 (Migratory Bird Permits);
(7) 22 (Eagle Permits); and
(8) 23 (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)).
(b) Exception to the import permit requirements. If you comply with the requirements of parts 14, 20, and 23
of this subchapter B, you do not need a migratory bird permit to import or possess migratory birds in the
families Anatidae, Columbidae, Gruidae, Rallidae, and Scolopacidae for personal use that were lawfully
hunted by you in a foreign country. The birds may be carcasses, skins, or mounts. You must provide
evidence that you lawfully took the bird or birds in, and exported them from, the country of origin. This
evidence must include a hunting license and any export documentation required by the country of origin.
You must keep these documents with the imported bird or birds permanently.
(c) General exceptions to the export permit requirements. You do not need a migratory bird export permit to:
(1) Export live, captive-bred migratory game birds (see § 20.11 of this part) to Canada or Mexico if they
are marked by one of the following methods:
(i)

Removal of the hind toe from the right foot;

(ii) Pinioning of a wing by removal of all or some of the metacarpal bones of one wing, which
renders the bird permanently incapable of flight;
(iii) Banding of one metatarsus with a seamless metal band; or
(iv) A readily discernible tattoo of numbers and/or letters on the web of one foot.
(2) Export live, lawfully-acquired, captive-bred raptors provided you hold a valid raptor propagation
permit issued under § 21.85 and you obtain a CITES permit or certificate issued under part 23 to do
so. You must have full documentation of the lawful origin of each raptor, and each must be
identifiable with a seamless band issued by the Service, including any raptor with an implanted
microchip for identification.
(d) Falconry birds covered under a CITES “pet passport.” You do not need a migratory bird import or export
permit to temporarily export and subsequently import a raptor or raptors you lawfully possess for falconry
to and from another country for use in falconry when the following conditions are met:
(1) You must meet applicable requirements in part 14 (Importation, Exportation, and Transportation of
Wildlife) of this subchapter B.
(2) You may need one or more additional permits to take a bird from the United States or to return home
with it (see 50 CFR part 15 (Wild Bird Conservation Act), part 17 (Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants), and part 23 (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora)).
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50 CFR 21.67(d)(3)

(3) Each raptor must be covered by a CITES certificate of ownership issued under part 23 of this
chapter. You must have full documentation of the lawful origin of each raptor (a copy of a
propagation report with band number or a 3-186A report), and each must be identifiable with a
seamless band or a permanent, nonreusable, numbered Fish and Wildlife Service leg band issued by
the Service, including any raptor with an implanted microchip for identification. We may exempt a
raptor from banding because of health concerns, but you must provide proof of the exemption from
your falconry permitting authority.
(4) You must bring any raptor that you export out of the country for falconry under a CITES “pet
passport” back to the United States when you return.
(5) If the raptor dies or is lost, you are not required to bring it back, but you must report the loss
immediately upon your return to the United States in the manner required by the falconry regulations
of your State, and according to any conditions on your CITES certificate.
(e) Inspection of imported or exported migratory birds. All migratory birds imported into, or exported from, the
United States, and any associated documentation, may be inspected by the Service. You must comply
with the import and export regulations in Part 14 of this chapter.
(f) Applying for a migratory bird import or export permit. You must apply to the appropriate Regional Director Attention Migratory Bird Permit Office. You can find the address for your Regional Director in § 2.2 of
subchapter A of this chapter. Your application package must include a completed application (form
3-200-6, or 3-200-7 if the import or export is associated with an application for a scientific collecting
permit), and a check or money order made payable to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the amount of
the application fee for permits issued under this section, as listed in § 13.11 of this chapter.
(g) Criteria we will consider before issuing a permit. After we receive a completed import or export
application, the Regional Director will decide whether to issue you a permit based on the general criteria
of § 13.21 of this chapter, and whether you meet the following requirements:
(1) You are at least 18 years of age;
(2) The bird was lawfully acquired; and
(3) The purpose of the import or export is consistent with the conservation of the species; and
(4) For an import permit, whether you are authorized to lawfully possess the migratory bird after it is
imported.
(h) Are there standard conditions for the permit? Yes, standard conditions for your permit are set forth in part
13 of this subchapter B. You must also comply with the regulations in part 14 (Importation, Exportation,
and Transportation of Wildlife). We may place additional requirements or restrictions on your permit as
appropriate.
(i)

Term of a migratory bird import and export permit. Your migratory bird import or export permit will be valid
for not more than 5 years. It will expire on the date designated on its face unless it is amended or revoked.

[73 FR 47097, Aug. 13, 2008, as amended at 73 FR 55451, Sept. 25, 2008. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

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50 CFR 21.70

§ 21.70 Banding or marking permits.
(a) Permit requirement. A banding or marking permit is required before any person may capture migratory
birds for banding or marking purposes or use official bands issued by the Service for banding or marking
any migratory bird.
(b) Application procedures. Applications for banding or marking permits shall be submitted by letter of
application addressed to the Bird Banding Laboratory, Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland 20708. Each such application shall contain the general information and
certification set forth by § 13.12(a) of this subchapter plus the following additional information:
(1) Species and numbers proposed to be banded or marked;
(2) Purpose of banding or marking;
(3) State or States in which authorization is requested; and
(4) Name and address of the public, scientific, or educational institution to which any specimens will be
donated that are salvaged pursuant to paragraphs (c) (3) and (4) of this section.
(c) Additional permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter B,
banding or marking permits shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) The banding of migratory birds shall only be by official numbered leg bands issued by the Service.
The use of any other band, clip, dye, or other method of marking is prohibited unless specifically
authorized in the permit.
(2) All traps or nets used to capture migratory birds for banding or marking purposes shall have attached
thereto a tag or label clearly showing the name and address of the permittee and his permit number,
or the area in which such traps or nets are located must be posted with notice of banding operations
posters (Forms available upon request from the Bird Banding Laboratory, U.S. Geological Survey,
Laurel, MD 20708) which shall bear the name and address of the permittee and the number of his
permit.
(3) The holder of a banding or marking permit may salvage, for the purpose of donating to a public
scientific or educational institution, birds killed or found dead as a result of the permittee's normal
banding operations, and casualties from other causes. All dead birds salvaged under authority of a
migratory bird banding or marking permit must be donated and transferred to a public scientific or
educational institution at least every 6 months or within 60 days of the time such permit expires or is
revoked, unless the permittee has been issued a special permit authorizing possession for a longer
period of time.
(4) Permittees must keep accurate records of their operations and file reports as set forth in the North
American Bird Banding Manual, or supplements thereto, in accordance with instructions contained
therein.
(d) Term of permit. A banding or marking permit issued or renewed under this part expires on the date
designated on the face of the permit unless amended or revoked, but the term of the permit shall not
exceed three (3) years from the date of issuance or renewal.
[39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 54 FR 38151, Sept. 14, 1989. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

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50 CFR 21.73

§ 21.73 Scientific collecting permits.
(a) Permit requirement. A scientific collecting permit is required before any person may take, transport, or
possess migratory birds, their parts, nests, or eggs for scientific research or educational purposes.
(b) Application procedures. Submit applications for scientific permits to the appropriate Regional Director
(Attention: Migratory bird permit office). You can find addresses for the Regional Directors in 50 CFR 2.2.
Each application must contain the general information and certification required in § 13.12(a) of this
subchapter, and the following additional information:
(1) Species and numbers of migratory birds or their parts, nests, or eggs to be taken or acquired when it
is possible to determine same in advance;
(2) Location or locations where such scientific collecting is proposed;
(3) Statement of the purpose and justification for granting such a permit, including an outline of any
research project involved;
(4) Name and address of the public, scientific, or educational institution to which all specimens
ultimately will be donated; and
(5) If a State permit is required by State law, a statement as to whether or not the applicant possesses
such State permit, giving its number and expiration date.
(c) Additional permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter B,
scientific collecting permits shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) All specimens taken and possessed under authority of a scientific collecting permit must be donated
and transferred to the public scientific, or educational institution designated in the permit application
within 60 days following the date such permit expires or is revoked, unless the permittee has been
issued a special purpose permit (See § 21.95) authorizing possession for a longer period of time.
(2) Unless otherwise provided on the permit, all migratory game birds taken pursuant to a scientific
collecting permit during the open hunting season for such birds must be in conformance with part
20 of this subchapter;
(3) Unless specifically stated on the permit, a scientific collecting permit does not authorize the taking of
live migratory birds from the wild.
(4) In addition to any reporting requirement set forth in the permit, a report of the scientific collecting
activities conducted under authority of such permit shall be submitted to the issuing officer on or
before January 10 of each calendar year following the year of issue unless a different date is stated
in the permit.
(d) Term of permit. A scientific collecting permit issued or renewed under this part expires on the date
designated on the face of the permit unless amended or revoked, but the term of the permit shall not
exceed three (3) years from the date of issuance or renewal.
[39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 54 FR 38151, Sept. 14, 1989; 63 FR 52637, Oct. 1, 1998. Redesignated and amended at
87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

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50 CFR 21.76

§ 21.76 Rehabilitation permits.
(a) What is the permit requirement? Except as provided in § 21.12, a rehabilitation permit is required to take,
temporarily possess, or transport any migratory bird for rehabilitation purposes. However, any person who
finds a sick, injured, or orphaned migratory bird may, without a permit, take possession of the bird in order
to immediately transport it to a permitted rehabilitator.
(b) What are the general permit provisions?
(1) The permit authorizes you to:
(i)

Take from the wild or receive from another person sick, injured, or orphaned migratory birds and
to possess them and provide rehabilitative care for them for up to 180 days;

(ii) Transport such birds to a suitable habitat for release, to another permitted rehabilitator's
facilities, or to a veterinarian;
(iii) Transfer, release, or euthanize such birds;
(iv) Transfer or otherwise dispose of dead specimens; and
(v) Receive, stabilize, and transfer within 48 hours types of migratory bird species not authorized by
your permit, in cases of emergency. If a rehabilitator authorized to care for the bird is not
available within that timeframe, you must contact the issuing office for authorization to retain
the bird until it can be transferred.
(2) The permit does not authorize the use of migratory birds for educational purposes.
(c) How do I apply for a migratory bird rehabilitation permit? You must apply to the appropriate Regional
Director - Attention Migratory Bird Permit Office. You can find addresses for the appropriate Regional
Directors in § 2.2 of subchapter A of this chapter. Your application package must consist of the following:
(1) A completed application (Form 3-200-10b);
(2) A copy of your State rehabilitation permit, license, or other authorization, if one is required in your
State; and
(3) A check or money order made payable to the “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service” in the amount of the
application fee for permits issued under this section listed in § 13.11 of this chapter.
(d) What criteria will the Service consider before issuing a permit?
(1) Upon receiving an application completed in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section, the
Regional Director will decide whether to issue you a permit based on the general criteria of § 13.21
of this chapter and whether you meet the following requirements:
(i)

You must be at least 18 years of age with at least 100 hours of hands-on experience, gained
over the course of at least 1 whole year, rehabilitating the types of migratory birds you intend to
rehabilitate (e.g., waterbirds, raptors), or comparable experience. Up to 20 hours of the 100-hour
time requirement may be fulfilled by participation in migratory bird rehabilitation seminars and
courses.

(ii) Your facilities must be adequate to properly care for the type(s) of migratory bird species you
intend to rehabilitate, or you must have a working relationship with a person or organization
with such facilities.
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50 CFR 21.76(d)(1)(iii)

(iii) You must have an agreement with a licensed veterinarian to provide medical care for the birds
you intend to rehabilitate, unless you are a licensed veterinarian.
(iv) You must have a State permit, license, or other authorization to rehabilitate migratory birds if
such authorization required by your State.
(2) In issuing a permit, the Regional Director may place restrictions on the types of migratory bird
species you are authorized to rehabilitate, based on your experience and facilities as well as on the
specific physical requirements and behavioral traits of particular species.
(e) What are the standard conditions for this permit? In addition to the general permit conditions set forth in
part 13 of this chapter, rehabilitation permits are subject to the following conditions:
(1) Facilities. You must conduct the activities authorized by this permit in appropriate facilities that are
approved and identified on the face of your permit. In evaluating whether caging dimensions are
adequate, the Service will use as a guideline the standards developed by the National Wildlife
Rehabilitators Association and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (Minimum Standards
for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2000).[1] The Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office will authorize variation
from the standards where doing so is reasonable and necessary to accommodate a particular
rehabilitator's circumstances, unless a determination is made that such variation will jeopardize
migratory birds. However, except as provided by paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section, all facilities must
adhere to the following criteria:

(i)

Rehabilitation facilities for migratory birds must be secure and provide protection from
predators, domestic animals, undue human disturbance, sun, wind, and inclement weather.

(ii) Caging must be made of a material that will not entangle or cause injury to the type of birds that
will be housed within.
(iii) Enclosures must be kept clean, well-ventilated, and hygienic.
(iv) Birds must not be overcrowded, and must be provided enough perches, if applicable.
(v) Birds must be housed only with compatible migratory bird species.
(vi) Birds may not be displayed to the public unless you use video equipment, barriers, or other
methods to reduce noise and exposure to humans to levels the birds would normally encounter
in their habitat. You may not use any equipment for this purpose that causes stress or harm, or
impedes the rehabilitation of any bird.
(2) Dietary requirements. You must provide the birds in your care with a diet that is appropriate and
nutritionally approximates the natural diet consumed by the species in the wild, with consideration
for the age and health of the individual bird.
(3) Subpermittees. Except as provided by paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this section, anyone who will be
performing activities that require permit authorization under paragraph (b)(1) of this section when
you or a subpermittee are not present, including any individual who transports birds to or from your
facility on a regular basis, must either possess a Federal rehabilitation permit or be authorized as
your subpermittee by being named in writing to your issuing Migratory Bird Permit Office. This does
[1]

Copies may be obtained by contacting either the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association,
https://nwrawildlife.org/; or the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, https://theiwrc.org.
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50 CFR 21.76(e)(3)(i)

not apply to General Falconers or Master Falconers, who may assist with conditioning raptors for
release without being your subpermittee. If you have a falconer assist in conditioning a rehabilitated
raptor for release, you must provide the falconer with a letter or form that identifies the bird and
explains that the falconer is assisting in rehabilitation of the raptor.
(i)

Your subpermittees must be at least 18 years of age and possess sufficient experience to tend
the species in their care.

(ii) Your subpermittees who are authorized to care for migratory birds at a site other than your
facility must have facilities adequate to house the species in their care, based on the criteria of
paragraph (e)(1) of this section. All such facilities except those of a falconer assisting in
conditioning raptors for release must be approved by the issuing office.
(iii) As the primary permittee, you are legally responsible for ensuring that your subpermittees, staff,
and volunteers adhere to the terms of your permit when conducting migratory bird rehabilitation
activities.
(4) Disposition of birds under your care.
(i)

You must take every precaution to avoid imprinting or habituating birds in your care to humans.
If a bird becomes imprinted to humans while under your care, you will be required to transfer
the bird as directed by the issuing office.

(ii) After a bird is rehabilitated to a condition suitable for release to the wild, you must release it to
suitable habitat as soon as seasonal conditions allow, except that you may transfer a
rehabilitated wild raptor to a holder of a State, tribal, or territorial falconry permit if the permit
holder is authorized to hold the species for use in falconry. The transfer may need the approval
of your State, tribe, or territory. The falconer must complete a Form 3-186A reporting the
transfer.
(A) You may not retain migratory birds longer than 180 days without additional authorization
from your Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office. If the appropriate season for release is
outside the 180-day timeframe, you must seek authorization from your Fish and Wildlife
Service Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office to possess the bird until the appropriate
season.
(B) Before releasing a threatened or endangered migratory bird, you must comply with any
requirements for the release from your Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Migratory Bird
Permit Office.
(iii) You must euthanize any bird that cannot feed itself, perch upright, or ambulate without inflicting
additional injuries to itself where medical and/or rehabilitative care will not reverse such
conditions. You must euthanize any bird that is completely blind, and any bird that has
sustained injuries that would require amputation of a leg, a foot, or a wing at the elbow or above
(humero-ulnar joint) rather than performing such surgery, unless:
(A) A licensed veterinarian submits a written recommendation that the bird should be kept
alive, including an analysis of why the bird is not expected to experience the injuries and/
or ailments that typically occur in birds with these injuries and a commitment (from the
veterinarian) to provide medical care for the bird for the duration of its life, including
complete examinations at least once a year;

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50 CFR 21.76(e)(4)(iii)(B)

(B) A placement is available for the bird with a person or facility authorized to possess it,
where it will receive the veterinary care described in paragraph (e)(4)(iii)(A) of this section;
and
(C) The issuing office specifically authorizes continued possession, medical treatment, and
rehabilitative care of the bird.
(iv) You must obtain authorization from your issuing Migratory Bird Permit Office before euthanizing
endangered and threatened migratory bird species. In rare cases, the Service may designate a
disposition other than euthanasia for those birds. If Service personnel are not available, you
may euthanize endangered and threatened migratory birds without Service authorization when
prompt euthanasia is warranted by humane consideration for the welfare of the bird.
(v) You may place nonreleasable live birds that are suitable for use in educational programs, foster
parenting, research projects, or other permitted activities with persons permitted or otherwise
authorized to possess such birds, with prior approval from your issuing Migratory Bird Permit
Office.
(vi)
(A) You may donate dead birds and parts thereof, except threatened and endangered species,
and bald and golden eagles, to persons authorized by permit to possess migratory bird
specimens or exempted from permit requirements under § 21.12.
(B) You must obtain approval from your issuing office before disposing of or transferring any
live or dead endangered or threatened migratory bird specimen, parts, or feathers.
(C) You must send all dead bald and golden eagles, and their parts and feathers to: National
Eagle Repository, Building 128, Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Commerce City, CO 80022. If your
State requires you to notify State wildlife officers of a dead bald or golden eagle before
sending the eagle to the Repository you must comply with State regulations. States may
assume temporary possession of the carcasses for purposes of necropsy.
(D) Unless specifically required to do otherwise by the Service, you must promptly destroy all
other dead specimens by such means as are necessary to prevent any exposure of the
specimens to animals in the wild.
(vii) With authorization from your issuing Migratory Bird Permit Office, you may hold a nonreleasable
bird longer than 180 days for the purpose of fostering juveniles during their rehabilitation. You
may also use birds you possess under an educational permit to foster juveniles.
(viii) You may possess a reasonable number of feathers for imping purposes, based on the numbers
and species of birds for which you regularly provide care.
(ix) You may draw blood and take other medical samples for purposes of the diagnosis and
recovery of birds under your care, or for transfer to authorized facilities conducting research
pertaining to a contagious disease or other public health hazard.
(x) You may conduct necropsies on dead specimens in your possession, except that you must
obtain approval from your Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office before conducting necropsies
on threatened or endangered species.
(xi) This permit does not confer ownership of any migratory bird. All birds held under this permit
remain under the stewardship of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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50 CFR 21.76(e)(5)

(5) Notification to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
(i)

You must notify your issuing Migratory Bird Permit Office within 24 hours of acquiring a
threatened or endangered migratory bird species, or bald or golden eagle, whether live or dead.
You may be required to transfer these birds to another facility designated by the Service.

(ii) You must immediately notify the local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Office if
you have reason to believe a bird has been poisoned, electrocuted, shot, or otherwise subjected
to criminal activity. Contact information for your local Service Law Enforcement office is listed
on your permit, or you can obtain it on the Internet at http://offices.fws.gov.
(iii) If the sickness, injury, or death of any bird is due or likely due to avian virus, or other contagious
disease or public health hazard, you must notify and comply with the instructions given by the
State or local authority that is responsible for tracking the suspected disease or hazard in your
location, if that agency is currently collecting such information from the public.
(6) You must maintain a working relationship with a licensed veterinarian. If your working relationship
with your original cooperating veterinarian is dissolved, you must establish an agreement within 30
days with another licensed veterinarian to provide medical services to the birds in your care, and
furnish a copy of this agreement to the issuing office.
(7) Recordkeeping. You must maintain complete and accurate records of all migratory birds that you
receive, including for each bird the date received, type of injury or illness, disposition, and date of
disposition. You must retain these records for 5 years following the end of the calendar year covered
by the records.
(8) Annual report. You must submit an annual report that includes the information required by paragraph
(e)(7) for the preceding calendar year to your issuing Migratory Bird Permit Office by the date
required on your permit. You may complete FWS Form 3-202-4, or submit your annual report from a
database you maintain, provided your report contains all, and only, the information required by Form
3-202-4.
(9) At the discretion of the Regional Director, we may stipulate on the face of your permit additional
conditions compatible with the permit conditions set forth in this section, to place limits on numbers
and/or types of birds you may possess under your permit, to stipulate authorized location(s) for your
rehabilitation activities, or otherwise specify permitted activities, based on your experience and
facilities.
(f) How does this permit apply to oil and hazardous waste spills? Prior to entering the location of an oil or
hazardous material spill, you must obtain authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Field
Response Coordinator or other designated Service representative and obtain permission from the OnScene Coordinator. All activities within the location of the spill are subject to the authority of the On-Scene
Coordinator. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for the disposition of all migratory birds,
dead or alive.
(1) Permit provisions in oil or hazardous material spills.
(i)

In addition to the rehabilitation permit provisions set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, when
under the authority of the designated U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representative this permit
further authorizes you to temporarily possess healthy, unaffected birds for the purpose of
removing them from imminent danger.

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50 CFR 21.76(f)(1)(ii)

(ii) This permit does not authorize salvage of dead migratory birds. When dead migratory birds are
discovered, a Service law enforcement officer must be notified immediately in order to
coordinate the handling and collection of evidence. Contact information for your local Service
Law Enforcement office is listed on your permit and on the Internet at http://offices.fws.gov. The
designated Service representative will have direct control and responsibility over all live
migratory birds, and will coordinate the collection, storage, and handling of any dead migratory
birds with the Service's Division of Law Enforcement.
(iii) You must notify your issuing Migratory Bird Permit Office of any migratory birds in your
possession within 24 hours of removing such birds from the area.
(2) Conditions specific to oil and hazardous waste spills (i)

Facilities. Facilities used at the scene of oil or hazardous waste spills may be temporary and/or
mobile, and may provide less space and protection from noise and disturbance than facilities
authorized under paragraph (e)(1) of this section. Such facilities should conform as closely as
possible with the facility specifications contained in the Service policy titled Best Practices for
Migratory Bird Care During Oil Spill Response.[2]

(ii) Subpermittees. In cases of oil and hazardous waste spills, persons who assist with cleaning or
treating migratory birds at the on-scene facility will not be required to have a rehabilitation
permit or be a subpermittee; however, volunteers must be trained in rescue protocol for
migratory birds affected by oil and hazardous waste spills. A permit (or subpermittee
designation) is required to perform extended rehabilitation of such birds, after initial cleaning
and treating, at a subsequent location.
(g) Will I also need a permit from the State in which I live? If your State requires a license, permit, or other
authorization to rehabilitate migratory birds, your Federal migratory bird rehabilitation permit will not be
valid if you do not also possess and adhere to the terms of the required State authorization, in addition to
the Federal permit. Nothing in this section prevents a State from making and enforcing laws or
regulations consistent with this section that are more restrictive or give further protection to migratory
birds.
(h) How long is a migratory bird rehabilitation permit valid? Your rehabilitation permit will expire on the date
designated on the face of the permit unless amended or revoked. No rehabilitation permit will have a term
exceeding 5 years.
[68 FR 61137, Oct. 27, 2003, as amended at 73 FR 59477, Oct. 8, 2008; 75 FR 29918, May 28, 2010; 79 FR 43965, July 29, 2014.
Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.82 Falconry standards and falconry permitting.
(a) Background -

[2]

You can obtain copies of this document by writing to the Division of Environmental Review at the address
provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
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50 CFR 21.82(a)(1)

(1) The legal basis for regulating falconry. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits any person from
taking, possessing, purchasing, bartering, selling, or offering to purchase, barter, or sell, among other
things, raptors (birds of prey) listed in § 10.13 of this subchapter unless the activities are allowed by
Federal permit issued under this part and part 13 of this chapter, or as permitted by regulations in
this part.
(i)

This section covers all Falconiformes (vultures, kites, eagles, hawks, caracaras, and falcons)
and all Strigiformes (owls) listed in § 10.13 of this subchapter (“native” raptors), and applies to
any person who possesses one or more wild-caught, captive-bred, or hybrid raptors protected
under the MBTA to use in falconry.

(ii) The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d, 54 Stat. 250) provides for the
taking of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) from the wild to use in falconry. It specifies that the
only golden eagles that may be taken from the wild for falconry are those that would be taken
because of depredations on livestock or wildlife (16 U.S.C. 668a).
(2) “Possession” and short-term handling of a falconry raptor. We do not consider short-term handling,
such as letting any other person hold or practice flying a raptor you possess under your permit, to be
possession for the purposes of this section if you are present and the person is under your
supervision.
(3) Regulatory year for governing falconry. For determining possession and take of raptors for falconry, a
year is any 12-month period for take defined by the State, tribe, or territory.
(b) Federal approval of State, tribal, and territorial falconry programs (1) General.
(i)

A State (including the District of Columbia), tribe, or territory under the jurisdiction of the United
States that wishes to allow falconry must establish laws and regulations (hereafter referred to
as laws) that meet the standards established in this section. To allow the practice of falconry
on tribal lands by tribal members or residents, a tribe may either certify that it has adopted
Service-approved State laws if those laws are fully enforceable on tribal lands, or issue its own
laws and request our approval.

(ii) State, tribal, or territorial laws may be more restrictive than these Federal standards but may not
be less restrictive. For instance, a State, tribe, or territory may choose not to allow possession
of some species of raptors otherwise allowed in this section. State, tribal, and territorial laws
must be consistent with the terms contained in any convention between the United States and
any foreign country for the protection of raptors and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
(2) Reporting.
(i)

The State, tribe, or territory must work with us to ensure that the electronic 3-186A reporting
system (https://epermits.fws.gov/falcp/) for reporting take, transfers, and loss of falconry birds
is fully operational for residents of that jurisdiction.

(ii) If you are required to submit a report or other information under this section, you must either
enter the required information in the electronic database at https://epermits.fws.gov/falcp/, or
at http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/FalconryReporting if you are a resident of California, or submit a
paper form 3-186A to your State, tribal, or territorial agency that governs falconry.

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50 CFR 21.82(b)(3)

(3) Federal approval and terms. If we concur that the regulations and the examination meet the
requirements of this section, we will publish a rule in the FEDERAL REGISTER adding the State, tribe, or
territory to the list of those approved for allowing the practice of falconry. We will terminate Federal
falconry permitting in any State certified under these regulations on January 1st of the calendar year
following publication of the rule.
(4) Review of a State, tribal, or territorial falconry program. We may review the administration of an
approved State's, tribe's, or territory's falconry program if complaints from the public or law
enforcement investigations indicate the need for a review or for revisions to the State's, tribe's, or
territory's laws, or falconry examination. The review may involve, but is not limited to:
(i)

Inspecting falconers' facilities to ensure that the facilities standards in this section are met;

(ii) Processing time of applications;
(iii) Reviewing approved applications for completeness;
(iv) Determining that permits issued are appropriate for the experience of the applicants;
(v) Determining the adequacy of the State's, tribe's, or territory's recordkeeping for the needs of
State, tribal, or territorial and Federal law enforcement;
(vi) Reviewing laws to determine if they meet the requirements of this section; and
(vii) Reviewing a revised falconry examination to determine if it meets the requirements of this
section.
(5) Suspension of a State's, tribe's, or territory's certification.
(i)

We may propose to suspend, and may suspend, the approval of a State, tribal, or territorial
falconry program in accordance with the procedures in paragraph (b)(5)(ii) of this section if we
determine that the State, tribe, or territory has deficiencies in one or more items in paragraph
(b)(4) of this section.

(ii) When we propose to suspend approval of a State, tribal, or territorial falconry program, we will
first provide written notice to the State, tribe, or territory. Any such notice will include the basis
for our determination that suspension is warranted. We will identify the actions that would, if
implemented by the State, tribe, or territory, allow us to cancel the proposed suspension of
approval.
(iii) The State, tribe, or territory will have 2 years from the date of our notification to correct the
deficiencies. The State, tribe, or territory must respond in writing within that time to the
proposed suspension, specifying the reasons why the certification should not be suspended.
We will give due consideration to any objections and evidence raised by the State, tribe, or
territory.
(iv) If we continue to believe that suspension is warranted, we will provide written notice of
suspension, including the rationale for suspension, and respond to any objections to the
suspension.
(A) The suspension of approval of the State's, tribe's, or territory's falconry program will be
effective 180 days from the date of the Service's final notification of suspension.
(B) The State, tribe, or territory must then inform all falconry applicants and permittees of the
impending cancellation of permitting.
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50 CFR 21.82(b)(5)(v)

(v) We will honor all falconry permits in that jurisdiction for 2 years from the date of our final
notification of suspension of certification. At the end of the 2 years, you must transfer all
raptors (including captive-bred raptors) held under permits from the State, tribal, or territorial
falconry program to other falconry permittees in other States or territories, or to Federal raptor
propagation or education permittees, institutions exempt from the Federal permit requirements,
or permanently released to the wild (if it is allowed by the State, tribe, or territory and by this
section), or euthanized. However, you may not permanently release hybrid raptors to the wild.
(6) Appeal of a decision to suspend State, tribal, or territorial certification. The State, tribe, or territory
may appeal a decision to suspend certification to the Director within 180 days of the date of the
Director's decision. The Director will then respond to the State, tribe, or territory within 180 days of
receipt of the appeal. The State, tribe, or territory certification will remain effective until the Director
makes a final decision on the appeal.
(7) Recertification of compliance with this section if a State's, tribe's, or territory's falconry permitting
authority has been suspended. If a State, tribe, or territory has had its falconry permitting authority
suspended but has corrected its problems, it must submit a request for approval of its permitting
activities. We will then either recertify the program, or report in writing why we do not believe that
earlier permitting problems have been rectified.
(8) Authority to suspend or revoke a falconry permit issued by a State, tribe, or territory. Suspension or
revocation of a falconry permit is the responsibility of the State, tribe, or territory. However,
compliance with all provisions of these regulations remains under the purview of the Fish and
Wildlife Service.
(9) Standards in effect in your place of residence. If you live in any State except Hawaii, you may practice
falconry as permitted in these regulations if you have a falconry permit from your State, tribe, or
territory.
(c) Practicing falconry (1) Permits and inspections to practice falconry. You must have a valid falconry permit from the State,
tribe, or territory in which you reside (or the tribe on whose land you wish to practice falconry if you
reside on tribal land or are a tribal member), to take, possess, or transport raptors for falconry, or to
hunt with them. Depending on the game you hunt as a falconer and where you hunt, you also may
need a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (a “Duck Stamp”), and State, tribal, or
territorial hunting permits or stamps to hunt with a raptor.
(i)

Some State, tribal, territorial, or local governments may require you to have additional permits or
licenses to practice falconry or to take a raptor from the wild.

(ii) You must comply with all regulations governing migratory bird permitting.
(iii) If you reside for more than 120 consecutive days in a State or territory or on tribal lands other
than the location of your primary residence, your falconry facilities in the second location must
meet the standards in paragraph (d) of this section and of the corresponding State, tribal, or
territorial lands, and your facilities must be listed on your falconry permit.
(2) Classes of permit to practice falconry. We recognize Apprentice, General, and Master Falconer levels.
Each State, tribe, or territory may have any number of permit levels, but the standards for them must
be at least as restrictive as these Federal standards. Your State, tribe, or territory may have more
restrictive laws or regulations governing falconry.
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(i)

50 CFR 21.82(c)(2)(i)

Requirements and possession options for an Apprentice Falconer.
(A) You must be at least 12 years of age.
(B) If you are under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must sign your application and
is legally responsible for your activities.
(C) You must have a letter from a Master Falconer or a General Falconer with a valid State,
tribal, or territorial falconry permit who is at least 18 years old and has at least 2 years
experience at the General Falconer level, stating that he or she will assist you, as
necessary, in:
(1) Learning about the husbandry and training of raptors held for falconry;
(2) Learning and about relevant wildlife laws and regulations, and
(3) Deciding what species of raptor is appropriate for you to possess while an
Apprentice.
(D) Regardless of the number of State, tribal, or territorial falconry permits you have, you may
possess no more than one raptor for use in falconry.
(E) You may take raptors less than 1 year old, except nestlings, from the wild during any period
or periods specified by the State, tribe, or territory. You may take any raptor species from
the wild except a federally listed threatened or endangered species or the following
species: Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla),
Steller's sea-eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), swallow-tailed
kite (Elanoides forficatus), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), peregrine falcon (Falco
peregrinus), flammulated owl (Psiloscops flammeolus), elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi), and
short-eared owl (Asio flammeus).
(F) You may possess a raptor of any Falconiform or Strigiform species, including wild, captivebred, or hybrid individuals, except a federally listed threatened or endangered species, a
bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), a white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a Steller's
sea-eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus), or a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).
(G) You do not need to capture a wild raptor yourself; it can be transferred to you by another
falconry permittee.
(H) You may not possess a raptor taken from the wild as a nestling.
(I)

You may not possess a bird that is imprinted on humans.

(J) Your raptor facilities must pass inspection by your State, tribe, or territory before you may
be granted a permit.
(ii) Requirements and possession options for a General Falconer.
(A) You must be at least 16 years of age.
(B) If you are 16 or 17 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must sign your application and
must be legally responsible for your activities.

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50 CFR 21.82(c)(2)(ii)(C)

(C) You must submit a document from a General Falconer or Master Falconer (preferably your
sponsor) to your State, tribal, or territorial wildlife agency stating that you have practiced
falconry with raptor(s) at the Apprentice Falconer level or equivalent for at least 2 years,
including maintaining, training, flying, and hunting the raptor(s) for least 4 months in each
year. That practice may include capture and release of falconry raptors.
(D) You may not substitute any falconry school program or education to shorten the period of
2 years at the Apprentice level.
(E) You may take and possess any species of Falconiform or Strigiform except a golden eagle,
a bald eagle, a white-tailed eagle, or a Steller's sea-eagle. You may use captive-bred
individuals and hybrids of the species you are allowed to possess.
(F) Regardless of the number of State, tribal, or territorial falconry permits you have, you may
possess no more than 3 raptors.
(iii) Requirements and possession options for a Master Falconer.
(A) You must have practiced falconry with your own raptor(s) at the General Falconer level for
at least 5 years.
(B) You may take and possess any species of Falconiform or Strigiform except a bald eagle.
However, you may take and possess a golden eagle, a white-tailed eagle, or a Steller's sea
eagle only if you meet the qualifications set forth under paragraph (c)(2)(iv).
(C) You may possess any captive-bred individuals or hybrids of species your State, tribe, or
territory allows you to possess for use in falconry.
(D) Regardless of the number of State, tribal, or territorial falconry permits you have, you may
possess no more than 5 wild raptors, including golden eagles.
(E) You may possess any number of captive-bred raptors. However, you must train them in the
pursuit of wild game and use them in hunting.
(iv) If you meet the requirements in paragraph (c) of this section for falconry you may possess up to
3 eagles of the following species: golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, or Steller's sea eagle.
(A) Your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry must document the following
before approving your request to possess an eagle to use in falconry:
(1) Your experience in handling large raptors, including information about the species
you have handled and the type and duration of the activity in which you gained the
experience.
(2) At least two letters of reference from people with experience handling and/or flying
large raptors such as eagles, ferruginous hawks, goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), or
great horned owls (Bubo virginianus). Each must contain a concise history of the
author's experience with large raptors, which can include, but is not limited to,
handling of raptors held by zoos, rehabilitating large raptors, or scientific studies
involving large raptors. Each letter must also assess your ability to care for eagles
and fly them in falconry.
(B) A golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, or Steller's sea-eagle you hold will count as one of the
raptors you are allowed to possess for use in falconry.
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50 CFR 21.82(c)(3)

(3) Taking a test to qualify for a falconry permit. Before you are issued an Apprentice permit you must
correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions on an examination administered by the State,
tribe, or territory under which you wish to obtain a falconry permit. The examination must cover care
and handling of falconry raptors, Federal, State or territorial, and tribal (if applicable) laws and
regulations relevant to falconry, and other appropriate subject matter. Contact your State, tribal, or
territorial agency that regulates falconry for information about permits and taking the test.
(4) Reinstatement of a lapsed falconry permit if your State, tribe, or territory allows it.
(i)

If your permit has lapsed for fewer than 5 years, it may be reinstated at the level you held
previously if you have proof of your certification at that level.

(ii) If your permit has lapsed for 5 years or longer, you must correctly answer at least 80 percent of
the questions on an examination administered by the State, tribe, or territory in which you wish
to obtain a falconry permit. If you pass the exam, your permit may be reinstated at the level you
previously held. Your facilities must pass State, tribal, or territorial inspection before you may
possess a falconry bird.
(5) Permit to practice falconry at an appropriate level if you have experience in falconry but are a new
resident in the United States. You may qualify for the falconry permit appropriate for your experience.
To demonstrate your knowledge of U.S. falconry laws and regulations, you must correctly answer at
least 80 percent of the questions on the supervised examination for falconers administered by the
State, tribe, or territory under which you wish to obtain a falconry permit. If you pass the test, the
State, tribe, or territory will decide for which level of falconry permit you are qualified, consistent with
the class requirements in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. To do so, the State, tribe, or territory
should base its decision on your documentation of your experience. Your falconry facilities must
meet the standards in paragraph (d)(1) of this section before you may keep a raptor to use in
falconry.
(6) Banding or tagging raptors used in falconry.
(i)

If you take a goshawk, Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus),
or gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) from the wild or acquire one from another falconer or a
rehabilitator, and if the raptor is not already banded, you must band it with a permanent,
nonreusable, numbered U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leg band that your State, tribal, or
territorial agency will supply. If you wish, you may purchase and implant an ISO (International
Organization for Standardization)-compliant (134.2 kHz) microchip in addition to the band. You
must report the band number when you report your acquisition of the bird. Contact your State,
tribal, or territorial agency for information on obtaining and disposing of bands. Within 10 days
from the day on which you take the raptor from the wild, you must report take of the bird by
submitting the required information (including the band number) using one of the methods
listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. You may request an appropriate band from your
State, tribal, or territorial agency in advance of any effort to capture a raptor. Your State, tribe, or
territory may require that you band other species taken from the wild.

(ii) A raptor bred in captivity must be banded with a seamless metal band (see § 21.85). If you
must remove a seamless band or if it is lost, within 10 days from the day you remove or note
the loss of the band, you must report it and request a replacement U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
nonreusable band from your State, tribe, or territory. You must submit the required information

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50 CFR 21.82(c)(6)(iii)

using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. You must replace a
seamless band that is removed or lost. You may implant an ISO-compliant (134.2 kHz)
microchip in a falconry raptor in addition to the seamless band.
(iii) If the band must be removed or is lost from a raptor in your possession, you must report the
loss of the band within 5 days, and you must then do at least one of the following:
(A) Request a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service nonreusable band from your State, tribal, or
territorial agency that regulates falconry. You must submit the required information within
10 days of rebanding the raptor using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
this section.
(B) Purchase and implant an ISO-compliant (134.2 kHz) microchip in the bird and report the
microchip information using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this
section.
(iv) You must not alter, deface, or counterfeit a band. You may remove the rear tab on a band on a
raptor you take from the wild, and you may smooth any imperfect surface if you do not affect
the integrity of the band or the numbering on it.
(v) If you document health or injury problems for a raptor you possess that are caused by the band,
the State, tribe, or territory may provide an exemption to the requirement for that raptor. In that
case, you must keep a copy of the exemption paperwork with you when transporting or flying
the raptor. If your bird is a wild goshawk, Harris's hawk, peregrine falcon, or gyrfalcon, you must
replace the band with an ISO-compliant microchip that we will supply to your State, tribe, or
territory. We will not provide a microchip for a wild goshawk, Harris's hawk, peregrine falcon, or
gyrfalcon unless you have demonstrated that a band causes an injury or a health problem for
the bird.
(vi) You may not band a raptor removed from the wild with a seamless numbered band.
(7) Carrying your permit(s) when conducting falconry activities. You must have your permit(s) or legible
copies of them in your immediate possession if you are not at the location of your falconry facilities
and you are trapping, transporting, working with, or flying your falconry raptor(s).
(8) Transporting a falconry raptor or raptors to other States or territories. If you have a valid falconry
permit, you may possess and transport for falconry purposes a lawfully possessed raptor through
other States or territories. However, any State, tribe, or territory may further regulate such transport.
(d) Facilities and care requirements (1) Facilities you must have and maintain. You must keep all raptors you hold under your falconry permit
in humane and healthful conditions.
(i)

Whether they are indoors (a “mews”) or outdoors (a “weathering area”), your raptor facilities
must protect raptors in them from the environment, predators, and domestic animals. You are
responsible for the maintenance and security (protection from predators) of raptors you
possess under your permit.

(ii) You must have raptor housing facilities approved by your State, tribe, or territory before you may
obtain a bird to use in falconry. Your State, tribe, or territory may require that you have both
indoor and outdoor facilities. A representative of your agency that regulates falconry, or its
designee, must certify that your facilities and equipment meet the following standards:
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50 CFR 21.82(d)(1)(ii)(A)

(A) For housing raptors indoors or outdoors, the facility must protect raptors from predators
and domestic animals.
(1) The facility must have a suitable perch for each raptor, at least one opening for
sunlight, and must provide a healthy environment for raptors inside.
(2) You may house untethered raptors together if they are compatible with each other.
(3) Each raptor must have an area large enough to allow it to fly if it is untethered or, if
tethered, to fully extend its wings or bate (attempt to fly while tethered) without
damaging its feathers or contacting other raptors.
(4) Each falconry bird must have access to a pan of clean water unless weather
conditions, the perch type used, or some other factor makes access to a water pan
unsafe for the raptor.
(B) An indoor facility must be large enough to allow easy access for the care and feeding of
raptors kept there.
(1) If raptors you house in this indoor facility are not tethered, all walls that are not solid
must be protected on the inside. Suitable materials may include vertical bars spaced
narrower than the width of the body of the smallest raptor you house in the
enclosure. However, heavy-duty netting or other such materials may be used to cover
the walls or roof of the enclosure.
(2) Acceptable indoor facilities include shelf perch enclosures where raptors are tethered
side by side. Other innovative housing systems are acceptable if they provide the
enclosed raptors with protection and allow them to maintain healthy feathers.
(3) An eyas raptor may be kept in any suitable container or enclosure until it is capable of
flight.
(C) You may keep a falconry raptor or raptors inside your place of residence if you provide a
suitable perch or perches. If you house your raptor(s) inside your home, you do not need to
modify windows or other openings of the structure. Raptors kept in your home must be
tethered when they are not being moved into or out of the location in which they are kept.
(D) An outdoor facility must be totally enclosed, and may be made of heavy-gauge wire, heavyduty plastic mesh, slats, pipe, wood, or other suitable material.
(1) The facility must be covered and have at least a covered perch to protect a raptor
held in it from predators and weather.
(2) The facility must be large enough to insure that the birds cannot strike the enclosure
when flying from the perch.
(3) New types of housing facilities and/or husbandry practices may be used if they
satisfy the requirements above and are approved by the State, tribal, or territorial
authority regulating falconry.
(iii) You may keep falconry raptors outside in the open if they are under watch, such as by you or a
family member at any location or, for example, by a designated individual in a weathering yard
at a falconry meet.

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50 CFR 21.82(d)(1)(iv)

(iv) You must inform your State, tribal, or territorial agency within 5 business days if you change the
location of your facilities.
(2) Falconry facilities on property you do not own (i)

Your falconry facilities may be on property owned by another person where you reside, or at a
different location. Regardless of location, the facilities must meet the standards in paragraph
(d)(1) of this section and those of the State, tribe, or territory from which you have a falconry
permit.

(ii) You must submit to your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry a signed and
dated statement showing that you agree that the falconry facilities and raptors may be
inspected without advance notice by State, tribal (if applicable), or territorial authorities at any
reasonable time of day, but you must be present. If your facilities are not on property that you
own, you must submit a signed and dated statement showing that the property owner agrees
that the falconry facilities and raptors may be inspected by State, tribal (if applicable), or
territorial authorities at any reasonable time of day in the presence of the property owner;
except that the authorities may not enter the facilities or disturb the raptors unless you are
present.
(3) Equipment you must have and maintain. You must have jesses or the materials and equipment to
make them, leash and swivel, bath container, and appropriate scales or balances for weighing
raptor(s) you possess.
(4) Facilities you must have for a raptor when you are transporting it, using it for hunting, or are away
from your home with it. You must be sure that the bird has a suitable perch and is protected from
extreme temperatures, wind, and excessive disturbance. A “giant hood” or similar container is
acceptable for transporting or housing a raptor when you are away from the permanent facility
where it is housed.
(5) Temporarily housing a raptor outside of your permanent facilities when you are not transporting it or
using it for hunting. You may house a raptor in temporary facilities for no more than 120 consecutive
calendar days if the bird has a suitable perch and is protected from predators, domestic animals,
extreme temperatures, wind, and excessive disturbance.
(6) Care of falconry raptors by another falconry permittee. Another falconry permittee may care for a
raptor or raptors for you at your facilities or at that person's facilities for up to 120 consecutive
calendar days. The other person must have a signed and dated statement from you authorizing the
temporary possession, plus a copy of FWS form 3-186A that shows that you are the possessor of
each of the raptors. The statement must include information about the time period for which he or
she will keep the raptor(s), and about what he or she is allowed to do with it or them.
(i)

Your raptor(s) will remain on your falconry permit, and will not be counted against the
possession limit of the person caring for your raptors.

(ii) If the person caring for your raptor(s) holds the appropriate level falconry permit, he or she may
fly your raptor(s) in whatever way you authorize, including hunting.
(iii) This care of your raptors may be extended indefinitely in extenuating circumstances, such as
illness, military service, or for a family emergency. The State, tribe, or territory may consider
such instances on a case-by-case basis.

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50 CFR 21.82(d)(7)

(7) Care of falconry raptors by someone who does not have a falconry permit. Another person may care
for falconry birds you possess at your facilities for up to 45 consecutive calendar days.
(i)

The raptor(s) will remain on your falconry permit.

(ii) The raptors must remain in your facilities.
(iii) This care may be extended indefinitely in extenuating circumstances, such as illness, military
service, or for a family emergency.
(iv) The person(s) caring for your raptors may not fly them for any reason.
(8) Residence part of the year in another jurisdiction.
(i)

The State, tribe, or territory in which you live part-time may require that you obtain its falconry
permit. You must contact the State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry to
determine whether you need a permit.

(ii) If you live for more than 120 consecutive days in a State or territory or on tribal lands other than
where you maintain your primary residence, your falconry facilities in the second State must
meet the standards in this section.
(9) Inspections. Falconry equipment and records may be inspected in the presence of the permittee
during business hours on any day of the week by State, tribal, or territorial officials.
(e) Taking, possessing, and transporting raptors for falconry (1) Raptor species you may take from the wild to use for falconry.
(i)

You may not intentionally capture a raptor species that your classification as a falconer does
not allow you to possess for falconry. If you capture a bird you are not allowed to possess, you
must release it immediately.

(ii) On some tribal lands and in some States there may be State, tribal, or Federal restrictions on the
take or use of these species, and you may need a tribal or State permit or permits to capture a
bird.
(iii) State, tribal, or territorial regulations on take may be more restrictive than those in this section.
(iv) Take of any species must be in compliance with these regulations.
(v) If you are a Master Falconer and your State, tribe, or territory allows you to possess golden
eagles, in any year you may take up to two golden eagles from the wild and only in a livestock
depredation area during the time the depredation area and associated depredation permit or
depredation control order are in effect. A livestock depredation area is declared by USDA
Wildlife Services and permitted under § 22.100, or upon the request of a State governor and
authorized by the Service Director pursuant to §§ 22.120 and 22.122.
(2) How and when you may take raptors from the wild to use in falconry. You may take no more than two
raptors from the wild each year to use in falconry.
(i)

If you transfer a bird you take from the wild to another permittee in the same year in which you
capture it, the bird will count as one of the raptors you are allowed to take from the wild that
year; it will not count as a capture by the recipient, though it will always be considered a wild
bird.

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50 CFR 21.82(e)(2)(ii)

(ii) If you are a General or Master Falconer, you may remove nestlings from a nest or aerie in
accordance with tribal (if applicable), State, territorial, and Federal restrictions.
(iii) You may not take raptors at any time or in any manner that violates any law of the State, tribe, or
territory on whose land you are trapping.
(iv) If you are responsible for reporting take of a raptor from the wild, use one of the methods listed
in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. You must do this at your first opportunity to do so, but no
later than 10 days after the capture of the bird.
(v) If you are present at the capture site, even if another person captures the bird for you, you are
considered the person who removes the bird from the wild. You are responsible for filing a
3-186A form reporting take of the bird from the wild. This would occur, for example, if another
person climbs a tree or rappells down a cliff and takes a nestling for you and gives it to you at
the tree or cliff.
(vi) If you are not at the immediate location where the bird is taken from the wild, the person who
removes the bird from the wild must be a General or Master Falconer, and must report take of
the bird. If that person then transfers the bird to you, you must both file 3-186A forms reporting
the transaction at your first opportunity to do so, but no later than 10 days after the transfer.
The bird will count as one of the two raptors the person who took it from the wild is allowed to
capture in any year. The bird will not count as a bird you took from the wild. The person who
takes the bird from the wild must report the take even if he or she promptly transfers the bird to
you.
(vii) If you have a long-term or permanent physical impairment that prevents you from attending the
capture of a species you can use for falconry, a General or Master Falconer may capture a bird
for you. You are then responsible for filing a 3-186A form reporting take of the bird from the
wild, and the bird will count against the take of wild raptors that you are allowed in any year.
(viii) You must promptly release any bird you capture unintentionally.
(3) Other restrictions on taking raptors from the wild for falconry.
(i)

If you are a General or Master Falconer, you may take only raptors less than 1 year of age from
the wild during any period or periods specified by the State, tribe, or territory. However, you may
take an American kestrel or great horned owl of any age from the wild during any period or
periods specified by the State, tribe, or territory.

(ii) If you are a Master Falconer authorized to possess golden eagles for use in falconry, you may
capture a golden eagle in a livestock or wildlife depredation area during the time the
depredation area and associated depredation permit or depredation control order are in effect.
(A) You may capture an immature or subadult golden eagle.
(B) You may take a nestling from its nest in a livestock depredation area if a biologist
representing the agency responsible for declaring the depredation area has determined
that the adult eagle is preying on livestock or wildlife.

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50 CFR 21.82(e)(3)(ii)(C)

(C) You may take a nesting adult golden eagle only if a biologist representing the agency
responsible for declaring the depredation area has determined that the adult eagle is
preying on livestock or wildlife and that any nestling of the adult will be taken by a falconer
authorized to possess it or by the biologist and transferred to an individual authorized to
possess it.
(D) You must determine the locations of the livestock or wildlife depredation areas declared by
USDA Wildlife Services, or published in the FEDERAL REGISTER by the Service in response to
a State governor's request. We will not notify you about them.
(E) Before you begin any trapping activities, you must inform our regional Law Enforcement
office of your capture plans. You must notify the office in person, in writing, or via facsimile
or email at least 3 business days before you start trapping. You may send an email with
your trapping plans to [email protected], or you may deliver your trapping plans in
person or by mail to the Law Enforcement office in your region at the applicable street
address provided at 50 CFR 2.2. Telephone and fax numbers are as follows:
Region

Law enforcement office telephone number

Law enforcement office fax number

1

503-231-6125

503-231-2193

2

505-248-7889

505-248-7899

3

612-713-5320

612-713-5283

4

404-679-7057

404-679-7065

5

413-253-8274

413-253-8459

6

303-236-7540

303-236-7901

7

907-786-3311

907-786-3313

8

916-414-6660

916-414-6715

(F) You also must meet all requirements of the State or territory in which you plan to trap, or
the tribe on whose lands you plan to trap.
(G) You must have permission from the landowner to capture an eagle; or if you wish to
capture one on public land, the responsible agency must allow it.
(iii) You may recapture a falconry bird you have lost at any time. We do not consider recapture of a
wild bird to be taking a bird from the wild.
(iv) You may recapture a raptor wearing falconry equipment or a captive-bred bird at any time - even
if you are not allowed to possess the species. The bird will not count against your possession
limit, nor will its take from the wild count against your limit. You must report your recapture of
the bird to your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry no more than 5 working
days after the recapture. You must return a recaptured falconry bird to the person who lost it, if
that person may legally possess it. Disposition of a bird whose legal possession cannot be
determined will be at the discretion of the State, tribe, or territory.
(v) You may take any raptor that you are authorized to possess from the wild if the bird is banded
with a Federal Bird Banding Laboratory aluminum band, except that you may not take a banded
peregrine falcon from the wild.

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50 CFR 21.82(e)(3)(v)(A)

(A) If a raptor (including a peregrine falcon) you capture is marked with a seamless metal
band, a transmitter, or any other item identifying it as a falconry bird, you must report your
capture of the bird to your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry no more
than 5 working days after the capture. You must return a recaptured falconry bird to the
person who lost it. If that person cannot possess the bird or does not wish to possess it,
you may keep it. Otherwise, disposition of a bird whose legal possession cannot be
determined will be at the discretion of the State, tribe, or territory. While you keep a bird for
return to the person who lost it, the bird will not count against your possession limit or
your limit on take of raptors from the wild if you have reported possessing the bird to your
State, tribal, or territorial falconry permit office.
(B) If you capture a peregrine falcon that has a research band (such as a colored band with
alphanumeric codes) or a research marking attached to it, you must immediately release
the bird, except that if the falcon has a transmitter attached to it, you are authorized to
possess the bird up to 30 days if you wish to contact the researcher to determine if he or
she wishes to replace the transmitter or its batteries. If the researcher wishes to do so, or
to have the transmitter removed, the researcher or his or her designee can make the
change or allow you to do so before you release the bird. If the researcher does not wish
to keep the transmitter on the falcon, you may keep the bird if you captured it in
circumstances in which capture of wild peregrines is allowed.
(C) If a raptor you capture has any other band, research marking, or transmitter attached to it,
you must promptly report the band numbers and all other relevant information to the
Federal Bird Banding Laboratory at 1-800-327-2263.
(1) You may contact the researcher and determine if he or she wishes to replace a
transmitter attached to a bird you capture. If so, you are authorized to possess the
bird up to 30 days until the researcher or his or her designee does so, or until you can
replace it yourself. Disposition of the bird will be at the discretion of the researcher
and your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry.
(2) If you possess such a bird temporarily, it will not count against your possession limit
for falconry raptors.
(vi) You must leave at least one young from any nest or aerie from which you take a nestling.
(vii) If you are an Apprentice Falconer, you may not take a nestling from the wild.
(viii) If you are a Master Falconer with a permit to do so, you may take, transport, or possess up to
three eagles, including golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, or Steller's sea-eagles, subject to the
requirements in paragraph (c)(2)(iv) of this section and § 22.70 of this part. A golden eagle,
white-tailed eagle, or Steller's sea-eagle you possess counts as a bird to be included under your
possession limit.
(ix) If you are a General or Master Falconer, you may take no more than one bird of a threatened
species from the wild each year if the regulations in part 17 of this subchapter allow it and if
you obtain a Federal endangered species permit to do so before you take the bird. You also may
need a State, tribal, or territorial endangered species permit to take a listed species.

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50 CFR 21.82(e)(4)

(4) Take of a species or subspecies that was recently removed from the Federal List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife to use in falconry. We must first publish a management plan for the species. If
take is allowed in the management plan, you may do so in accordance with the provisions for take in
the plan.
(5) Raptors injured due to falconer trapping efforts. You have two options for dealing with a bird injured
by your trapping efforts. In either case, you are responsible for the costs of care and rehabilitation of
the bird.
(i)

You may put the bird on your falconry permit. You must report take of the bird using one of the
methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section at your first opportunity to do so, but no
more than 10 days after capture of the bird. You must then have the bird treated by a
veterinarian or a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. The bird will count against your possession
limit.

(ii) You may give the bird directly to a veterinarian, or a permitted wildlife rehabilitator, or an
appropriate wildlife agency employee. If you do so, it will not count against your allowed take or
the number of raptors you may possess.
(6) Acquisition, transfer, loss, or rebanding of a raptor.
(i)

If you acquire a raptor; transfer, reband, or microchip a raptor; if a raptor you possess is stolen; if
you lose a raptor to the wild and you do not recover it within 30 days; or if a bird you possess for
falconry dies; you must report the change within 10 days using one of the methods listed in
paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.

(ii) If a raptor you possess is stolen, you must report the theft to your State, tribal, or territorial
agency that regulates falconry and to your Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Law Enforcement
office (see paragraph (e)(3)(ii)(E) of this section) within 10 days of the theft of the bird.
(iii) You must keep copies of all electronic database submissions documenting take, transfer, loss,
rebanding or microchipping of each falconry raptor until 5 years after you have transferred or
lost the bird, or it has died.
(7) Acquiring a bird for falconry from a permitted rehabilitator. You may acquire a raptor of any age of a
species that you are permitted to possess directly from a rehabilitator. Transfer to you is at the
discretion of the rehabilitator.
(i)

If you acquire a bird from a rehabilitator, within 10 days of the transaction you must report it
using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.

(ii) If you acquire a bird from a rehabilitator, it will count as one of the raptors you are allowed to
take from the wild that year.
(8) Flying a hybrid raptor in falconry. When flown free, a hybrid raptor must have attached at least two
functioning radio transmitters to help you to locate the bird.
(9) Releasing a falconry bird to the wild. You must follow all applicable State or territorial and Federal
laws and regulations before releasing a falconry bird to the wild.
(i)

If the raptor you wish to release is not native to the State or territory, or is a hybrid of any kind,
you may not permanently release the bird to the wild. You may transfer it to another falconry
permittee.

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50 CFR 21.82(e)(9)(ii)

(ii) If the species you wish to release is native to the State or territory and is captive-bred, you may
not release the bird to the wild unless you have permission from the State, tribe, or territory to
release the bird. If you are permitted to do so, you must hack the bird (allow it to adjust) to the
wild at an appropriate time of year and an appropriate location. You must remove its falconry
band (if it has one) and report release of the bird by submitting the required information using
one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
(iii) If the species you wish to release is native to the State and was taken from the wild, you may
release the bird only at an appropriate time of year and an appropriate location. You must
remove its falconry band and report release of the bird by submitting the required information
using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
(10) Restrictions on transfers of falconry raptors from other falconers. We do not restrict the number of
wild-caught or captive-bred raptors transferred to you, but you may not exceed your possession limit.
(f) Additional information on the practice of falconry (1) Raptors removed from the wild for falconry are always considered “wild” raptors. No matter how long
such a bird is held in captivity or whether it is transferred to another permittee or permit type, it is
always considered a “wild” bird. However, it is considered to be taken from the wild only by the
person who originally captured it. We do not consider the raptor to be taken from the wild by any
subsequent permittee to whom it is legally transferred.
(2) “Hacking” of falconry raptors. Hacking (temporary release to the wild) is an approved method for
falconers to condition raptors for falconry. If you are a General Falconer or a Master Falconer, you
may hack a falconry raptor or raptors.
(i)

You may need permission from your State, tribal, or territorial wildlife agency to hack a bird you
possess for falconry. Check with your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry to
determine if hacking is allowed.

(ii) Any bird you are hacking counts against your possession limit and must be a species you are
authorized to possess.
(iii) Any hybrid you hack must have two attached functioning radio transmitters during hacking.
(iv) You may not hack a falconry bird near a nesting area of a Federally threatened or endangered
bird species or in any other location where the raptor is likely to harm a Federally listed
threatened or endangered animal species that might be disturbed or taken by your falconry
bird. You should contact your State or territorial wildlife agency before hacking a falconry bird
to ensure that this does not occur. You can contact the State Fish and Wildlife Service office in
your State or territory for information on Federally-listed species.
(3) Use of other falconry training or conditioning techniques. You may use other acceptable falconry
practices, such as, but not limited to, the use of creance (tethered) flying, lures, balloons, or kites in
training or conditioning falconry raptors. You also may fly falconry birds at bird species not protected
under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or at pen-raised animals.
(4) Selling or trading raptors under a falconry permit.
(i)

If allowed by your State, tribe or territory, you may sell, purchase, or barter, or offer to sell,
purchase, or barter captive-bred raptors marked with seamless bands to other permittees who
are authorized to possess them.

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50 CFR 21.82(f)(4)(ii)

(ii) You may not purchase, sell, trade, or barter wild raptors. You may only transfer them.
(5) Transfer of wild-caught raptors captured for falconry to another type of permit. Under some
circumstances you may transfer a raptor to another permit type if the recipient of the bird (which
could be you) possesses the necessary permits for the other activity.
(i)

If your State, tribe, or territory allows you to do so, you may transfer a wild-caught falconry bird
to a raptor propagation permit after the bird has been used in falconry for at least 2 years (1
year for a sharp-shinned hawk, a Cooper's hawk, a merlin, or an American kestrel). When you
transfer the bird, you must provide a copy of the 3-186A form documenting acquisition of the
bird by the propagator to the Federal migratory bird permit office that administers the
propagation permit.

(ii) You may transfer a wild-caught bird to another permit type in less than 2 years (1 year for a
sharp-shinned hawk, a Cooper's hawk, a merlin, or an American kestrel) if the bird has been
injured and a veterinarian or permitted wildlife rehabilitator has determined that the bird can no
longer be flown for falconry.
(A) Within 10 days of transferring the bird, you must provide a copy of the 3-186A form
documenting acquisition of the bird to the Federal migratory bird permit office that
administers the other permit type.
(B) When you transfer the bird, you must provide a copy of the certification from the
veterinarian or rehabilitator that the bird is not useable in falconry to the Federal migratory
bird permits office that administers the other permit type.
(6) Transfer of captive-bred falconry raptors to another type of permit. You may transfer captive-bred
falconry raptors if the holder of the other permit type is authorized to possess the bird(s). Within 10
days, you must report the transfer by submitting the required information using one of the methods
listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
(7) Use of raptors held under a falconry permit in captive propagation. You may use raptors you possess
for falconry in captive propagation if you or the person overseeing the propagation has the
necessary permit(s) (see § 21.85). You do not need to transfer a bird from your falconry permit if you
use it for fewer than 8 months in a year in captive propagation, but you must do so if you
permanently transfer the bird for propagation. The bird must then be banded as required in § 21.85.
(8) Use of falconry raptors in conservation education programs. If you are a General or Master Falconer,
you may use a bird you possess in conservation education programs presented in public venues.
(i)

You do not need a Federal education permit to conduct conservation education activities using
a falconry raptor held under a State, tribal, or territorial falconry permit.

(ii) You may present conservation programs as an Apprentice Falconer if you are under the
supervision of a General or Master Falconer when you do so.
(iii) You must use the bird primarily for falconry.
(iv) You may charge a fee for presentation of a conservation education program. The fee may not
exceed the amount required to recoup your costs.

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50 CFR 21.82(f)(8)(v)

(v) In conservation education programs, you must provide information about the biology, ecological
roles, and conservation needs of raptors and other migratory birds, although not all of these
topics must be addressed in every presentation. You may not give presentations that do not
address falconry and conservation education.
(vi) You are responsible for all liability associated with conservation education activities you
undertake (see 50 CFR 13.50).
(9) Other educational uses of falconry raptors. You may allow photography, filming, or other such uses of
falconry raptors to make movies or other sources of information on the practice of falconry or on the
biology, ecological roles, and conservation needs of raptors and other migratory birds, though you
may not be paid for doing so.
(i)

You may not use falconry raptors to make movies, commercials, or in other commercial
ventures that are not related to falconry.

(ii) You may not use falconry raptors for commercial entertainment; for advertisements; as a
representation of any business, company, corporation, or other organization; or for promotion or
endorsement of any products, merchandise, goods, services, meetings, or fairs, with the
following exceptions:
(A) You may use a falconry raptor to promote or endorse a nonprofit falconry organization or
association.
(B) You may use a falconry raptor to promote or endorse products or endeavors related to
falconry, including, but not limited to items such as hoods, telemetry equipment, giant
hoods, perches, materials for raptor facilities, falconry training and education materials,
and scientific research and publication.
(10) Assisting in rehabilitation of raptors to prepare them for release. If your State, tribe, or territory allows
you to do so, and if you are a General or Master Falconer, you may assist a permitted migratory bird
rehabilitator to condition raptors in preparation for their release to the wild. You may keep a bird you
are helping to rehabilitate in your facilities.
(i)

The rehabilitator must provide you with a letter or form that identifies the bird and explains that
you are assisting in its rehabilitation.

(ii) You do not need to meet the rehabilitator facility standards. You need only meet the facility
standards in this section; your facilities are not subject to inspection for compliance with the
standards in § 21.76.
(iii) You do not have to add any raptor you possess for this purpose to your falconry permit; it will
remain under the permit of the rehabilitator.
(iv) You must return any such bird that cannot be permanently released to the wild to the
rehabilitator for placement within the 180-day timeframe in which the rehabilitator is authorized
to possess the bird, unless the issuing office authorizes you to retain the bird for longer than
180 days.

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50 CFR 21.82(f)(10)(v)

(v) Upon coordination with the rehabilitator, you must release all releaseable raptors to the wild or
return them to the rehabilitator for release within the 180-day timeframe in which the
rehabilitator is authorized to possess the birds, unless the issuing office authorizes you to
retain and condition a bird for longer than 180 days, or unless the rehabilitator transfers the bird
to you to hold under your falconry permit.
(11) Using a falconry bird in abatement activities.
(i)

If you are a Master Falconer, you may conduct abatement activities with a bird or birds you
possess for falconry. If you are a General Falconer, you may conduct abatement activities only
as a subpermittee of the holder of the abatement permit.

(ii) You may receive payment for providing abatement services if you have a Special Purpose
Abatement permit.
(12) Feathers that a falconry bird or birds molts.
(i)

For imping (replacing a damaged feather with a molted feather), you may possess tail feathers
and primary and secondary wing feathers for each species of raptor you possess or previously
held for as long as you have a valid falconry permit. You may receive feathers for imping from
other permitted falconers, wildlife rehabilitators, or propagators in the United States, and you
may give feathers to them. You may not buy, sell, or barter such feathers.

(ii) You may donate feathers from a falconry bird, except golden eagle feathers, to any person or
institution with a valid permit to have them, or to anyone exempt from the permit requirement
under § 21.12.
(iii) Except for primary or secondary flight feathers or retrices from a golden eagle, you are not
required to gather feathers that are molted or otherwise lost by a falconry bird. You may leave
the feathers where they fall, store them for imping, or destroy them. However, you must collect
molted flight feathers and retrices from a golden eagle. If you choose not to keep them for
imping, you must send them to the National Eagle Repository.
(iv) We request that you send all feathers (including body feathers) that you collect from any
falconry golden eagle and that you do not need for imping, to the National Eagle Repository at
the following address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Eagle Repository, Rocky Mountain
Arsenal, Building 128, Commerce City, Colorado 80022. The telephone number at the
Repository is 303-287-2110.
(v) If your permit expires or is revoked, you must donate the feathers of any species of falconry
raptor except a golden eagle to any person or any institution exempt from the permit
requirement under § 21.12 or authorized by permit to acquire and possess the feathers. If you
do not donate the feathers, you must burn, bury, or otherwise destroy them.
(13) Disposition of carcasses of falconry birds that die.
(i)

You must send the entire body of a golden eagle you held for falconry, including all feathers,
talons, and other parts, to the National Eagle Repository.

(ii) You may donate the body or feathers of any other species of falconry raptor to any person or
institution exempt under § 21.12 or authorized by permit to acquire and possess such parts or
feathers.

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50 CFR 21.82(f)(13)(iii)

(iii) If the bird was banded or microchipped prior to its death, you may keep the body of any falconry
raptor except that of a golden eagle. You may keep the body so that the feathers are available
for imping, or you may have the body mounted by a taxidermist. You may use the mount in
giving conservation education programs. If the bird was banded, you must leave the band on
the body. If the bird has an implanted microchip, you must leave the microchip in place.
(iv) If you do not wish to donate the bird body or feathers or keep it yourself, you must burn, bury, or
otherwise destroy it or them within 10 days of the death of the bird or after final examination by
a veterinarian to determine cause of death. Carcasses of euthanized raptors could pose a risk
of secondary poisoning of eagles and other scavengers. You must take appropriate precautions
to avoid such poisonings.
(v) If you do not donate the bird body or feathers or have the body mounted by a taxidermist, you
may possess the flight feathers for as long as you have a valid falconry permit. However, you
may not buy, sell, or barter the feathers. You must keep the paperwork documenting your
acquisition of the bird.
(14) Visitors practicing falconry in the United States.
(i)

A visitor to the United States may qualify for a temporary falconry permit appropriate for his or
her experience.
(A) The permit may be valid for any period specified by the State, tribe, or territory.
(B) To demonstrate knowledge of U.S. falconry laws and regulations, the visitor must correctly
answer at least 80 percent of the questions on the supervised examination for falconers
administered by the tribe, State, or territory from which he or she wishes to obtain a
temporary falconry permit. If the visitor passes the test, the tribe, State, or territory will
decide for what level of temporary permit the person is qualified. The decision should be
based on the individual's documentation of his or her experience.
(C) If you hold a temporary falconry permit, you may possess raptors for falconry if you have
approved falconry facilities.
(D) A holder of a temporary falconry permit may fly raptors held for falconry by a permitted
falconer.
(E) A holder of a temporary falconry permit may not take a bird from the wild to use in
falconry.

(ii) For the duration of a permit from a State, tribe, or territory, a visitor may use any bird for falconry
that he or she possess legally in his or her country of residence for that purpose, provided that
import of that species to the United States is not prohibited, and provided that he or she has
met all permitting requirements of his or her country of residence.
(A) A visitor must comply with the provisions in this section, those of the State, tribe or
territory where he or she wishes to conduct falconry, and all States through which he or
she will travel with the bird.

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50 CFR 21.82(f)(14)(ii)(B)

(B) The visitor may transport registered raptors. He or she may need one or more additional
permits to bring a raptor into the United States or to return home with it (see 50 CFR part
14 (importation, exportation, and transportation of wildlife), part 15 (Wild Bird
Conservation Act), part 17 (endangered and threatened species), part 21 (migratory bird
import and export permits), and part 23 (endangered species convention)).
(C) Unless the visitor has the necessary permit(s) to bring a raptor into the United States and
leave it here, he or she must take raptors brought into the country for falconry out of the
country when he or she leaves. If a raptor brought into the United States dies or is lost
while in this country, the visitor must document the loss before leaving the United States
by reporting the loss to the State, tribal, or territorial agency that governs falconry where
the bird was lost.
(D) When flown free, any bird brought to this country temporarily must have two attached
radio transmitters that will allow the falconer to locate it.
(E) There also may be tribal or State restrictions on nonresidents practicing falconry or
importing a raptor or raptors held for falconry.
(15) Taking falconry raptors to another country to use in falconry activities. A permit issued under this
section authorizes you to export and then import raptors you legally possess for falconry to another
country to use in falconry without an additional migratory bird import/export permit issued under §
21.67.
(i)

You must meet any requirements in 50 CFR 14 subpart B.

(ii) You may need one or more additional permits to take a bird from the United States or to return
home with it (see 50 CFR part 15 (Wild Bird Conservation Act), part 17 (endangered and
threatened species), and part 23 (endangered species convention)).
(iii) Unless you have the necessary permit(s) to permanently export a raptor from the United States,
you must bring any raptor you take out of the country for falconry back to the United States
when you return. Each raptor must be covered by a CITES certificate of ownership issued under
part 23 of this chapter. You must have full documentation of the lawful origin of each raptor (a
copy of a propagation report with band number or a 3-186A report), and each must be
identifiable with a seamless band or a permanent, nonreusable, numbered Fish and Wildlife
Service leg band issued by the Service or an implanted microchip for identification.
(iv) If the raptor dies or is lost, you are not required to bring it back but must report the loss
immediately upon your return to the United States in the manner required by the falconry
regulations of your State, and any conditions on your CITES certificate.
(16) Permission to capture, fly, or release a falconry bird at any location. You do not need special or
written permission for any of these activities on public lands if it is authorized. However, you must
comply with all applicable Federal, State, tribal, or territorial laws regarding falconry activities,
including hunting. Your falconry permit does not authorize you to capture or release raptors or
practice falconry on public lands if it is prohibited on those lands, or on private property, without
permission from the landowner or custodian.
(17) Practicing falconry in the vicinity of a Federally listed threatened or endangered animal species. In
practicing falconry you must ensure that your activities do not cause the take of Federally listed
threatened or endangered wildlife. “Take” under the Endangered Species Act means “to harass,
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50 CFR 21.82(f)(18)

pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or attempt to engage in any such conduct”
(Endangered Species Act § 3(18)). Within this definition, “harass” means any act that may injure
wildlife by disrupting normal behavior, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering, and harm” means an
act that actually kills or injures wildlife (50 CFR 17.3). To obtain information about threatened or
endangered species that may occur in your State or on tribal lands where you wish to practice
falconry, contact your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry. You can contact your
State Fish and Wildlife Service office for information on Federally-listed species.
(18) Trapping a bird for use in falconry in areas used by the northern aplomado falcon. Capture of a
northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) is not authorized because it is a violation
of the Endangered Species Act. To avoid trapping northern aplomado falcons, you must comply with
the following conditions when trapping a bird for use in falconry in the following counties.
If you
trap in

You may trap a bird for falconry in the following counties if you comply with the conditions
below.

(i)
Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, or Santa Cruz.
Arizona,
(ii) New
Mexico,

Doa Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Luna, Otero, Sierra, or Socorro.

(iii)
Texas,

Aransas, Brewster, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Culberson, Duval, Ector, El Paso, Hidalgo,
Hudspeth, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, Matagorda, Maverick, Midland, Nueces,
Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Terrell, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Willacy, or
Zapata.

(iv) If you are an Apprentice Falconer, you must be accompanied by a General or Master Falconer
when trapping in one of these counties.
(v) You may not begin trapping if you observe a northern aplomado falcon in the vicinity of your
intended trapping effort.
(vi) You must suspend trapping if a northern aplomado falcon arrives in the vicinity of your trapping
effort.
(19) Prey item killed by a falconry bird without your intent, including an animal taken outside of a regular
hunting season.
(i)

You may allow your falconry bird to feed on the animal, but you may not take the animal into
your possession.

(ii) You must report take of any federally listed threatened or endangered species to our Ecological
Services Field Office for the location in which the take occurred.
(20) Take of bird species for which a depredation order is in place. With a falconry bird, you may take any
species listed in § 21.150, § 21.153, or § 21.156 of this subchapter at any time in accordance with
the conditions of the applicable depredation order, as long as you are not paid for doing so.
(21) Transfer of falconry raptors if a permittee dies. A surviving spouse, executor, administrator, or other
legal representative of a deceased falconry permittee may transfer any bird held by the permittee to
another authorized permittee within 90 days of the death of the falconry permittee. After 90 days,
disposition of a bird held under the permit is at the discretion of the authority that issued it.

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50 CFR 21.82(g)

(g) Applying for a falconry permit. If you apply for a falconry permit, you must include the following
information plus any other information required by your State, tribe, or territory.
(1) The completed application form from your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry
permits.
(2) Proof that you have passed the falconry test administered by the State, tribe, or territory where you
maintain your legal residence, or proof that you have previously held a falconry permit at the level
you seek.
(3) For an Apprentice permit, you must provide the following:
(i)

A letter from a General or Master Falconer stating that he or she has agreed to assist you in
learning about the husbandry and training of raptors held for falconry and about relevant
wildlife laws and regulations, and in deciding what species of raptor is appropriate for you to
possess while an Apprentice.

(ii) An original, signed certification that you are particularly familiar with § 10.13 of this subchapter,
the list of migratory bird species to which the Migratory Bird Treaty Act applies; part 13 of this
subchapter, general permit regulations; part 21 of this subchapter, migratory bird permits; and
part 22 of this subchapter, eagle permits. The certification can be incorporated into tribal and
State application forms, and must be worded as follows:
I certify that I have read and am familiar with the regulations in title 50, part 13, of the Code of Federal
Regulations and the other applicable parts in subchapter B of chapter I of title 50, and that the
information I have submitted is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I
understand that any false statement herein may subject me to the criminal penalties of 18 U.S.C. 1001.
(4) For an Apprentice or General Falconry permit, a parent or legal guardian must co-sign your
application if you are under 18.
(5) For a General Falconer permit:
(i)

Information documenting your experience maintaining falconry raptors, including a summary of
what species you held as an Apprentice Falconer and how long you possessed each bird, and

(ii) A letter from a General Falconer or Master Falconer (preferably your sponsor) attesting that you
have practiced falconry with raptor(s) at the Apprentice Falconer level for at least 2 years,
including maintaining, training, flying, and hunting the raptor(s) for at least 4 months in each
year.
(6) For a Master Falconer permit, you must attest that you have practiced falconry at the General
Falconer level for at least 5 years.
(h) Updating a falconry permit after a move. If you move to a new State or outside the jurisdiction of your tribe
or territory and take falconry birds with you, within 30 days you must inform both your former State, tribe,
or territory and the permitting authority for your new place of residence of your address change. To obtain
a new falconry permit, you must follow the permit application procedures of the authority under which you
wish to acquire a new permit. You may keep falconry birds you hold while you apply for a new falconry
permit. However, the State, tribe, or territory into which you move may place restrictions on your
possession of falconry birds until you meet the residency requirements there.

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50 CFR 21.82(i)

(i)

Restoration of revoked permits. Upon request of the person whose permit has been revoked, the State,
tribe, or territory may restore the person's falconry permit at the end of the revocation period.

(j)

Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements contained in this section and assigned OMB Control Number
1018-0022. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct comments
regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the Service's
Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).

(k) Database required of States, tribes, and territories. Each State, tribe, or territory that permits falconry must
maintain information in a database. The information will enable enforcement of this section.
(1) The State, tribal, or territorial database must be compatible with the database that we maintain. The
State, tribal, or territorial database must contain the following information:
(i)

The current address of each person with a falconry permit.

(ii) The classification of each person with a falconry permit - Apprentice Falconer, General Falconer,
or Master Falconer.
(iii) The address of the falconry facilities of each person with a falconry permit.
(iv) The Federal falconry identifier number assigned via the 3-186A system to each person with a
falconry permit.
(v) Whether each permittee is authorized to possess eagles.
(vi) Information on the status of each person's permit: whether it is active, suspended, or revoked.
(2) Information on each permit granted, including changes in status from Apprentice Falconer to General
Falconer or General Falconer to Master Falconer, and moves of falconers or their facilities must be
entered into the State's, tribe's, or territory's database within 30 days of the granting of the permit or
a falconer's change in status. New additions to the State, tribal, or territorial database must be
forwarded to us monthly.
[73 FR 59465, Oct. 8, 2008, as amended at 74 FR 64640, Dec. 8, 2009; 75 FR 931, Jan. 7, 2010; 75 FR 3395, Jan. 21, 2010; 75 FR
81141, Dec. 27, 2010; 76 FR 71912, Nov. 21, 2011; 77 FR 66408, Nov. 5, 2012; 78 FR 35152, June 12, 2013; 78 FR 72832, Dec. 4,
2013; 80 FR 38015, July 2, 2015. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.85 Raptor propagation permits.
(a) Legal basis for regulating raptor propagation.
(1) Among other actions, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) prohibits any
person from capturing from the wild, possessing, purchasing, bartering, selling, or offering to
purchase, barter, or sell raptors (vultures, kites, eagles, hawks, caracaras, falcons, and owls) listed in
§ 10.13 of this chapter unless the activities are allowed by Federal permit issued pursuant to this
part and part 13 of this chapter, or as permitted by regulations in this part.
(i)

This section covers all “native” raptors (accipitriformes, falconiformes, and strigiformes listed in
§ 10.13 of this chapter), and applies to any person who possesses one or more wild-caught,
captive-bred, or hybrid raptors protected under the MBTA to use in raptor propagation, except

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50 CFR 21.85(a)(1)(ii)

that neither bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nor golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) may
be propagated under these regulations or any other permit regulation listed in part 21 of this
chapter.
(ii) You must have a Federal raptor propagation permit before you may capture from the wild,
possess, transport, import, purchase, barter, or offer to sell, purchase, or barter any raptor,
raptor egg, or raptor semen for propagation purposes. Your State may require that you also
have a State permit.
(2) Other regulations, such as those for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora, the Wild Bird Conservation Act, and State regulations, may affect propagationrelated activities. In cases in which more than one set of regulations affect raptor propagation, the
most restrictive requirements affecting the activity will apply.
(b) Species available for raptor propagation. If you have a raptor propagation permit, you may attempt to
propagate any species of raptor listed in § 10.13 of this chapter, with the following exceptions:
(1) You may not propagate bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) or golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos)
under a raptor propagation permit or any other permit regulation listed in part 21 of this chapter.
(2) If you are authorized by your Regional Migratory Bird Permit office to do so, you may possess and
attempt to propagate threatened or endangered raptor species. See paragraphs (f) and (u) of this
section.
(c) Facilities used for raptor propagation. In addition to the general conditions found in part 13 of this chapter,
raptor propagation permits are subject to the following additional conditions:
(1) You must maintain any tethered raptor you possess under this permit in accordance with the
facilities and standards requirements in § 21.82, unless you obtain a written exception to this
requirement from your Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office.
(2) For untethered raptors, your breeding facilities must be soundly constructed and entirely enclosed
with wood, wire netting, or other suitable material that provides a safe, healthy environment.
(i)

Your facilities must minimize the risk of injury by providing protection from predators, pets, and
extreme weather conditions.

(ii) Your facilities must minimize the risk of raptor injuries due to collision with interior or perimeter
construction materials and equipment, such as support poles, windows, wire netting, perches,
or lights.
(iii) Your facilities must have suitable perches and nesting sites, fresh air ventilation, a source of
light, a well-drained floor, and ready access for cleaning. Each bird must have access to a pan
of clean water unless weather conditions, the perch type used, or some other factor makes
access to a water pan unsafe for the raptor.
(iv) You do not need to house your propagation raptors separately from other raptors you hold.
However, you must keep raptors that you are not authorized to propagate separated from those
you use in propagation.
(d) Inspection. In the presence of the permittee, Federal or State officials may inspect propagation raptors,
facilities, equipment, and records during business hours on any day of the week.
(e) Banding of raptors used for propagation. 50 CFR 21.85(e) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 21.85(e)(1)

(1) Certain species. You must band a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus),
peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), or gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) that you take from the wild to use
in captive propagation.
(i)

You must use a nonreusable band that we provide.

(ii) You may purchase and implant an ISO (International Organization for Standardization)compliant 134.2 kHz microchip in the raptor in addition to banding it.
(iii) You must report the information on the raptor (including information identifying the microchip, if
you implant one, and where it is located) at https://epermits.fws.gov/falcp/ or by submitting a
paper FWS Form 3-186A form to your State or tribal agency that governs propagation, if
applicable, and to us.
(2) Banding nestlings. Unless a particular nestling is specifically exempted, you must band every captivebred raptor within 2 weeks of hatching.
(i)

You must use a numbered, seamless band that we will provide.

(ii) You must use a band with an inside diameter that is small enough to prevent loss or removal of
the band when the raptor is grown without causing serious injury to the raptor or damaging the
band's integrity or one-piece construction.
(iii) You may band a nestling with more than one band of different sizes if you cannot determine the
proper size when you band the nestling. You must then remove and destroy all but the correctly
sized band before the nestling is 5 weeks old.
(iv) You may submit a letter requesting an exemption from the banding requirement for any nestling
or fledgling for which the band causes a problem. If you demonstrate that the band itself or the
behavior of the raptor in response to the band poses a hazard to the raptor, we may exempt that
raptor from the banding requirement. You must destroy the band after you remove it.
(3) You may purchase and implant an ISO-compliant 134.2 kHz microchip in the raptor in addition to a
band. You must report information to identify the microchip and where on the raptor the chip is
implanted when you report your acquisition of the raptor.
(4) If a captive-bred raptor is not banded with a seamless band, or if you must remove the seamless
band from a captive-bred raptor, you must band the bird with a nonreusable band that we provide.
(f) Taking and transferring raptors or raptor eggs from the wild to use in propagation. You may take no more
than two raptors or raptor eggs from the wild each year to use in propagation.
(1) The State must authorize you to take the raptor(s) or egg(s) from the wild.
(2) You must comply with all State laws in taking raptor(s) or egg(s) from the wild.
(3) You may take a raptor listed in § 17.11(h) of this chapter as “endangered” or “threatened” from the
wild only if you have a permit under part 17 of this chapter (See paragraph (u) of this section.).
(4) You may transfer a raptor taken from the wild for propagation to any other person authorized to
possess it, except that you must comply with the prohibitions in § 21.82 on a transfer to a falconer.
(g) Transfer, purchase, sale, or barter of captive-bred raptors, eggs, or semen.

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50 CFR 21.85(g)(1)

(1) You may transfer, sell, or barter a lawfully possessed captive-bred raptor to another person
authorized to possess captive-bred raptors if the raptor is marked on the metatarsus by a seamless,
numbered band that we provide.
(2) You may transfer, sell, or barter a lawfully possessed raptor egg or raptor semen produced by a
raptor held under your captive propagation permit (including a raptor taken from the wild) to another
raptor propagation permittee.
(3) You may not purchase, sell, or barter any raptor eggs or any raptors taken from the wild in the United
States or its territories or possessions, any semen collected from a raptor in the wild in the United
States or its territories or possessions, or any raptor hatched from eggs taken from the wild in the
United States or its territories or possessions.
(h) Required paperwork. You must have a copy of a properly completed FWS Form 3-186A (Migratory Bird
Acquisition and Disposition Report) for each raptor you acquire or that is transferred to you.
(1) You do not have to submit or have a copy of an FWS Form 3-186A for raptors you produce by captive
propagation if you keep the raptors in your possession under your propagation permit.
(2) If you sell, trade, barter, or transfer a raptor held under your captive propagation permit, even if the
transfer is to a falconry permit you hold, you must complete an FWS Form 3-186A and send it to us
within 5 calendar days of the transfer.
(i)

Care of a propagation raptor by another person (1) Care of a propagation raptor by another permittee. The regulations in this paragraph pertain to care of
propagation raptors by persons other than the permittee. Another person who can legally possess
raptors may care for a propagation raptor for you for up to 120 calendar days.
(i)

The person must have a letter from you authorizing him or her to care for the birds, beginning
on the date of your letter.

(ii) The raptor will remain on your raptor propagation permit. If the person who temporarily holds it
for you is a falconer or a captive propagator, the raptor will not be counted against his or her
possession limit on raptors held for falconry or propagation. However, the other person may not
use the raptor in falconry or in propagation.
(iii) If you wish to have someone else care for a propagation raptor for more than 120 days, or if you
wish to let another person use the raptor in falconry or captive propagation, you must transfer
the raptor to that person and report the transfer by submitting a completed FWS Form 3-186A.
(2) Care of a propagation raptor by an individual who does not have a propagation or falconry permit.
Another person may care for propagation raptors you possess for up to 120 consecutive calendar
days.
(i)

The raptor(s) will remain on your propagation permit.

(ii) The raptors must remain in your facilities.
(iii) This care may be extended indefinitely in extenuating circumstances, such as illness, military
service, or for a family emergency. The person(s) caring for your raptors may not fly them for
any reason.

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(j)

50 CFR 21.85(j)

Care of nestlings by an individual who does not hold a migratory bird permit. Another person may
temporarily care for and band nestlings you hold from the time they are hatched until they are fully
feathered. You may allow the other person to keep the nestlings at another location. You must give the
individual a letter authorizing him or her to care for the nestlings, beginning on the date of your letter. The
care might be part of each day during the nestling period so that the nestlings can be fed, or it might be a
series of full days if transport to and from the breeding facility is not practical or needed.

(k) Disposition of molted feathers from a live raptor or carcasses of raptors held under your permit.
(1) You may donate the body or feathers of any species you possess under your propagation permit to
any person or institution exempt under § 21.12 or authorized by permit to acquire and possess such
parts or feathers.
(2) For any raptor you hold under your propagation permit, if the bird was banded or microchipped prior
to its death, you may keep the body to have the feathers available for imping or to have the body
mounted by a taxidermist. You may use the mount in propagation activities or in giving conservation
education programs. If the bird was banded, you must leave the band on the body. If the bird has an
implanted microchip, the microchip must be placed inside the mounted bird.
(3) If you do not wish to donate the bird body or feathers or keep it or them yourself, you must burn, bury,
or otherwise destroy it or them within 10 days of the death of the bird or after final examination by a
veterinarian to determine cause of death. Carcasses of euthanized raptors could pose a risk of
secondary poisoning of eagles and other scavengers. You must take appropriate precautions to
avoid such poisonings.
(4) If you do not donate the bird body or feathers or have the body mounted by a taxidermist, you may
possess the flight feathers for as long as you have a valid raptor propagation or falconry permit.
However, you may not buy, sell, or barter the feathers. You must keep the paperwork documenting
your acquisition of the bird.
(l)

Raptor products. You may possess addled or blown eggs, nests, and feathers from raptors held under
permit, and may transfer any of these items to any other person authorized to possess them.

(m) Release to the wild. You may release a captive-bred raptor to the wild if it is allowed by the State or
territory in which you wish to release the raptor, except that you may not release a hybrid raptor to the
wild. You must leave the captive-bred band on any raptor you release to the wild.
(n) Conservation education programs. You may use a raptor you possess for raptor propagation in
conservation education programs presented in public venues.
(1) You do not need a Federal education permit to conduct conservation education activities using a
propagation raptor.
(2) You must use the raptor primarily for propagation.
(3) You may charge a fee for presentation of a conservation education program. The fee may not exceed
the amount required to recoup your costs.
(4) In conservation education programs, you must provide information about the biology, ecological
roles, and conservation needs of raptors and other migratory birds, although not all of these topics
must be addressed in every presentation. You may not give presentations that do not address
falconry and conservation education.

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(5) You are responsible for all liability associated with conservation education activities you undertake
(see § 13.50 of this chapter).
(o) Permit restrictions. With limited exceptions, you may use raptors held under your captive propagation
permit only for propagation or keep them to transfer or sell. You must transfer a raptor used in captive
propagation to a falconry permit before you or another person may use it in falconry. If you transfer a
raptor used in captive propagation to another permit, you and the recipient of the raptor (which might be
you) must complete an FWS Form 3-186A and report the transfer. You do not need to transfer a bird from
your falconry permit (if you hold one) if you use the bird for fewer than 8 months in a year in captive
propagation, but you must do so if you permanently transfer the bird for propagation. The bird must then
be banded as required in paragraph (e).
(p) Training propagation raptors. You may use falconry training or conditioning practices such as, but not
limited to, creance (tethered) flying, lures, balloons, or kites in training or conditioning captive-bred
progeny of raptors you hold under your permit.
(1) Until the raptors are 1 year old, you may use captive-bred offspring in actual hunting as a means of
training them. To do so, you will not need to transfer them to another permit type. You may not use
them in hunting after their first year if they are held under your captive propagation permit.
(2) Any hybrid raptor that you fly free must have at least two attached radio transmitters to help you to
locate the bird.
(3) You may not hunt at any time with raptors you use in propagation.
(q) Hacking of propagation raptors. “Hacking” (temporary release to the wild) is an approved method to
condition raptors. You may hack a raptor that you produce under your propagation permit.
(1) You may need permission from your State or tribal wildlife agency to hack a raptor you possess
under your propagation permit. Check with your State or tribal agency that regulates falconry to
determine if hacking is allowed.
(2) Any hybrid you hack must have two attached functioning radio transmitters during hacking.
(3) You may not hack a raptor near a nesting area of a federally threatened or endangered bird species
or in any other location where the raptor is likely to harm a federally listed threatened or endangered
animal species that might be disturbed or taken by your falconry raptor. You should contact your
State or territorial wildlife agency before hacking a falconry raptor to ensure that this does not occur.
Contact the Fish and Wildlife Service office in your State or territory for information on federally
listed species.
(r) Transfer of propagation raptors and offspring if a permittee dies. A surviving spouse, executor,
administrator, or other legal representative of a deceased raptor propagation permittee may transfer any
bird, eggs, or semen held by the deceased permittee to another authorized permittee within 90 days of the
death of the falconry permittee. After 90 days, disposition of a bird held under the permit is at our
discretion.
(s) Records of captive propagation efforts. You must maintain complete and accurate records of all
operations, including the following, for at least 5 years after the expiration of your permit. However, you
may want to retain your records for a longer time if you want to get another migratory bird permit, a
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora permit, or a Wild Bird
Conservation Act permit.

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(1) The acquisition of raptors, eggs, or semen you acquired from the wild or that were transferred to you.
(i)

What you acquired, and the species, sex, age, and band number of each bird you acquired.

(ii) Whether you acquired the raptor, egg, or semen from the wild or you purchased it or it was
transferred to you.
(2) The disposition of raptors, eggs, or semen you sell or transfer to another permittee. The information
should include the band number of raptors you sell or transfer.
(t) Annual report. You must submit a completed FWS Form 3-202-8 to your Regional Migratory Bird Permit
office by January 31 each year for January 1 through December 31 of the preceding year.
(u) Endangered or threatened species. If you wish to propagate endangered or threatened species, you must
have at least 2 years of experience handling raptors in a propagation program or programs. You may also
need an endangered species permit to propagate threatened or endangered raptors. See §§ 17.21 and
17.22 of this chapter for permit requirements to propagate threatened or endangered raptors.
(v) Applying for a Federal raptor propagation permit. Using FWS Form 3-200-12, you must submit your
application for a raptor propagation permit to the appropriate Regional Director, to the attention of the
Migratory Bird Permit Office. You can find addresses for the Regional Directors in 50 CFR 2.2. Your
application must contain the general information and the certification required in § 13.12(a) of this
chapter, a copy of your State permit authorizing raptor propagation, if your State requires one, and a
description (including dimensions), drawings, and photographs of the facilities and equipment you will
use.
(w) Criteria for issuing a permit. When we receive a completed application, we will decide whether we should
issue a permit to you. We will consider the general criteria in part 13 of this chapter and the following
factors:
(1) You must be at least 18 years old and have at least 2 full years of experience handling raptors.
(2) You must have a propagation permit or other authorization for raptor propagation from your State or
Tribe, if your State or Tribe requires it.
(3) Your raptor propagation facilities must be adequate for the number and species of raptors to be held
under your permit.
(x) Updating a raptor propagation permit after a move. If you move within your State or get a new mailing
address, you must notify us within 30 days (see § 13.23(c) of this chapter). If you move to a new State,
within 30 days you must inform both your former and your new (if applicable) Migratory Bird Permit
Offices of your address change. If you have new propagation facilities, you must provide information,
pictures, and diagrams of them, and they may be inspected in accordance with Federal or State
requirements. Thereafter, no mandatory inspections of the facilities will continue.
(y) Permit expiration. Your Federal permit may be valid for up to 5 years from when it is issued or renewed. It
will expire on the same day as your State permit, unless your State permit is for a period longer than 5
years, or unless we amend, suspend, or revoke it.
[76 FR 29667, May 23, 2011. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

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§ 21.88 Waterfowl sale and disposal permits.
(a) Permit requirement. You must have a waterfowl sale and disposal permit before you may lawfully sell,
trade, donate, or otherwise dispose of most species of captive-reared and properly marked migratory
waterfowl (family Anatidae) or their eggs. You do not need a permit to sell or dispose of properly marked
captive-reared mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) or their eggs.
(b) Permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter B, waterfowl
sale and disposal permits are subject to the following conditions:
(1) You may not take migratory waterfowl or their eggs from the wild, unless take is provided for
elsewhere in this subchapter.
(2) You may not acquire migratory waterfowl or their eggs from any person who does not have a valid
waterfowl propagation permit.
(3) Before they are 6 weeks of age, all live captive migratory waterfowl possessed under authority of a
valid waterfowl sale and disposal permit must be physically marked as defined in § 21.45(b).
(4) All offspring of birds hatched, reared, and retained in captivity also must be marked before they are 6
weeks of age in accordance with § 21.45(b), unless they are held in captivity at a public zoological
park, or a public scientific or educational institution.
(5) Properly marked captive-bred birds may be killed, in any number, at any time or place, by any means
except shooting. They may be killed by shooting only in accordance with all the applicable hunting
regulations governing the taking of like species from the wild.
(6) At all times during possession, transportation, and storage, until the raw carcasses of such birds are
finally processed immediately prior to cooking, smoking, or canning, the marked foot or wing must
remain attached to each carcass. However, if you have a State license, permit, or authorization that
allows you to sell game, you may remove the marked foot or wing from the raw carcasses if the
number of your State license, permit, or authorization has been legibly stamped in ink on the back of
each carcass and on the wrapping or container in which each carcass is maintained, or if each
carcass is identified by a State band on a leg or wing pursuant to requirements of your State license,
permit, or authorization.
(7) You may dispose of properly marked live or dead birds or their eggs (except muscovy ducks and their
eggs) in any number at any time or place, or transfer them to any person, if the birds are physically
marked prior to sale or disposal, regardless of whether or not they have attained 6 weeks of age.
(8) You may propagate muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) only for sale for food.
(i)

You may not release muscovy ducks to the wild or transfer them for release to the wild.

(ii) You may not sell or transfer muscovy ducks to be killed by shooting.
(9) If you transfer captive-bred birds or their eggs to another person, you must complete FWS Form
3-186, Notice of Transfer or Sale of Migratory Waterfowl, and provide all information required on the
form, plus the method or methods by which individual birds are marked as required by § 21.45(b).
(i)

Give the original of the completed form to the person acquiring the birds or eggs.

(ii) Retain one copy in your files.

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(iii) Attach one copy to the shipping container for the birds or eggs, or include it with shipping
documents that accompany the shipment.
(iv) By the end of the month in which you complete the transfer, mail two copies to the Fish and
Wildlife Service Regional Office that issued your permit.
(c) Reporting requirements. You must submit an annual report by January 10th of each year to the Fish and
Wildlife Service Regional Office that issued your permit. You must report the number of waterfowl of each
species you possess on that date, and the method or methods by which each is marked.
(d) Applying for a waterfowl propagation permit. Submit your application for a waterfowl sale and disposal
permit to the appropriate Regional Director (Attention: Migratory Bird Permit Office). You can find
addresses for the Regional Directors in 50 CFR 2.2. Your application must contain the general information
and certification required in § 13.12(a) of subchapter A of this chapter, and the following additional
information:
(1) A description of the area where you will keep waterfowl in your possession;
(2) The species and numbers of waterfowl you possess and a statement showing from whom the birds
were obtained;
(3) A statement indicating the method by which birds you hold will be marked as required by the
provisions of this part 21; and
(4) The number and expiration of your State permit if you are required to have one.
(e) Term of permit. A waterfowl sale and disposal permit issued or renewed under this part expires on the
date designated on the face of the permit unless amended or revoked, but the term of the permit will not
exceed five (5) years from the date of issuance or renewal.
[75 FR 9320, Mar. 1, 2010. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.95 Special purpose permits.
Permits may be issued for special purpose activities related to migratory birds, their parts, nests, or eggs, which are
otherwise outside the scope of the standard form permits of this part. A special purpose permit for migratory bird
related activities not otherwise provided for in this part may be issued to an applicant who submits a written
application containing the general information and certification required by part 13 and makes a sufficient showing
of benefit to the migratory bird resource, important research reasons, reasons of human concern for individual birds,
or other compelling justification.
(a) Permit requirement. A special purpose permit is required before any person may lawfully take, salvage,
otherwise acquire, transport, or possess migratory birds, their parts, nests, or eggs for any purpose not
covered by the standard form permits of this part. In addition, a special purpose permit is required before
any person may sell, purchase, or barter captive-bred, migratory game birds (see 50 CFR 20.11(a)), other
than waterfowl, that are marked in compliance with § 21.45(b) of this part.
(b) Application procedures. Submit application for special purpose permits to the appropriate Regional
Director (Attention: Migratory bird permit office). You can find addresses for the Regional Directors in 50
CFR 2.2. Each application must contain the general information and certification required in § 13.12(a) of
this subchapter, and the following additional information:

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(1) A detailed statement describing the project or activity which requires issuance of a permit, purpose
of such project or activity, and a delineation of the area in which it will be conducted. (Copies of
supporting documents, research proposals, and any necessary State permits should accompany the
application);
(2) Numbers and species of migratory birds involved where same can reasonably be determined in
advance; and
(3) Statement of disposition which will be made of migratory birds involved in the permit activity.
(c) Additional permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter B,
special purpose permits shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) Permittees shall maintain adequate records describing the conduct of the permitted activity, the
numbers and species of migratory birds acquired and disposed of under the permit, and inventorying
and identifying all migratory birds held on December 31 of each calendar year. Records shall be
maintained at the address listed on the permit; shall be in, or reproducible in English; and shall be
available for inspection by Service personnel during regular business hours. A permittee may be
required by the conditions of the permit to file with the issuing office an annual report of operation.
Annual reports, if required, shall be filed no later than January 31 of the calendar year following the
year for which the report is required. Reports, if required, shall describe permitted activities, numbers
and species of migratory birds acquired and disposed of, and shall inventory and describe all
migratory birds possessed under the special purpose permit on December 31 of the reporting year.
(2) Permittees shall make such other reports as may be requested by the issuing officer.
(3) All live, captive-bred, migratory game birds possessed under authority of a valid special purpose
permit shall be physically marked as defined in § 21.45(b) of this part.
(4) No captive-bred migratory game bird may be sold or bartered unless marked in accordance with §
21.45(b) of this part.
(5) No permittee may take, purchase, receive or otherwise acquire, sell, barter, transfer, or otherwise
dispose of any captive-bred migratory game bird unless such permittee submits a Service form
3-186A (Migratory Bird Acquisition/Disposition Report), completed in accordance with the
instructions on the form, to the issuing office within five (5) days of such transaction.
(6) No permittee, who is authorized to sell or barter migratory game birds pursuant to a permit issued
under this section, may sell or barter such birds to any person unless that person is authorized to
purchase and possess such migratory game birds under a permit issued pursuant to this part and
part 13, or as permitted by regulations in this part.
(d) Term of permit. A special purpose permit issued or renewed under this part expires on the date
designated on the face of the permit unless amended or revoked, but the term of the permit shall not
exceed three (3) years from the date of issuance or renewal.
[39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 54 FR 38152, Sept. 14, 1989; 63 FR 52637, Oct. 1, 1998. Redesignated and amended at
87 FR 881, 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

Subpart D - Provisions for Depredating, Overabundant, or Otherwise Injurious Birds

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§ 21.100 Depredation permits.
(a) Permit requirement. Except as provided in §§ 21.150, 21.153, and 21.156, a depredation permit is required
before any person may take, possess, or transport migratory birds for depredation control purposes. No
permit is required merely to scare or herd depredating migratory birds other than endangered or
threatened species or bald or golden eagles.
(b) Application procedures. Submit application for depredation permits to the appropriate Regional Director
(Attention: Migratory bird permit office). You can find addresses for the Regional Directors in 50 CFR 2.2.
Each application must contain the general information and certification required in § 13.12(a) of this
subchapter, and the following additional information:
(1) A description of the area where depredations are occurring;
(2) The nature of the crops or other interests being injured;
(3) The extent of such injury; and
(4) The particular species of migratory birds committing the injury.
(c) Additional permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter B,
depredation permits shall be subject to requires, in this section:
(1) Permittees may not kill migratory birds unless specifically authorized on the permit.
(2) Unless otherwise specifically authorized, when permittees are authorized to kill migratory birds they
may do so only with a shotgun not larger than No. 10 gauge fired from the shoulder, and only on or
over the threatened area or area described on the permit.
(3) Permittees may not use blinds, pits, or other means of concealment, decoys, duck calls, or other
devices to lure or entice birds within gun range.
(4) All migratory birds killed shall be retrieved by the permittee and turned over to a Bureau
representative or his designee for disposition to charitable or other worthy institutions for use as
food, or otherwise disposed of as provided by law.
(5) Only persons named on the permit are authorized to act as agents of the permittee under authority of
the permit.
(d) Tenure of permits. The tenure of depredation permits shall be limited to the dates which appear on its
face, but in no case shall be longer than one year.
[39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 42 FR 17122, Mar. 31, 1977; 63 FR 52637, Oct. 1, 1998; 80 FR 15691, Mar. 25, 2015.
Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.120 Special Canada goose permit.
(a) What is the special Canada goose permit and what is its purpose? The special Canada goose permit is a
permit issued by us to a State wildlife agency authorizing certain resident Canada goose (Branta
canadensis) management and control activities that are normally prohibited. We will only issue such a
permit when it will contribute to human health and safety, protect personal property, or allow resolution or
prevention of injury to people or property. The management and control activities conducted under the

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permit are intended to relieve or prevent injurious situations only. No person should construe the permit
as opening, reopening, or extending any hunting season contrary to any regulations established under
Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
(b) Who may receive a permit? Only State wildlife agencies (State) are eligible to receive a permit to undertake
the various goose management and control activities. Additionally, only employees or designated agents
of a permitted State wildlife agency may undertake activities for injurious resident Canada geese in
accordance with the conditions specified in the permit, conditions contained in 50 CFR part 13, and
conditions specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
(c) How does a State apply for a permit? Any State wildlife agency wishing to obtain a permit must submit an
application (Form 3-200-6) to the appropriate Regional Director (see § 13.11(b) of this subchapter)
containing the general information and certification required by § 13.12(a) of this subchapter plus the
following information:
(1) A detailed statement showing that the goose management and control activities will either provide
for human health and safety, protect personal property, or allow resolution of other injury to people or
property;
(2) An estimate of the size of the resident Canada goose breeding population in the State;
(3) The requested annual take of resident Canada geese, including eggs and nests;
(4) A statement indicating that the State will inform and brief all employees and designated agents of
the requirements of these regulations and permit conditions.
(d) What are the conditions of the permit? The special Canada goose permits are subject to the general
conditions in 50 CFR part 13, the conditions elsewhere in this section, and, unless otherwise specifically
authorized on the permit, the conditions outlined below:
(1) What are the limitations on management and control activities?
(i)

Take of resident Canada geese as a management tool under this section may not exceed the
number authorized by the permit. States should utilize non-lethal goose management tools to
the extent they deem appropriate in an effort to minimize lethal take.

(ii) Methods of take for the control of injurious resident Canada geese are at the State's discretion.
Methods include, but are not limited to, firearms, alpha-chloralose, traps, egg and nest
manipulation and other damage control techniques consistent with accepted wildlife damagemanagement programs.
(2) When may a State conduct management and control activities? States and their employees and
agents may conduct egg and nest manipulation activities at any time of year. Other management
and control activities, including the take of resident Canada geese, under this section may only be
conducted between March 11 and August 31.
(3) How must the States dispose or utilize geese taken under this permit? States and their employees
and agents may possess, transport, and otherwise dispose of Canada geese taken under this
section. States must utilize such birds by donation to public museums or public institutions for
scientific or educational purposes, by processing them for human consumption and distributing
them free of charge to charitable organizations, or by burying or incinerating them. States, their
employees, and designated agents may not sell, offer for sale, barter, or ship for the purpose of sale
or barter any Canada geese taken under this section, nor their plumage or eggs.
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(4) How does the permit relate to existing State law? No person conducting management and control
activities under this section should construe the permit to authorize the killing of injurious resident
Canada geese contrary to any State law or regulation, nor on any Federal land without specific
authorization by the responsible management agency. No person may exercise the privileges
granted under this section unless they possess any permits required for such activities by any State
or Federal land manager.
(5) When conducting management and control activities, are there any special inspection requirements?
Any State employee or designated agent authorized to carry out management and control activities
must have a copy of the permit and designation in their possession when carrying out any activities.
The State must also require the property owner or occupant on whose premises the State is
conducting activities to allow, at all reasonable times, including during actual operations, free and
unrestricted access to any Service special agent or refuge officer, State wildlife or deputy wildlife
agent, warden, protector, or other wildlife law enforcement officer (wildlife officer) on the premises
where they are, or were, conducting activities. Furthermore, any State employee or designated agent
conducting such activities must promptly furnish whatever information is required concerning such
activities to any such wildlife officer.
(6) What are the reporting requirements of the permit? Any State employee or designated agent
exercising the privileges granted by this section must keep records of all activities carried out under
the authority of this permit, including the number of Canada geese killed and their disposition. The
State must submit an annual report detailing activities, including the time, numbers and location of
birds, eggs, and nests taken and non-lethal techniques utilized, before December 31 of each year.
The State should submit the annual report to the appropriate Assistant Regional Director - Refuges
and Wildlife (see § 10.22 of this subchapter).
(7) What are the limitations of the special permit? The following limitations apply:
(i)

Nothing in this section applies to any Federal land within a State's boundaries without written
permission of the Federal Agency with jurisdiction.

(ii) States may not undertake any actions under any permit issued under this section if the
activities adversely affect other migratory birds or species designated as endangered or
threatened under the authority of the Endangered Species Act.
(iii) We will only issue permits to State wildlife agencies in the conterminous United States.
(iv) States may designate agents who must operate under the conditions of the permit.
(v) How long is the special permit valid? A special Canada goose permit issued or renewed under
this section expires on the date designated on the face of the permit unless it is amended or
revoked or such time that we determine that the State's population of resident Canada geese no
longer poses a threat to human health or safety, personal property, or injury to other interests. In
all cases, the term of the permit may not exceed five (5) years from the date of issuance or
renewal.
(vi) Can we revoke the special permit? We reserve the right to suspend or revoke any permit, as
specified in §§ 13.27 and 13.28 of this subchapter.
(e) Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements of the permit and assigned OMB Control Number 1018-0022. Federal
agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
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50 CFR 21.123

information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct comments regarding the
burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the Service's Information Collection
Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
[64 FR 32774, June 17, 1999, as amended at 79 FR 43965, July 29, 2014; 84 FR 28773, June 20, 2019. Redesignated and
amended at 87 FR 881, 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.123 Special double-crested cormorant permit.
(a) What is the special double-crested cormorant permit, and what is its purpose? The special double-crested
cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) permit is a permit issued by the Service to State or Tribal fish and
wildlife agencies that authorizes specific take activities that are normally prohibited and are intended to
relieve or prevent impacts from cormorants on lands or in waters managed by those agencies and within
those agencies' jurisdiction. We will issue such a permit only when we determine that an application
submitted by a State or Tribal fish and wildlife agency meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (c)
of this section. The take activities conducted under the permit are intended to reduce or prevent conflicts
associated with cormorants for the following concerns:
(1) Depredation of fish at State- and Tribal-owned or operated aquaculture facilities, including
hatcheries;
(2) Realized and potential impacts to human health and safety (e.g., collisions of airplanes with birds,
fecal contamination of urban wetlands);
(3) Impacts to threatened and endangered species (species listed under the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and species identified in State- or Tribal-specific
legislation as threatened or endangered) or those listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in
State Wildlife Action Plans, where take activities to prevent depredation on aquatic Species of
Greatest Conservation Need may occur only in natural or public waters;
(4) Damage to State- or Tribal-owned property and assets; and
(5) Depredation of wild and publicly stocked fish managed by State fish and wildlife agencies or federally
recognized Tribes and accessible to the public or all Tribal members.
(b) Who may receive a permit? Only State and Tribal fish and wildlife agencies are eligible to receive a permit
to undertake management and take activities. Additionally, only employees or subpermittees of a
permitted State or Tribal fish and wildlife agency designated on the permit application may undertake
activities for double-crested cormorants in accordance with the conditions specified in the permit,
conditions specified in 50 CFR part 13, other requirements set forth in this section, and conditions
specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
(c) How does a State or Tribe apply for a permit? Any State or federally recognized Tribal fish and wildlife
agency wishing to obtain a permit must submit an application (FWS Form 3-200-90) to the appropriate
Regional Director (see § 13.11(b) of this subchapter) containing the general information and certification
required by § 13.12(a) of this subchapter plus the following information:
(1) A description of your State's or Tribe's double-crested cormorant conflicts, including physical
location(s) and type of conflict specified in paragraph (a) of this section;

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(2) A detailed description of the nonlethal methods (i.e., active hazing, passive hazing, habitat
management, and changes in management practices) you have and/or will implement and how take
activities will address one or more of the issues specified in paragraph (a) of this section;
(3) The requested annual take of double-crested cormorants by life-stage, including eggs and nests;
(4) A description of long-term plans to eliminate or significantly reduce continued need to take doublecrested cormorants;
(5) A statement indicating that the State or Tribe will inform and brief all employees and subpermittees
of the requirements of these regulations and permit conditions;
(6) A list of all subpermittees who may conduct activities under the special double-crested cormorant
permit, including their names, addresses, and telephone numbers; and
(7) The name and telephone number of the individual in your agency who will oversee the double-crested
cormorant management activities authorized under the permit.
(d) What are the conditions of the permit? The special double-crested cormorant permits are subject to the
conditions specified in the permit, the general conditions in 50 CFR part 13, and other requirements set
forth elsewhere in this section, and, unless otherwise specifically authorized on the permit, the following
conditions:
(1) What are the limitations on management and take activities? Take of double-crested cormorants
under this section may not exceed the number authorized by the permit. In addition, permittees must
adhere to these provisions:
(i)

States and Tribes must implement nonlethal methods, and independently determine that those
methods are insufficient at resolving depredation conflicts, before taking double-crested
cormorants.

(ii) A permit under this section does not authorize the take of any other migratory bird, including
other species of cormorants; the take of bald or golden eagles; or the take of any species
federally listed as threatened or endangered. If take of those species is likely to occur, the
permittee must obtain permits specifically authorizing that take (i.e., permits under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, or the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended).
(iii) Methods of take for double-crested cormorants are at the State's or Tribe's discretion. Take of
double-crested cormorants may occur by means of humane lethal take or active nest take.
Lethal take of adults during the breeding season should occur prior to hatching of eggs. Adult
birds may not be taken at any nest with young in it unless the take of adults addresses a human
health and safety issue. States and Tribes and their subpermittees must make efforts to avoid
disturbance to co-nesting species. Lethal take may occur by firearm in accordance with
paragraph (d)(1)(iv) of this section or lethal or live traps. Active nest take may occur by egg
oiling or destruction of nest material and contents (including viable eggs and chicks). Birds
may be euthanized by cervical dislocation, CO2 asphyxiation, or other methods recommended
by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Only 100 percent corn oil, a substance
exempted from regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, may be used to oil eggs. Other damage control
methods of take consistent with accepted wildlife damage management programs may be
authorized.
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(iv) Take using firearms (other than an air rifle or air pistol) must use nontoxic shot or nontoxic
bullets (see § 20.21 of this subchapter).
(v) Individuals conducting lethal take activities may not use decoys, calls, or other devices or bait
to lure birds within gun range.
(vi) States and Tribes applying for the first time must consult with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Wildlife Services for an assessment of the appropriate level of take and provide
recommendations of short-term measures to provide relief from depredation and long-term
measures to help eliminate or significantly reduce conflicts. First-time applicants must include
a completed “Form 37 Permit Review” from Wildlife Services. Permittees need not submit a
Form 37 for renewal applications unless requested by the regional Migratory Bird Permit Office.
Permittees should continue working with Wildlife Services for review of conflict management
approaches and anticipated level of take, and to remain current on effective strategies for
nonlethal removal.
(2) When may a State or Tribe conduct management and control activities? Actions may occur only when
cormorants are committing or are about to commit depredations. State and Tribal employees and
approved subpermittees may conduct management activities, including lethal take, at any time of
year.
(3) How must States and Tribes dispose of or utilize cormorants taken under this permit? Unless
otherwise authorized on your permit, double-crested cormorants taken under this permit may be
temporarily possessed and transported for the purposes of disposal under the regulations in this
section. Double-crested cormorants must be disposed of by donation to an entity authorized by
permit or regulation to receive migratory birds, such as a public museum or public institution for
scientific or educational purposes, or be destroyed completely by burial or incineration in accordance
with Federal, State, and/or local laws and ordinances. States, Tribes, their employees, and
subpermittees may not sell, offer for sale, barter, or ship for the purpose of sale or barter any doublecrested cormorants taken under this section or their parts or eggs. Birds may not be retained for
personal use.
(4) How does the permit relate to existing State and Tribal law and Federal land? Permits under this
section do not authorize the take of double-crested cormorants contrary to any State or Tribal laws
or regulations or on any Federal land without specific written authorization by the responsible
management agency. Prior to taking double-crested cormorants pursuant to a permit under this
section, the permittee must obtain any permits required by State, Tribal, or other Federal law or
regulation.
(5) How will the Service ensure that persons conducting control activities have the authority to do so?
Any State or Tribal employee or approved subpermittee authorized to carry out management and
take activities must have a copy of the permit and, if appropriate, the subpermittee's designation in
their possession when carrying out any activities. The scope of this permit applies to lands or in
waters managed by State and Tribal fish and wildlife agencies and within those agencies'
jurisdictions. If a State or Tribe must enter private property to access State and Tribal lands or
waters where take is approved in their permit, the State or Tribe must obtain authorization from the
private property owner, and require that the private property owner or occupant provide free and
unrestricted access. The private property owner or occupant should also allow access at all
reasonable times, including during actual operations, to any Service special agent or refuge officer,
State or Tribal wildlife or deputy wildlife agent, warden, protector, or other wildlife law enforcement
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officer on the premises where they are, or were, conducting activities. Furthermore, any State or
Tribal employee or approved subpermittee conducting such activities must promptly furnish
information concerning such activities to any such wildlife officer.
(6) What are the reporting requirements of the permit? Any State or Tribal agency, when exercising the
privileges of this permit, must keep records of all activities, including those of subpermittees, carried
out under the authority of the special permit, including the number of double-crested cormorants
taken and their disposition. Any other species of bird taken incidentally to double-crested cormorant
management activities under this permit, along with the numbers of birds taken of those species,
also must be reported. The State or Tribe must submit an annual report (FWS Form 3-202-56)
detailing activities and purpose for take, including the date birds were taken, numbers, and locations
and life stage of birds, eggs, and nests taken and nonlethal techniques utilized, by January 31 for
activities conducted during the preceding calendar year. The State or Tribe must submit the annual
report to the appropriate Migratory Bird Permit Office (see § 2.2 of this subchapter).
(7) What are the limitations of this permit? The following limitations apply:
(i)

Nothing in this section applies to any Federal land within a State's or Tribe's boundaries without
written permission of the Federal agency with jurisdiction.

(ii) We will issue permits only to State and Tribal fish and wildlife agencies in the conterminous (i.e.,
contiguous 48) United States.
(iii) States and Tribes may designate subpermittees who must operate under the conditions of the
permit. Subpermittees can be employees of State and Tribal fish and wildlife agencies, U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services employees, employees of other Federal, State, or
Tribal agencies, or private companies licensed to conduct wildlife damage abatement and
under direct control of the permittee.
(iv) A special double-crested cormorant permit issued or renewed under the regulations in this
section expires on the date designated on the face of the permit unless it is amended or
revoked, or at such time we determine that conflicts with cormorants within the bounds of the
specific population of double-crested cormorants have been reduced to the point where lethal
take is no longer necessary. In all cases, the term of the permit may not exceed 1 year from the
date of issuance or renewal.
(v) We reserve the right to suspend or revoke any permit, as specified in §§ 13.27 and 13.28 of this
subchapter.
(e) What are the OMB information collection requirements of the permit program? OMB has approved the
information collection requirements of the permit and assigned OMB Control Number 1018-0175. Federal
agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct comments regarding the
burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the Service's Information Collection
Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
[85 FR 85555, Dec. 29, 2020. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 881, 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

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§ 21.150 Depredation order for blackbirds, cowbirds, crows, grackles, and magpies.
(a) Species covered.
Blackbirds

Cowbirds

Crows

Grackles

Brewer's (Euphagus
cyanocephalus)

Bronzed
(Molothrus
aeneus)

American (Corvus
brachyrhynchos)

Boat-tailed
(Quiscalus major)

Red-winged (Agelaius
phoeniceus)

Brown-headed
(Molothrus ater)

Fish (Corvus
ossifragus)

Common
(Quiscalus
quiscula)

Yellow-headed
(Xanthocephalus
xanthocephalus)

Shiny (Molothrus
bonariensis)

Northwestern
(Corvus caurinus)

Great-tailed
(Quiscalus
mexicanus)

Magpies
Black-billed
(Pica
hudsonia)

Greater Antillean
(Quiscalus niger)

(b) Conditions under which control is allowed by private citizens. You do not need a Federal permit to control
the species listed in paragraph (a) of this section in the following circumstances:
(1) Where they are causing serious injuries to agricultural or horticultural crops or to livestock feed;
(2) When they cause a health hazard or structural property damage;
(3) To protect a species recognized by the Federal Government as an endangered, threatened, or
candidate species in any county in which it occurs, as shown in the Service's Environmental
Conservation Online System (http://ecos.fws.gov);
(4) To protect a species recognized by the Federal Government as an endangered or threatened species
in designated critical habitat for the species; or
(5) To protect a species recognized by a State or Tribe as endangered, threatened, candidate, or of
special concern if the control takes place within that State or on the lands of that tribe, respectively.
(6) Each calendar year, you must attempt to control depredation by species listed under this depredation
order using nonlethal methods before you may use lethal control. Nonlethal control methods can
include such measures as netting and flagging, the use of trained raptors, propane cannons, and
recordings.
(c) Conditions under which control is allowed by Federal, State, and Tribal employees. You do not need a
Federal permit to control the species listed in paragraph (a) of this section in the following circumstances:
(1) Where they are causing serious injuries to agricultural or horticultural crops or to livestock feed;
(2) When they cause a health hazard or structural property damage; or
(3) To protect a species recognized by the Federal Government, a State, or a Tribe as an endangered,
threatened, or candidate, species, or a species of special concern, including critical habitat for any
listed species.
(4) Each calendar year, you must attempt to control depredation by species listed under this depredation
order using nonlethal methods before you may use lethal control. Nonlethal control methods can
include such measures as netting and flagging, the use of trained raptors, propane cannons, and
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recordings. However, this requirement does not apply to Federal, State, or Tribal employees
conducting brown-headed cowbird trapping to protect a species recognized by the Federal
Government, a State, or a Tribe as endangered, threatened, candidate, or of special concern.
(d) Ammunition. In most cases, if you use a firearm to kill migratory birds under the provisions of this section,
you must use nontoxic shot or nontoxic bullets to do so. See § 20.21(j) of this chapter for a listing of
approved nontoxic shot types. However, this prohibition does not apply if you use an air rifle or an air
pistol for control of depredating birds.
(e) Access to control efforts. If you exercise any of the privileges granted by this section, you must allow any
Federal, State, tribal, or territorial wildlife law enforcement officer unrestricted access at all reasonable
times (including during actual operations) over the premises on which you are conducting the control. You
must furnish the officer whatever information he or she may require about your control operations.
(f) Trapping conditions. You must comply with the following conditions if you attempt to trap any species
under this order.
(1) You may possess, transport, and use a lure bird or birds of the species listed in paragraph (a) that
you wish to trap.
(2) You must check each trap at least once every day it is deployed.
(3) At temperatures above 80 °Fahrenheit, the traps must provide shade for captured birds.
(4) Each trap must contain adequate food and water.
(5) You must promptly release all healthy nontarget birds that you capture.
(6) If a federally permitted wildlife rehabilitator is within 1 hour or less of your capture efforts, you must
send injured or debilitated nontarget federally protected migratory birds to the rehabilitator. If no
rehabilitator is closer than 1 hour away, you may euthanize an injured or debilitated bird of a
nontarget species unless the species is federally listed as an endangered, threatened, or candidate
species, in which case you must deliver it to a rehabilitator and report the take to the nearest U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service Field Office or Special Agent.
(7) You must report captures of nontarget federally protected migratory birds in your annual report (see
paragraph (i) of this section).
(g) Euthanasia. Captured birds and wounded or injured birds of the species listed in paragraph (a) may only
be killed by carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide inhalation, or by cervical dislocation performed by welltrained personnel who are regularly monitored to ensure proficiency.
(h) Disposition of birds and parts. You may not sell, or offer to sell, any bird, or any part thereof, killed under
this section, but you may possess, transport, and otherwise dispose of the bird or its parts, including
transferring them to authorized research or educational institutions. If not transferred, the bird and its
parts must either be burned, or buried at least 1 mile from the nesting area of any migratory bird species
recognized by the Federal Government, the State, or a Tribe as an endangered or threatened species.
(i)

Annual report. Any person, business, organization, or government official acting under this depredation
order must provide an annual report using FWS Form 3-2436 to the appropriate Regional Migratory Bird
Permit Office. The addresses for the Regional Migratory Bird Permit Offices are provided at 50 CFR 2.2,
and are on the form. The report is due by January 31st of the following year and must include the
information requested on the form.

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(j)

50 CFR 21.150(j)

Compliance with other laws. You may trap and kill birds under this order only in a way that complies with
all State, tribal, or territorial laws or regulations. You must have any State, tribal, or territorial permit
required to conduct the activity.

(k) Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements associated with this depredation order and assigned OMB Control
Number 1018-0146. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct
comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the
Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
[79 FR 65601, Nov. 5, 2014. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.153 Depredation order for horned larks, house finches, and white-crowned sparrows in
California.
Horned larks (Eremophila alpestris), house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), and white-crowned sparrows
(Zonotrichia leucophrys) may be taken in Fresno, Merced, Napa, and Sonoma Counties in California if they are
depredating on agricultural or horticultural crops. Take of birds under this order must be done under the supervision
of the county agriculture commissioner. You do not need a Federal permit for this depredation control as long as
you meet the conditions below, but a depredation permit (see § 21.100 in this subpart) is required for take of other
migratory bird species, or for take of horned larks or white-crowned sparrows from May 1 through October 31.
(a) When is take allowed under this depredation order?
(1) Horned larks and white-crowned sparrows may be controlled from November 1 through April 30.
(2) House finches may be controlled at any time.
(b) Use of nonlethal control. Each season, before lethal control may be undertaken, the landowner must
attempt to use nonlethal control of migratory bird depredation as recommended by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services. The county agriculture
commissioner must confirm that nonlethal measures have been undertaken to control or eliminate the
problem prior to the landowner using lethal control.
(c) Ammunition. Except when using an air rifle or an air pistol, if firearms are used to kill migratory birds under
the provisions of this regulation, the shooter must use nontoxic shot or nontoxic bullets to do so. See §
20.21(j) of this chapter for a listing of approved nontoxic shot types.
(d) Disposition of carcasses. Specimens useful for scientific purposes may be transferred to any entity
authorized to possess them. If not transferred, all carcasses of birds killed under this order must be
buried or otherwise destroyed. None of the above migratory birds killed, or the parts thereof, or the
plumage of such birds, may be sold or removed from the area where killed.
(e) Annual report. Any county official acting under this depredation order must provide an annual report to the
Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office using FWS Form 3-2436. The address for the Regional Migratory
Bird Permit Office is in § 2.2 of subchapter A of this chapter, and is on the form. The report is due by
January 31st of the year after control activities are undertaken.
[78 FR 65581, Nov. 1, 2013. Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 882, 883, Jan. 7, 2022]

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50 CFR 21.156

§ 21.156 Depredation order for depredating California scrub jays and Steller's jays in
Washington and Oregon.
Landowners, sharecroppers, tenants, or their employees or agents actually engaged in the production of nut crops
in Washington and Oregon may, without a permit, take California scrub jays (Aphelocoma californica) and Steller's
jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) when found committing or about to commit serious depredations to nut crops on the
premises owned or occupied by such persons: Provided:
(a) That California scrub jays and Steller's jays may only be taken pursuant to this section between August 1
and December 1 in any year, in the Washington counties of Clark, Cowlitz, and Lewis; and the Oregon
counties of Benton, Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill.
(b) That California scrub jays and Steller's jays taken pursuant to this section shall not be transported or sold
or offered for sale except that, such transportation within the area, as may be necessary to bury or
otherwise destroy the carcasses of such birds is permitted: Provided, That the Director of the State
agricultural department, college, or other public institution may requisition such California scrub jays and
Steller's jays killed as may be needed for scientific investigations.
(c) That such birds may be taken only by trapping or shooting and on areas where serious depredations are
being or are about to be committed.
(d) That any person exercising any of the privileges granted by this section shall permit at all reasonable
times, including during actual operations, any Federal or State game or deputy game agent, warden,
protector, or other law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access over the premises on which such
operations have been or are being conducted; and shall furnish promptly to such officer whatever
information he may require, concerning said operations.
(e) That nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the killing of such migratory birds contrary to
any State laws or regulations; and that none of the privileges granted under this section shall be exercised
unless the person possesses whatever permit as may be required for such activities by the States of
Washington and Oregon.
(f) That any person authorized by this section to act under this depredation order must provide an annual
report of take during the calendar year for each species by January 31st of the following year. The report
must include the number of birds taken for each species, method of take, month(s) in which they were
taken, county(ies) and State(s) in which they were taken, purpose of take, and disposition. Submit annual
reports to the Pacific Region Migratory Bird Permit Office in Portland, Oregon, at the address shown at 50
CFR 2.2.
[39 FR 31326, Aug. 28, 1974, as amended at 84 FR 45924, Sept. 3, 2019. Redesignated at 87 FR 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.159 Control order for resident Canada geese at airports and military airfields.
(a) Which Canada geese are covered by this order? This regulation addresses the control and management of
resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis), as defined in § 21.6.
(b) What is the control order for resident Canada geese at airports, and what is its purpose? The airport control
order authorizes managers at commercial, public, and private airports (airports) (and their employees or
their agents) and military air operation facilities (military airfields) (and their employees or their agents) to
establish and implement a control and management program when necessary to resolve or prevent

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50 CFR 21.159(c)

threats to public safety from resident Canada geese. Control and management activities include indirect
and/or direct control strategies such as trapping and relocation, nest and egg destruction, gosling and
adult trapping and culling programs, or other lethal and non-lethal control strategies.
(c) Who may participate in the program? To be designated as an airport that is authorized to participate in this
program, an airport must be part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems and have received
Federal grant-in-aid assistance, or a military airfield, meaning an airfield or air station that is under the
jurisdiction, custody, or control of the Secretary of a military department. Only airports and military
airfields in the lower 48 States and the District of Columbia are eligible to conduct and implement the
various resident Canada goose control and management program components.
(d) What are the restrictions of the control order for resident Canada geese at airports and military airfields?
The airport control order for resident Canada geese is subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Airports and military airfields should use nonlethal goose management tools to the extent they deem
appropriate. To minimize lethal take, airports and military airfields should follow this procedure:
(i)

Assess the problem to determine its extent or magnitude, its impact on current operations, and
the appropriate control method to be used.

(ii) Base control methods on sound biological, environmental, social, and cultural factors.
(iii) Formulate appropriate methods into a control strategy that uses several control techniques
rather than relying on a single method.
(iv) Implement all appropriate nonlethal management techniques (such as harassment and habitat
modification) in conjunction with take authorized under this order.
(2)
(i)

Methods of take for the control of resident Canada geese are at the airport's and military
airfield's discretion from among the following:
(A) Egg oiling,
(B) Egg and nest destruction,
(C) Shooting,
(D) Lethal and live traps,
(E) Nets,
(F) Registered animal drugs, pesticides, and repellants,
(G) Cervical dislocation, and
(H) CO2 asphyxiation.

(ii) Birds caught live may be euthanized or transported and relocated to another site approved by
the State or Tribal wildlife agency, if required.
(iii) All techniques used must be in accordance with other Federal, State, and local laws, and their
use must comply with any labeling restrictions.
(iv) Persons using shotguns must use nontoxic shot, as listed in § 20.21(j) of this subchapter.

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50 CFR 21.159(d)(2)(v)

(v) Persons using egg oiling must use 100 percent corn oil, a substance exempted from regulation
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act.
(3) Airports and military airfields may conduct management and control activities, involving the take of
resident Canada geese, under this section between April 1 and September 15. The destruction of
resident Canada goose nests and eggs may take place at any time of year.
(4) Airports and military airfields and their employees and agents may possess, transport, and otherwise
dispose of resident Canada geese taken under this section. Disposal of birds taken under this order
may be by donation to public museums or public institutions for scientific or educational purposes,
processing for human consumption and subsequent distribution free of charge to charitable
organizations, or burial or incineration. Airports/military airfields, their employees, and designated
agents may not sell, offer for sale, barter, or ship for the purpose of sale or barter any resident
Canada geese taken under this section, nor their plumage or eggs. Any specimens needed for
scientific purposes as determined by the Regional Director must not be destroyed, and information
on birds carrying metal leg bands must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory by means of a
toll-free telephone number at 1-800-327-BAND (or 2263).
(5) Resident Canada geese may be taken only within the airport, or the military base on which a military
airfield is located, or within a 3-mile radius of the outer boundary of such a facility. Airports and
military airfields or their agents must first obtain all necessary authorizations from landowners for all
management activities conducted outside the airport or military airfield's boundaries and be in
compliance with all State and local laws and regulations.
(6) Nothing in this section authorizes the killing of resident Canada geese or destruction of their nests
and eggs contrary to the laws or regulations of any State or Tribe, and none of the privileges of this
section may be exercised unless the airport or military airfield possesses the appropriate State or
Tribal authorization or other permits required by the State or Tribe. Moreover, this section does not
authorize the killing of any migratory bird species or destruction of their nest or eggs other than
resident Canada geese.
(7) Authorized airports and military airfields, and their employees and agents operating under the
provisions of this section may not use decoys, calls, or other devices to lure birds within gun range.
(8) Airports and military airfields exercising the privileges granted by this section must submit an annual
report summarizing activities, including the date and numbers and location of birds, nests, and eggs
taken, by December 31 of each year to the Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office listed in § 2.2 of this
subchapter.
(9) Nothing in this section applies to any Federal land without written permission of the Federal agency
with jurisdiction.
(10) Airports and military airfields may not undertake any actions under this section if the activities
adversely affect other migratory birds or species designated as endangered or threatened under the
authority of the Endangered Species Act. Persons operating under this order must immediately
report the take of any species protected under the Endangered Species Act to the Service. Further, to
protect certain species from being adversely affected by management actions, airports and military
airfields must:
(i)

Follow the Federal-State Contingency Plan for the whooping crane;

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50 CFR 21.159(d)(10)(ii)

(ii) Conduct no activities within 300 meters of a whooping crane or Mississippi sandhill crane nest;
(iii) Follow all Regional (or National when available) Bald Eagle Nesting Management guidelines for
all management activities;
(iv) Contact the Arizona Ecological Services Office (for the Colorado River and Arizona sites) or the
Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (for Salton Sea sites) if control activities are proposed in or
around occupied habitats (cattail or cattail bulrush marshes) to discuss the proposed activity
and ensure that implementation will not adversely affect clapper rails or their habitats; and
(v) In California, any control activities of resident Canada geese in areas used by the following
species listed under the Endangered Species Act must be done in coordination with the
appropriate local FWS field office and in accordance with standard local operating procedures
for avoiding adverse effects to the species or its critical habitat:
(A) Birds: Light-footed clapper rail, California clapper rail, Yuma clapper rail, California least
tern, southwestern willow flycatcher, least Bell's vireo, western snowy plover, California
gnatcatcher.
(B) Amphibians: California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander.
(C) Insects: Valley elderberry longhorn beetle and delta green ground beetle.
(D) Crustaceans: Vernal pool fairy shrimp, conservancy fairy shrimp, longhorn fairy shrimp,
vernal pool tadpole shrimp, San Diego fairy shrimp, and Riverside fairy shrimp.
(E) Plants: Butte County meadowfoam, large-flowered wooly meadowfoam, Cook's lomatium,
Contra Costa goldfields, Hoover's spurge, fleshy owl's clover, Colusa grass, hairy Orcutt
grass, Solano grass, Greene's tuctoria, Sacramento Valley Orcutt grass, San Joaquin Valley
Orcutt grass, slender Orcutt grass, California Orcutt grass, spreading navarretia, and San
Jacinto Valley crownscale.
(e) Can the control order be suspended? We reserve the right to suspend or revoke an airport's or military
airfield's authority under this control order if we find that the terms and conditions specified in the control
order have not been adhered to by that airport or military airfield. Final decisions to revoke authority will
be made by the appropriate Regional Director. The criteria and procedures for suspension, revocation,
reconsideration, and appeal are outlined in §§ 13.27 through 13.29 of this subchapter. For the purposes
of this section, “issuing officer” means the Regional Director and “permit” means the authority to act
under this control order. For purposes of § 13.29(e), appeals must be made to the Director.
(f) Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements associated with this control order and assigned OMB Control Number
1018-0146. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct comments
regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the Service's
Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
[71 FR 45986, Aug. 10, 2006, as amended at 72 FR 46408, Aug. 20, 2007; 79 FR 43966, July 29, 2014; 84 FR 28773, June 20, 2019.
Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 882, 883, Jan. 7, 2022]

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50 CFR 21.162

§ 21.162 Depredation order for resident Canada geese nests and eggs.
(a) Which Canada geese are covered by this order? This regulation addresses the control and management of
resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis), as defined in § 21.6.
(b) What is the depredation order for resident Canada geese nests and eggs, and what is its purpose? The nest
and egg depredation order for resident Canada geese authorizes private landowners and managers of
public lands (landowners); homeowners' associations; and village, town, municipality, and county
governments (local governments); and the employees or agents of any of these persons or entities to
destroy resident Canada goose nests and eggs on property under their jurisdiction when necessary to
resolve or prevent injury to people, property, agricultural crops, or other interests.
(c) Who may participate in the depredation order? Only landowners, homeowners' associations, and local
governments (and their employees or their agents) in the lower 48 States and the District of Columbia are
eligible to implement the resident Canada goose nest and egg depredation order.
(d) What are the restrictions of the depredation order for resident Canada goose nests and eggs? The resident
Canada goose nest and egg depredation order is subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Before any management actions can be taken, landowners, homeowners' associations, and local
governments must register with the Service at https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR. Landowners,
homeowners' associations, and local governments (collectively termed “registrants”) must also
register each employee or agent working on their behalf. Once registered, registrants and agents will
be authorized to act under the depredation order.
(2) Registrants authorized to operate under the depredation order must use nonlethal goose
management techniques to the extent they deem appropriate in an effort to minimize take.
(3) Methods of nest and egg destruction or take are at the registrant's discretion from among the
following:
(i)

Egg oiling, using 100 percent corn oil, a substance exempted from regulation by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act,
and

(ii) Egg and nest destruction, including but not limited to the removal and disposal of eggs and nest
material.
(4) Registrants may conduct resident Canada goose nest and egg destruction activities at any time of
year. Homeowners' associations and local governments or their agents must obtain landowner
consent prior to destroying nests and eggs on private property within the homeowners' association
or local government's jurisdiction and be in compliance with all State and local laws and regulations.
(5) Registrants authorized to operate under the depredation order may possess, transport, and dispose
of resident Canada goose nests and eggs taken under this section. Registrants authorized to operate
under the program may not sell, offer for sale, barter, or ship for the purpose of sale or barter any
resident Canada goose nest or egg taken under this section.
(6) Registrants exercising the privileges granted by this section must submit an annual report
summarizing activities, including the date, numbers, and location of nests and eggs taken by
October 31 of each year at https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR before any subsequent registration for
the following year.

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(7) Nothing in this section authorizes the destruction of resident Canada goose nests or the take of
resident Canada goose eggs contrary to the laws or regulations of any State or Tribe, and none of the
privileges of this section may be exercised unless the registrant is authorized to operate under the
program and possesses the appropriate State or Tribal permits, when required. Moreover, this
section does not authorize the killing of any migratory bird species or destruction of their nest or
eggs other than resident Canada geese.
(8) Registrants may not undertake any actions under this section if the activities adversely affect
species designated as endangered or threatened under the authority of the Endangered Species Act.
Persons operating under this order must immediately report the take of any species protected under
the Endangered Species Act to the Service. Further, to protect certain species from being adversely
affected by management actions, registrants must:
(i)

Follow the Federal-State Contingency Plan for the whooping crane;

(ii) Conduct no activities within 300 meters of a whooping crane or Mississippi sandhill crane nest;
(iii) Follow all Regional (or National when available) Bald Eagle Nesting Management guidelines for
all management activities;
(iv) Contact the Arizona Ecological Services Office (for the Colorado River and Arizona sites) or the
Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (for Salton Sea sites) if control activities are proposed in or
around occupied habitats (cattail or cattail bulrush marshes) to discuss the proposed activity
and ensure that implementation will not adversely affect clapper rails or their habitats; and
(v) In California, any control activities of resident Canada geese in areas used by the following
species listed under the Endangered Species Act must be done in coordination with the
appropriate local FWS field office and in accordance with standard local operating procedures
for avoiding adverse effects to the species or its critical habitat:
(A) Birds: Light-footed clapper rail, California clapper rail, Yuma clapper rail, California least
tern, southwestern willow flycatcher, least Bell's vireo, western snowy plover, California
gnatcatcher.
(B) Amphibians: California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander.
(C) Insects: Valley elderberry longhorn beetle and delta green ground beetle.
(D) Crustaceans: Vernal pool fairy shrimp, conservancy fairy shrimp, longhorn fairy shrimp,
vernal pool tadpole shrimp, San Diego fairy shrimp, and Riverside fairy shrimp.
(E) Plants: Butte County meadowfoam, large-flowered wooly meadowfoam, Cook's lomatium,
Contra Costa goldfields, Hoover's spurge, fleshy owl's clover, Colusa grass, hairy Orcutt
grass, Solano grass, Greene's tuctoria, Sacramento Valley Orcutt grass, San Joaquin Valley
Orcutt grass, slender Orcutt grass, California Orcutt grass, spreading navarretia, and San
Jacinto Valley crownscale.
(e) Can the depredation order be suspended? We reserve the right to suspend or revoke this authorization for
a particular landowner, homeowners' association, or local government if we find that the registrant has
not adhered to the terms and conditions specified in the depredation order. Final decisions to revoke
authority will be made by the appropriate Regional Director. The criteria and procedures for suspension,
revocation, reconsideration, and appeal are outlined in §§ 13.27 through 13.29 of this subchapter. For the
purposes of this section, “issuing officer” means the Regional Director and “permit” means the authority to
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50 CFR 21.162(f)

act under this depredation order. For purposes of § 13.29(e), appeals must be made to the Director.
Additionally, at such time that we determine that resident Canada goose populations no longer need to be
reduced in order to resolve or prevent injury to people, property, agricultural crops, or other interests, we
may choose to terminate part or all of the depredation order by subsequent regulation. In all cases, we will
annually review the necessity and effectiveness of the depredation order.
(f) Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements associated with this depredation order and assigned OMB Control
Number 1018-0146. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct
comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the
Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
[71 FR 45988, Aug. 10, 2006, as amended at 72 FR 46408, Aug. 20, 2007; 79 FR 43966, July 29, 2014; 84 FR 28773, June 20, 2019.
Redesignated at 87 FR 882, Jan. 7, 2022; 87 FR 883, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.165 Depredation order for resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities.
(a) Which Canada geese are covered by this order? This regulation addresses the control and management of
resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis), as defined in § 21.6.
(b) What is the depredation order for resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities, and what is its purpose?
The depredation order for resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities authorizes States and Tribes, via
the State or Tribal wildlife agency, to implement a program to allow landowners, operators, and tenants
actively engaged in commercial agriculture (agricultural producers) (or their employees or agents) to
conduct direct damage management actions such as nest and egg destruction, gosling and adult trapping
and culling programs, or other lethal and non-lethal wildlife-damage management strategies on resident
Canada geese when the geese are committing depredations to agricultural crops and when necessary to
resolve or prevent injury to agricultural crops or other agricultural interests from resident Canada geese.
(c) Who may participate in the depredation order? State and Tribal wildlife agencies in the following States
may authorize agricultural producers (or their employees or agents) to conduct and implement various
components of the depredation order at agricultural facilities in the Atlantic, Central, and Mississippi
Flyway portions of these States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey, New
York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
(d) What are the restrictions of the depredation order for resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities? The
depredation order for resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities is subject to the following
restrictions:
(1) Only landowners, operators, and tenants (or their employees or agents) actively engaged in
commercial activities (agricultural producers) so designated by the States may act under this order.
(2) Authorized agricultural producers should use nonlethal goose management tools to the extent they
deem appropriate. To minimize lethal take, agricultural producers should adhere to the following
procedure:

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(i)

50 CFR 21.165(d)(2)(i)

Assess the problem to determine its extent or magnitude, its impact to current operations, and
the appropriate control method to be used.

(ii) Base control methods on sound biological, environmental, social, and cultural factors.
(iii) Formulate appropriate methods into a control strategy that uses the approach/concept that
encourages the use of several control techniques rather than relying on a single method.
(iv) Implement all appropriate nonlethal management techniques (such as harassment and habitat
modification) in conjunction with take authorized under this order.
(3)
(i)

Methods of take for the control of resident Canada geese are at the State's or Tribe's discretion
among the following:
(A) Egg oiling,
(B) Egg and nest destruction,
(C) Shotguns,
(D) Lethal and live traps,
(E) Nets,
(F) Registered animal drugs, pesticides, and repellants,
(G) Cervical dislocation, and
(H) CO2 asphyxiation.

(ii) Birds caught live may be euthanized or transported and relocated to another site approved by
the State or Tribal wildlife agency, if required.
(iii) All techniques used must be in accordance with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local laws, and
their use must comply with any labeling restrictions.
(iv) Persons using shotguns must use nontoxic shot, as listed in § 20.21(j) of this subchapter.
(v) Persons using egg oiling must use 100 percent corn oil, a substance exempted from regulation
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act.
(4) Under this section, authorized agricultural producers and their employees and agents may:
(i)

Conduct management and control activities, involving the take of resident Canada geese, as
follows:
Where

When

In the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia

Between
April 1
and
August
31.

In the Mississippi and Central Flyway portions of these States: Alabama, Arkansas,

Between

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50 CFR 21.165(d)(4)(ii)

Where
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

When
May 1
and
August
31.

(ii) Destroy the nests and eggs of resident Canada geese at any time of year.
(5) Authorized agricultural producers and their employees and agents may possess, transport, and
otherwise dispose of resident Canada geese taken under this section. Disposal of birds taken under
this order may be by donation to public museums or public institutions for scientific or educational
purposes, processing for human consumption and subsequent distribution free of charge to
charitable organizations, or burial or incineration. Agricultural producers, their employees, and
designated agents may not sell, offer for sale, barter, or ship for the purpose of sale or barter any
resident Canada geese taken under this section, nor their plumage or eggs. Any specimens needed
for scientific purposes as determined by the Director must not be destroyed, and information on
birds carrying metal leg bands must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory by means of a tollfree telephone number at 1-800-327-BAND (or 2263).
(6) Resident Canada geese may be taken only on land which an authorized agricultural producer
personally controls and where geese are committing depredations to agricultural crops.
(7) Authorized agricultural producers, and their employees and agents, operating under the provisions of
this section may not use decoys, calls, or other devices to lure birds within gun range.
(8) Any authorized agricultural producer exercising the privileges of this section must keep and maintain
a log that indicates the date and number of birds killed and the date and number of nests and eggs
taken under this authorization. The log must be maintained for a period of 3 years (and records for 3
previous years of takings must be maintained at all times thereafter). The log and any related
records must be made available to Federal, State, or Tribal wildlife enforcement officers upon
request during normal business hours.
(9) Nothing in this section authorizes the killing of resident Canada geese or the destruction of their
nests and eggs contrary to the laws or regulations of any State or Tribe, and none of the privileges of
this section may be exercised unless the agricultural producer possesses the appropriate State or
Tribal permits, when required. Moreover, this regulation does not authorize the killing of any
migratory bird species or destruction of their nests or eggs other than resident Canada geese.
(10) States and Tribes exercising the privileges granted by this section must submit an annual report
summarizing activities, including the numbers and County of birds, nests, and eggs taken, by
December 31 of each year to the Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office listed in § 2.2 of this
subchapter.
(11) Nothing in this section applies to any Federal land without written permission of the Federal agency
with jurisdiction.
(12) Authorized agricultural producers may not undertake any actions under this section if the activities
adversely affect other migratory birds or species designated as endangered or threatened under the
authority of the Endangered Species Act. Persons operating under this order must immediately

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50 CFR 21.165(d)(12)(i)

report the take of any species protected under the Endangered Species Act to the Service. Further, to
protect certain species from being adversely affected by management actions, agricultural
producers must:
(i)

Follow the Federal-State Contingency Plan for the whooping crane;

(ii) Conduct no activities within 300 meters of a whooping crane or Mississippi sandhill crane nest;
and
(iii) Follow all Regional (or National when available) Bald Eagle Nesting Management guidelines for
all management activities.
(e) Can the depredation order be suspended? We reserve the right to suspend or revoke a State, Tribal, or
agricultural producer's authority under this program if we find that the terms and conditions specified in
the depredation order have not been adhered to by that State or Tribe. Final decisions to revoke authority
will be made by the appropriate Regional Director. The criteria and procedures for suspension, revocation,
reconsideration, and appeal are outlined in §§ 13.27 through 13.29 of this subchapter. For the purposes
of this section, “issuing officer” means the Regional Director and “permit” means the authority to act
under this depredation order. For purposes of § 13.29(e), appeals must be made to the Director.
Additionally, at such time that we determine that resident Canada geese populations no longer pose a
threat to agricultural crops or no longer need to be reduced in order to resolve or prevent injury to
agricultural crops or other agricultural interests, we may choose to terminate part or all of the depredation
order by subsequent regulation. In all cases, we will annually review the necessity and effectiveness of the
depredation order.
(f) Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements associated with this depredation order and assigned OMB Control
Number 1018-0146. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct
comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the
Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
[71 FR 45989, Aug. 10, 2006, as amended at 79 FR 43966, July 29, 2014; 84 FR 28773, June 20, 2019; 85 FR 10623, Feb. 25, 2020.
Redesignated at 87 FR 882, Jan. 7, 2022; 87 FR 883, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.168 Public health control order for resident Canada geese.
(a) Which Canada geese are covered by this order? This regulation addresses the control and management of
resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis), as defined in § 21.6.
(b) What is the public health control order for resident Canada geese, and what is its purpose? The public
health control order for resident Canada geese authorizes States, Tribes, and the District of Columbia, via
the State or Tribal wildlife agency, to conduct resident Canada goose control and management activities
including direct control strategies such as trapping and relocation, nest and egg destruction, gosling and
adult trapping and culling programs, or other lethal and non-lethal wildlife damage-management
strategies when resident Canada geese are posing a direct threat to human health.

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50 CFR 21.168(c)

(c) What is a direct threat to human health? A direct threat to human health is one where a Federal, State,
Tribal, or local public health agency has determined that resident Canada geese pose a specific,
immediate human health threat by creating conditions conducive to the transmission of human or
zoonotic pathogens. The State or Tribe may not use this control order for situations in which resident
Canada geese are merely causing a nuisance.
(d) Who may participate in the program? Only State and Tribal wildlife agencies in the lower 48 States and the
District of Columbia (or their employees or agents) may conduct and implement the various components
of the public health control order for resident Canada geese.
(e) What are the restrictions of the public health depredation order for resident Canada geese? The public
health control order for resident Canada geese is subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Authorized State and Tribal wildlife agencies should use nonlethal goose management tools to the
extent they deem appropriate.
(2)
(i)

Methods of take for the control of resident Canada geese are at the State's and Tribe's
discretion from among the following:
(A) Egg oiling,
(B) Egg and nest destruction,
(C) Shotguns,
(D) Lethal and live traps,
(E) Nets,
(F) Registered animal drugs, pesticides, and repellants,
(G) Cervical dislocation, and
(H) CO2 asphyxiation.

(ii) Birds caught live may be euthanized or transported and relocated to another site approved by
the State or Tribal wildlife agency, if required.
(iii) All techniques used must be in accordance with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local laws, and
their use must comply with any labeling restrictions.
(iv) Persons using shotguns must use nontoxic shot, as listed in § 20.21(j) of this subchapter.
(v) Persons using egg oiling must use 100 percent corn oil, a substance exempted from regulation
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act.
(3) Authorized State and Tribal wildlife agencies and their employees and agents may conduct
management and control activities, involving the take of resident Canada geese, under this section
between April 1 and August 31. The destruction of resident Canada goose nests and eggs may take
place at any time of year.
(4) Authorized State and Tribal wildlife agencies and their employees and agents may possess,
transport, and otherwise dispose of resident Canada geese taken under this section. Disposal of
birds taken under this order may be by donation to public museums or public institutions for
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50 CFR 21.168(e)(5)

scientific or educational purposes, processing for human consumption and subsequent distribution
free of charge to charitable organizations, or burial or incineration. States, their employees, and
designated agents may not sell, offer for sale, barter, or ship for the purpose of sale or barter any
resident Canada geese taken under this section, nor their plumage or eggs. Any specimens needed
for scientific purposes as determined by the Regional Director must not be destroyed, and
information on birds carrying metal leg bands must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory by
means of a toll-free telephone number at 1-800-327-BAND (or 2263).
(5) Resident Canada geese may be taken only within the specified area of the direct threat to human
health.
(6) Authorized State and Tribal wildlife agencies, and their employees and agents operating under the
provisions of this section may not use decoys, calls, or other devices to lure birds within gun range.
(7) No person conducting activities under this section should construe the program as authorizing the
killing of resident Canada geese or destruction of their nests and eggs contrary to any State law or
regulation, nor may any control activities be conducted on any Federal land without specific
authorization by the responsible management agency. No person may exercise the privileges
granted under this section unless they possess any permits required for such activities by any State
or Federal land manager.
(8) Any State or Tribal employee or designated agent authorized to carry out activities under this section
must have a copy of the State's or Tribal authorization and designation in their possession when
carrying out any activities. If the State or Tribe is conducting operations on private property, the State
or Tribe must also require the property owner or occupant on whose premises resident Canada
goose activities are being conducted to allow, at all reasonable times, including during actual
operations, free and unrestricted access to any Service special agent or refuge officer, State or Tribal
wildlife or deputy wildlife agent, warden, protector, or other wildlife law enforcement officer on the
premises where they are, or were, conducting activities. Furthermore, any State or Tribal employee or
designated agent conducting such activities must promptly furnish whatever information is required
concerning such activities to any such wildlife officer.
(9) States and Tribes exercising the privileges granted by this section must submit an annual report
summarizing activities, including the numbers and County of birds taken, by December 31 of each
year to the Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office listed in § 2.2 of this subchapter.
(10) Authorized State and Tribal wildlife agencies may not undertake any actions under this section if the
activities adversely affect other migratory birds or species designated as endangered or threatened
under the authority of the Endangered Species Act. Persons operating under this order must
immediately report the take of any species protected under the Endangered Species Act to the
Service. Further, to protect certain species from being adversely affected by management actions,
State and Tribal wildlife agencies must:
(i)

Follow the Federal-State Contingency Plan for the whooping crane;

(ii) Conduct no activities within 300 meters of a whooping crane or Mississippi sandhill crane nest;
(iii) Follow all Regional (or National when available) Bald Eagle Nesting Management guidelines for
all management activities;

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50 CFR 21.168(e)(10)(iv)

(iv) Contact the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services Office (for the Colorado River
and Arizona sites) or the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (for Salton Sea sites) if control
activities are proposed in or around occupied habitats (cattail or cattail bulrush marshes) to
discuss the proposed activity and ensure that implementation will not adversely affect clapper
rails or their habitats; and
(v) In California, any control activities of resident Canada geese in areas used by the following
species listed under the Endangered Species Act must be done in coordination with the
appropriate local FWS field office and in accordance with standard local operating procedures
for avoiding adverse effects to the species or its critical habitat:
(A) Birds: Light-footed clapper rail, California clapper rail, Yuma clapper rail, California least
tern, southwestern willow flycatcher, least Bell's vireo, western snowy plover, California
gnatcatcher.
(B) Amphibians: California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander.
(C) Insects: Valley elderberry longhorn beetle and delta green ground beetle.
(D) Crustaceans: Vernal pool fairy shrimp, conservancy fairy shrimp, longhorn fairy shrimp,
vernal pool tadpole shrimp, San Diego fairy shrimp, and Riverside fairy shrimp.
(E) Plants: Butte County meadowfoam, large-flowered wooly meadowfoam, Cook's lomatium,
Contra Costa goldfields, Hoover's spurge, fleshy owl's clover, Colusa grass, hairy Orcutt
grass, Solano grass, Greene's tuctoria, Sacramento Valley Orcutt grass, San Joaquin Valley
Orcutt grass, slender Orcutt grass, California Orcutt grass, spreading navarretia, and San
Jacinto Valley crownscale.
(f) Can the control order be suspended? We reserve the right to suspend or revoke a State's or Tribe's
authority under this program if we find that the terms and conditions specified in the depredation order
have not been adhered to by that agency. Final decisions to revoke authority will be made by the
appropriate Regional Director. The criteria and procedures for suspension, revocation, reconsideration,
and appeal are outlined in §§ 13.27 through 13.29 of this subchapter. For the purposes of this section,
“issuing officer” means the Regional Director and “permit” means the authority to act under this control
order. For purposes of § 13.29(e), appeals must be made to the Director. Additionally, at such time that we
determine that resident Canada geese populations no longer pose direct threats to human health, we may
choose to terminate part or all of the control order by subsequent regulation. In all cases, we will annually
review the necessity and effectiveness of the control order.
(g) Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements associated with this control order and assigned OMB Control Number
1018-0146. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct comments
regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the Service's
Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
[71 FR 45990, Aug. 10, 2006, as amended at 79 FR 43966, July 29, 2014; 84 FR 28773, June 20, 2019. Redesignated at 87 FR 882,
Jan. 7, 2022; 87 FR 883, Jan. 7, 2022; 87 FR 66095, Nov. 2, 2022]

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§ 21.171 Control order for purple swamphens.
(a) Control of purple swamphens. Federal, State, Tribal, and local wildlife management agencies, and their
tenants, employees, or agents may remove or destroy purple swamphens (Porphyrio porphyrio) or their
nests or eggs at any time when they find them anywhere in the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Any authorized agency personnel may
temporarily possess, transport, and dispose of purple swamphens, subject to the restrictions in paragraph
(c) of this section. No permit is necessary to engage in these actions.
(b) Disposal of purple swamphens. If you are authorized to control purple swamphens, you may dispose of
purple swamphens by the following methods: You may donate purple swamphens taken under this order
to public museums or public institutions for scientific or educational purposes; you may dispose of the
carcasses by burial or incineration; or, if the carcasses are not readily retrievable, you may leave them in
place. No one may retain for personal use, offer for sale, or sell a purple swamphen removed under this
section.
(c) Other provisions.
(1) You may not remove or destroy purple swamphens or their nests or eggs if doing so is contrary to
any State, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations.
(2) You may not remove or destroy purple swamphens or their nests or eggs if doing so will adversely
affect other migratory birds or species designated as endangered or threatened under the authority
of the Endangered Species Act. In particular, the purple swamphen resembles the native purple
gallinule ( Porphyrio martinicus). Authorized persons must take special care not to take purple
gallinules or their nests or eggs when conducting purple swamphen control activities.
(3) If you use firearms to control purple swamphens under this regulation, you may use only nontoxic
shot or nontoxic bullets for the control.
(4) If, while operating under this regulation, an authorized person takes any other species protected
under the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or the Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act, that person must immediately report the take to the nearest Ecological Services
office of the Fish and Wildlife Service. See https://www.fws.gov/offices to find the location of the
nearest Ecological Services office.
(5) We may suspend or revoke the authority of any agency or individual to undertake purple swamphen
control if we find that agency or individual has, without an applicable permit, taken actions that may
take Federally listed threatened or endangered species or any bird species protected by the Bald and
Golden Eagle Protection Act or the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (see § 10.13 of subchapter A of this
chapter for the list of protected migratory bird species), or otherwise violated Federal regulations.
[75 FR 9316, Mar. 1, 2010, as amended at 80 FR 15691, Mar. 25, 2015. Redesignated at 87 FR 882, Jan. 7, 2022; 87 FR 883, Jan. 7,
2022]

§ 21.174 Control order for Muscovy ducks in the United States.
(a) Control of Muscovy ducks. Anywhere in the contiguous United States except in Hidalgo, Starr, and Zapata
Counties in Texas, and in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories and possessions, landowners and Federal,
State, Tribal, and local wildlife management agencies, and their tenants, employees, or agents may,

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without a Federal permit, remove or destroy Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) (including hybrids of
Muscovy ducks), or their nests, or eggs at any time when found. Any authorized person may temporarily
possess, transport, and dispose of Muscovy ducks taken under this order.
(b) Muscovy ducks in Hidalgo, Starr, and Zapata Counties in Texas. In these counties, take of Muscovy ducks,
their nests, and their eggs may be allowed if we issue a depredation permit for the activity.
(c) Disposal of Muscovy ducks. You may donate Muscovy ducks taken under this order to public museums or
public institutions for scientific or educational purposes, or you may dispose of them by burying or
incinerating them. You may not retain for personal use or consumption, offer for sale, or sell a Muscovy
duck removed under authority of this section, nor may you release it in any other location.
(d) Other provisions.
(1) You must comply with any State, territorial, or Tribal laws or regulations governing the removal or
destruction of Muscovy ducks or their nests or eggs.
(2) You may not remove or destroy Muscovy ducks or their nests or eggs if doing so will adversely affect
other migratory birds or species designated as endangered or threatened under the authority of the
Endangered Species Act. If you use a firearm to kill Muscovy ducks under the provisions of this
section, you must use nontoxic shot or nontoxic bullets to do so.
(3) If you operate under this order, you must immediately report the take of any species protected under
the Endangered Species Act, or any other bird species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,
to the Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services Office for the State or location in which the take
occurred.
(4) We reserve the right to suspend or revoke the authority of any agency or individual to undertake
Muscovy duck control if we find that the agency or individual has undertaken actions that may harm
Federally listed threatened or endangered species or are contrary to the provisions of this part.
[75 FR 9321, Mar. 1, 2010. Redesignated at 87 FR 882, Jan. 7, 2022; 87 FR 883, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.177 Control order for invasive migratory birds in Hawaii.
(a) Control of cattle egrets and barn owls. Personnel of the agencies listed in paragraph (b) of this section
may take cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) or barn owls (Tyto alba) using the methods authorized in paragraph
(c) of this section at any time anywhere in the State of Hawaii, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, or the
unincorporated territory of Midway Atoll. No permit is necessary to engage in these actions. In this
section, the word “you” means a person operating officially as an employee of one of the authorized
agencies.
(b) Authorized agencies.
(1) Federal Aviation Administration;
(2) Hawaii Department of Agriculture;
(3) Hawaii Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife;
(4) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(5) National Park Service;
(6) U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services;
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(7) U.S. Department of Defense;
(8) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
(9) U.S. Geological Survey; and
(10) University of Hawaii - Pacific Cooperative Studies Units with program mandates to accomplish
invasive species eradication and control, including the five island Invasive Species Committees.
(c) Means of take.
(1) You may take cattle egrets and barn owls by means of lethal take or active nest take. Lethal take may
occur by firearm or slingshot in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of this section or lethal or live
traps. Active nest take may occur by egg oiling in accordance with paragraph (c)(3) of this section or
destruction of nest material and contents (including viable eggs and chicks). Birds may be
euthanized by cervical dislocation, CO2 asphyxiation, or other recommended method in the American
Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines on Euthanasia.
(2) If you use a firearm or slingshot to kill cattle egrets or barn owls under the provisions of this order,
you must use nontoxic shot or nontoxic bullets to do so. See § 20.21(j) of this chapter for a list of
approved nontoxic shot types.
(3) Eggs must be oiled with 100 percent corn oil, which is exempted from regulation under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
(4) You may use concealment (such as blinds) and luring devices (such as decoys or recorded calls) for
locating, capturing, and/or taking cattle egrets or barn owls.
(d) Land access. You must obtain appropriate landowner permission before conducting activities authorized
by this order.
(e) Relationship to other regulations. You may take cattle egrets and barn owls under this order only in a way
that complies with all applicable Federal, State, county, municipal, or tribal laws. You are responsible for
obtaining all required authorizations to conduct this activity.
(f) Release of injured, sick, or orphaned cattle egrets or barn owls. Wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, and all
other individuals or agencies who receive sick, injured, or orphaned cattle egrets or barn owls are
prohibited from releasing any individuals of those species back into the wild in the State of Hawaii, the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, or the unincorporated territory of Midway Atoll. All applicable local, State,
Federal, and/or territorial regulations must be followed to transfer, possess, and/or release cattle egrets
or barn owls in any other location.
(g) Disposal of cattle egret or barn owl carcasses, nests, or nest contents. You may donate carcasses, nests,
or nest contents taken under this control order to public museums or public institutions for scientific or
educational purposes or to persons authorized by permit or regulation to possess them. You may dispose
of the carcasses by burial or incineration; or, if the carcasses are not safely retrievable, you may leave
them in place. No one may retain for personal use, offer for sale, barter or trade, or sell a cattle egret or a
barn owl or any feathers, parts, nests, or nest contents taken under this section.
(h) Endangered or threatened species. You may not take cattle egrets or barn owls if doing so will adversely
affect other migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or species designated as
endangered or threatened under the authority of the Endangered Species Act.

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(i)

Reporting take. Any agency engaged in control activities under this control order must provide an annual
report of take during the calendar year for each species by January 31st of the following year. The report
must include a summary of the number of birds and number of active nests taken for each species, the
months in which they were taken, and the island(s) on which they were taken. Multiple reports within
agencies may be combined, as appropriate. Submit annual reports to the Pacific Region Migratory Bird
Permit Office in Portland, Oregon, at the address shown at 50 CFR 2.2.

(j)

Reporting nontarget take. If, while operating under this control order, you take any other species protected
under the Endangered Species Act or the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, you must report within 72 hours the
take to the Pacific Region Migratory Bird Permit Office in Portland, Oregon, at the address shown at 50
CFR 2.2.

(k) Revocation of authority to operate under this order. We may suspend or revoke the authority of any
individual or agency to operate under this order if we find that the individual or agency has taken actions
that may take federally listed endangered or threatened species or any other bird species protected by the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (see 50 CFR 10.13 for the list of protected migratory bird species), or has
violated any Federal or State law or regulation governing this activity. We will notify the affected agency by
certified mail, and may change this control order accordingly.
[82 FR 34425, July 25, 2017. Redesignated at 87 FR 882, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.180 Conservation order for light geese.
(a) What is a conservation order? A conservation order is a special management action that is needed to
control certain wildlife populations when traditional management programs are unsuccessful in
preventing overabundance of the population. We are authorizing a conservation order under the authority
of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to reduce and stabilize various light goose populations. The conservation
order allows new methods of taking light geese, allows shooting hours for light geese to end one-half
hour after sunset, and imposes no daily bag limits for light geese inside or outside the migratory bird
hunting season frameworks as described in this section.
(b) Which waterfowl species are covered by the order? The conservation order addresses management of
greater snow ( Anser caerulescens atlantica), lesser snow (A. c. caerulescens), and Ross's (C. rossii) geese
that breed, migrate, and winter in North America. The term light geese refers collectively to greater and
lesser snow geese and Ross's geese.
(c) Where can the conservation order be authorized? The Director can authorize the conservation order in
these areas:
(1) The following States that are contained within the boundaries of the Atlantic Flyway: Connecticut,
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
(2) The following States, or portions of States, that are contained within the boundaries of the
Mississippi and Central Flyways: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
(3) The following States, or portions of States, that are contained within the boundaries of the Pacific
Flyway: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
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(4) Tribal lands within the geographic boundaries in paragraphs (c)(1), (2), and (3) of this section.
(d) When will the Director authorize the conservation order in a particular Flyway?
(1) The Director may authorize the conservation order for the reduction of greater snow geese for any
State or Tribe contained within the Atlantic Flyway by publishing a notice under paragraph (e) of this
section when the May Waterfowl Population Status report indicates that the management goal of
500,000 birds has been exceeded and that special conservation actions conducted in Canada are
insufficient to reduce the population. Authorization of the conservation order in the U.S. portion of
the Atlantic Flyway will occur after the Director determines the degree to which the management
goal has been exceeded, the trajectory of population growth, anticipated harvest that would result
from implementation of the conservation order, and whether or not similar conservation actions will
be conducted in Canada.
(2) The Director may authorize the conservation order for the reduction of mid-continent light geese
(lesser snow and Ross's geese) for any State or Tribe contained within the Mississippi and Central
Flyways by publishing a notice under paragraph (e) of this section when the May Waterfowl
Population Status report indicates that the management goal of 1,600,000 birds (winter index for
Mid-continent Population and Western Central Flyway Population, combined) has been exceeded.
Authorization of the conservation order in the U.S. portion of the Mississippi and Central Flyways will
occur after the Director determines the degree to which the management goal has been exceeded,
the trajectory of population growth, anticipated harvest that would result from implementation of the
conservation order, and whether or not similar conservation actions will be conducted in Canada.
(3) The Director may authorize a conservation order for the reduction of light geese (lesser snow and
Ross's geese) for any State or Tribe contained within the Pacific Flyway by publishing a notice under
paragraph (e) of this section when the Director determines that light goose numbers in the western
Arctic have exceeded the ability of their breeding habitat to support them.
(e) How will the conservation order be authorized for a particular Flyway? The Director will publish a notice in
the FEDERAL REGISTER when the conservation order is authorized in a particular Flyway.
(f) What is required for State/Tribal governments to participate in the conservation order? When authorized by
the Director, any State or Tribal government responsible for the management of wildlife and migratory
birds may, without permit, kill or cause to be killed under its general supervision, light geese under the
following conditions:
(1) Activities conducted under the conservation order may not affect endangered or threatened species
as designated under the Endangered Species Act.
(2) Control activities must be conducted clearly as such and are intended to relieve pressures on
migratory birds and habitat essential to migratory bird populations only and are not to be construed
as opening, reopening, or extending any open hunting season contrary to any regulations
promulgated under Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
(3) Control activities may be conducted only when all waterfowl (including light goose) and crane
hunting seasons, excluding falconry, are closed.
(4) Control measures employed through this section may be used only between the hours of one-half
hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
(5) Nothing in the conservation order may limit or initiate management actions on Federal land without
concurrence of the Federal agency with jurisdiction.
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(6) States and Tribes must designate participants who must operate under the conditions of the
conservation order.
(7) States and Tribes must inform participants of the requirements and conditions of the conservation
order that apply.
(8) States and tribes must keep annual records of activities carried out under the authority of the
conservation order. Specifically, information must be collected on:
(i)

The number of persons participating in the conservation order;

(ii) The number of days people participated in the conservation order;
(iii) The number of light geese shot and retrieved under the conservation order; and
(iv) The number of light geese shot but not retrieved.
(9) The States and Tribes must submit an annual report summarizing activities conducted under the
conservation order on or before September 15 of each year, to the Chief, Division of Migratory Bird
Management, at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b). Information from Tribes may be
incorporated in State reports.
(g) What is required for persons to participate in the conservation order? Individual participants in State or
Tribal programs covered by the conservation order must comply with the following provisions:
(1) Nothing in the conservation order authorizes the take of light geese contrary to any State or Tribal
laws or regulations, and none of the privileges granted under the conservation order may be
exercised unless persons acting under the authority of the conservation order possess whatever
permit or other authorization(s) may be required for such activities by the State or Tribal government
concerned.
(2) Persons who take light geese under the conservation order may not sell or offer for sale those birds
or their plumage but may possess, transport, and otherwise properly use them.
(3) Persons acting under the authority of the conservation order must permit at all reasonable times,
including during actual operations, any Federal or State game or deputy game agent, warden,
protector, or other game law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access over the premises on
which such operations have been or are being conducted and must promptly furnish whatever
information an officer requires concerning the operation.
(4) Persons acting under the authority of the conservation order may take light geese by any method
except those prohibited as follows:
(i)

With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery
gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance.

(ii) From or by means, aid, or use of a sinkbox or any other type of low floating device having a
depression affording the person a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water.
(iii) From or by means, aid, or use of any motor vehicle, motor-driven land conveyance, or aircraft of
any kind, except that paraplegics and persons missing one or both legs may carry out take
activities from any stationary motor vehicle or stationary motor-driven land conveyance.

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(iv) From or by means of any motorboat or other craft having a motor attached, or any sailboat,
unless the motor has been completely shut off and the sails furled, and its progress has
ceased. A craft under power may be used only to retrieve dead or crippled birds; however, the
craft may not be used under power to shoot any crippled bird.
(v) By the use or aid of live birds as decoys. It is a violation of this paragraph (g) for any person to
take light geese on an area where tame or captive live geese are present unless such birds are
and have been for a period of 10 consecutive days before the taking, confined within an
enclosure that substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals the birds
from the sight of light geese.
(vi) By means or aid of any motor-driven land, water, or air conveyance, or any sailboat used for the
purpose of or resulting in the concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up of light geese.
(vii) By the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area, where a person knows or reasonably should
know that the area is or has been baited as described in § 20.11(j-k). Light geese may not be
taken on or over lands or areas that are baited areas, and where grain or other feed has been
distributed or scattered solely as the result of manipulation of an agricultural crop or other feed
on the land where grown, or solely as the result of a normal agricultural operation as described
in § 20.11(h) and (l). However, nothing in this paragraph (g) prohibits the taking of light geese
on or over the following lands or areas that are not otherwise baited areas:
(A) Standing crops or flooded standing crops (including aquatics); standing, flooded, or
manipulated natural vegetation; flooded harvested croplands; or lands or areas where
seeds or grains have been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting,
harvesting, postharvest manipulation or normal soil stabilization practice as described in
§ 20.11(g), (i), (l), and (m);
(B) From a blind or other place of concealment camouflaged with natural vegetation;
(C) From a blind or other place of concealment camouflaged with vegetation from agricultural
crops, as long as such camouflaging does not result in the exposing, depositing,
distributing, or scattering of grain or other feed; or
(D) Standing or flooded standing agricultural crops where grain is inadvertently scattered
solely as a result of a hunter entering or exiting a hunting area, placing decoys, or
retrieving downed birds.
(viii) Participants may not possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading)
other than steel shot, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix, tungstenbronze, tungsten-nickel-iron, tungsten-tin-iron, tungsten-nickel-iron-tin, tungsten-iron-coppernickel, or other shots that are authorized in § 20.21(j).
(h) Can the conservation order be suspended? The Director reserves the right to suspend or revoke a State's
or Tribe's authority under the conservation order if we find that the State or Tribe has not adhered to the
terms and conditions specified in this section. The criteria for suspension and revocation are outlined in §
13.27 and § 13.28 of this subchapter. Upon appeal, final decisions to revoke authority will be made by the
Director. Additionally, at such time that the Director determines that a specific population of light geese no
longer poses a threat to habitats, agricultural crops, or other interests, or is within Flyway management
objectives, the Director may choose to terminate part or all of the conservation order.

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(i)

Under what conditions would the conservation order be suspended? The Director will annually assess the
overall impact and effectiveness of the conservation order on each light goose population to ensure
compatibility with long-term conservation of this resource. The Director will suspend the conservation
order if at any time evidence clearly demonstrates that an individual light goose population no longer
presents a serious threat of injury to the area or areas involved. Suspension by the Director will occur by
publication of a notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER. However, resumption of growth by the light goose
population in question may warrant reinstatement of the conservation order to control the population. The
Director will publish a notice of such reinstatement in the FEDERAL REGISTER. Depending on the status of
individual light goose populations, it is possible that a conservation order may be in effect for one or more
light goose populations, but not others.

(j)

Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements associated with this conservation order and assigned OMB Control
Number 1018-0146. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct
comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the
Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).

[73 FR 65951, Nov. 5, 2008; 73 FR 70914, Nov. 24, 2008, as amended at 79 FR 43966, July 29, 2014; 80 FR 13500, Mar. 16, 2015.
Redesignated and amended at 87 FR 883, Jan. 7, 2022]

§ 21.183 Population control of resident Canada geese.
(a) Which Canada geese are covered by this regulation? This regulation addresses the population control of
resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis), as defined in § 21.6.
(b) What is the resident Canada goose population control program, and what is its purpose? The resident
Canada goose population control program is a managed take program implemented under the authority
of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to reduce and stabilize resident Canada goose populations when
traditional and otherwise authorized management measures are unsuccessful, not feasible for dealing
with, or applicable, in preventing injury to property, agricultural crops, public health, and other interests
from resident Canada geese. The Director is authorized to allow States and Tribes to implement a
population control, or managed take, program to remedy these injuries. When authorized by the Director,
managed take allows additional methods of taking resident Canada geese, allows shooting hours for
resident Canada geese to extend to one-half hour after sunset, and removes daily bag limits for resident
Canada geese inside or outside the migratory bird hunting season frameworks as described in this
section. The intent of the program is to reduce resident Canada goose populations in order to protect
personal property and agricultural crops and other interests from injury and to resolve potential concerns
about human health. The management and control activities allowed or conducted under the program are
intended to relieve or prevent damage and injurious situations. No person should construe this program
as opening, reopening, or extending any hunting season contrary to any regulations established under
section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
(c) What areas are eligible to participate in the program? When approved by the Director, the State and Tribal
wildlife agencies of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota,

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Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming may implement the resident
Canada goose population control program components in the Atlantic, Central, and Mississippi Flyway
portions of these States.
(d) What is required in order for State governments to participate in a managed take program? Following the
conclusion of the first full operational year of §§ 21.159, 21.162, 21.165, and 21.168 of this part, any
wildlife agency from a State listed in paragraph (c) of this section may request approval for the population
control program. A request must include a discussion of the State's or Tribe's efforts to address its
injurious situations utilizing the methods approved in this rule or a discussion of the reasons why the
methods authorized by these rules are not feasible for dealing with, or applicable to, the injurious
situations that require further action. Discussions should be detailed and provide the Service with a clear
understanding of the injuries that continue, why the authorized methods utilized have not worked, and
why methods not utilized could not effectuate resolution of the injuries. A State's request for approval
may be for an area or areas smaller than the entire State. Upon written approval by the Director, any State
or Tribal government responsible for the management of wildlife and migratory birds may, without permit,
kill or cause to be killed under its general supervision, resident Canada geese under the following
conditions:
(1) Activities conducted under the managed take program may not affect endangered or threatened
species as designated under the Endangered Species Act.
(2) Control activities may be conducted under this section only between August 1 and August 31.
(3) Control measures employed through this section may be implemented only between the hours of
one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
(4) Nothing in the program may limit or initiate management actions on Federal land without
concurrence of the Federal agency with jurisdiction.
(5) States and Tribes must designate participants who must operate under the conditions of the
managed take program.
(6) States and Tribes must inform participants of the requirements/conditions of the program that apply.
(7) States and Tribes must keep annual records of activities carried out under the authority of the
program. Specifically, information must be collected on:
(i)

The number of individuals participating in the program;

(ii) The number of days individuals participated in the program;
(iii) The total number of resident Canada geese shot and retrieved during the program; and
(iv) The number of resident Canada geese shot but not retrieved. The States and Tribes must
submit an annual report summarizing activities conducted under the program and an
assessment of the continuation of the injuries on or before June 1 of each year to the Chief,
Division of Migratory Bird Management, at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
(e) What is required for individuals to participate in the program? Individual participants in State and Tribal
programs covered by the managed take program must comply with the following requirements:
(1) Participants must comply with all applicable State and Tribal laws or regulations including
possession of whatever permit(s) or other authorization(s) may be required by the State or Tribal
government concerned.
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(2) Participants who take resident Canada geese under the program may not sell or offer for sale those
birds or their plumage, but may possess, transport, and otherwise properly use them.
(3) Participants must permit at all reasonable times, including during actual operations, any Service
special agent or refuge officer, State or Tribal wildlife or deputy wildlife agent, warden, protector, or
other wildlife law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access over the premises on which such
operations have been or are being conducted and must promptly furnish whatever information an
officer requires concerning the operation.
(4) Participants may take resident Canada geese by any method except those prohibited as follows:
(i)

With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery
gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance.

(ii) From or by means, aid, or use of a sinkbox or any other type of low-floating device, having a
depression affording the person a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water.
(iii) From or by means, aid, or use of any motor vehicle, motor-driven land conveyance, or aircraft of
any kind, except that paraplegic persons and persons missing one or both legs may take from
any stationary motor vehicle or stationary motor-driven land conveyance.
(iv) From or by means of any motorboat or other craft having a motor attached, or any sailboat,
unless the motor has been completely shut off and the sails furled, and its progress has
ceased. A craft under power may be used only to retrieve dead or crippled birds; however, the
craft may not be used under power to shoot any crippled birds.
(v) By the use or aid of live birds as decoys. No person may take resident Canada geese on an area
where tame or captive live geese are present unless such birds are, and have been for a period
of 10 consecutive days before the taking, confined within an enclosure that substantially
reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals the birds from the sight of resident
Canada geese.
(vi) By means or aid of any motor-driven land, water, or air conveyance, or any sailboat used for the
purpose of or resulting in the concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up of resident Canada
geese.
(vii) By the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area, where a person knows or reasonably should
know that the area is or has been baited as described in § 20.11(j) and (k) of this part. Resident
Canada geese may not be taken on or over lands or areas that are baited areas, and where grain
or other feed has been distributed or scattered solely as the result of manipulation of an
agricultural crop or other feed on the land where grown, or solely as the result of a normal
agricultural operation as described in § 20.11(h) and (l) of this part. However, nothing in this
paragraph prohibits the taking of resident Canada geese on or over the following lands or areas
that are not otherwise baited areas:
(A) Standing crops or flooded standing crops (including aquatics); standing, flooded, or
manipulated natural vegetation; flooded harvested croplands; or lands or areas where
seeds or grains have been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting,
harvesting, post-harvest manipulation or normal soil stabilization practice as described in
§ 20.11(g), (i), (l), and (m) of this part;
(B) From a blind or other place of concealment camouflaged with natural vegetation;

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50 CFR 21.183(e)(4)(vii)(C)

(C) From a blind or other place of concealment camouflaged with vegetation from agricultural
crops, as long as such camouflaging does not result in the exposing, depositing,
distributing, or scattering of grain or other feed; or
(D) Standing or flooded standing agricultural crops where grain is inadvertently scattered
solely as a result of a hunter entering or exiting a hunting area, placing decoys, or
retrieving downed birds.
(E) Participants may not possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for
muzzleloading) other than steel shot, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer,
tungsten-matrix, tungsten-nickel iron, or other shots that are authorized in § 20.21(j) of
this part.
(f) Under what conditions would we suspend the managed take program? Following authorization by the
Director, we will annually assess the overall impact and effectiveness of the program on resident Canada
goose populations to ensure compatibility with long-term conservation of this resource. If at any time
evidence is presented that clearly demonstrates that resident Canada geese populations no longer need
to be reduced in order to allow resolution or prevention of injury to people, property, agricultural crops, or
other interests, the Director, in writing, will suspend the program for the resident Canada goose population
in question. However, resumption of injuries caused by growth of the population and not otherwise
addressable by the methods available in part 21 may warrant reinstatement of such regulations. A State
must reapply for approval, including the same information and discussions noted in paragraph (d) of this
section. Depending on the location of the injury or threat or injury, the Director, in writing, may suspend or
reinstate this authorization for one or more resident Canada goose populations, but not others.
(g) What population information is the State or Tribe required to collect concerning the resident Canada goose
managed take program? Participating States and Tribes must provide an annual estimate of the breeding
population and distribution of resident Canada geese in their State. The States and Tribes must submit
this estimate on or before August 1 of each year, to the Chief, Division of Migratory Bird Management, at
the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
(h) What are the general program conditions and restrictions? The program is subject to the conditions
elsewhere in this section, and, unless otherwise specifically authorized, the following conditions:
(1) Nothing in this section applies to any Federal land within a State's or Tribe's boundaries without
written permission of the Federal agency with jurisdiction.
(2) States may not undertake any actions under this section if the activities adversely affect other
migratory birds or species designated as endangered or threatened under the authority of the
Endangered Species Act. Persons operating under this section must immediately report the take of
any species protected under the Endangered Species Act to the Service. Further, to protect certain
species from being adversely affected by management actions, States must:
(i)

Follow the Federal State Contingency Plan for the whooping crane;

(ii) Conduct no activities within 300 meters of a whooping crane or Mississippi sandhill crane nest;
and
(iii) Follow all Regional (or National when available) Bald Eagle Nesting Management guidelines for
all management activities.

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(i)

50 CFR 21.183(i)

Information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements associated with this program and assigned OMB Control Number
1018-0146. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct comments
regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection to the Service's
Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).

[71 FR 45992, Aug. 10, 2006, as amended at 72 FR 46409, Aug. 20, 2007; 79 FR 43966, July 29, 2014. Redesignated at 87 FR 883,
Jan. 7, 2022; 87 FR 884, Jan. 7, 2022]

50 CFR 21.183(i) (enhanced display)

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