New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Fis - Executive Director, Fish and Game Department
Chapter Fis 800 - THE IMPORTATION, POSSESSION AND USE OF ALL WILDLIFE
Part Fis 812 - WILDLIFE REHABILITATION
Section Fis 812.01 - Wildlife Rehabilitation Permits

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules Fis 812.01

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) Pursuant to RSA 207:14, any person possessing wildlife to care for and rehabilitate the wildlife shall obtain a wildlife rehabilitation permit.

(b) There shall be 2 classes of wildlife rehabilitation permits as set forth below.

(1) A Class I apprentice wildlife rehabilitation permittee shall:
a. Be at least 18 years old;

b. Be sponsored by a holder of a Class II rehabilitation permit; and

c. Only care for wildlife while directly supervised by the Class I permittee's sponsor; and

(2) A Class II wildlife rehabilitation permittee shall:
a. Be at least 18 years old; and

b. Either:
1. Work under the consultation and support of a licensed veterinarian and shall have satisfactorily completed 200 hours over a 2-year period as a Class I apprentice wildlife rehabilitation permittee;

2. Be a licensed veterinarian; or

3. Hold a valid wildlife rehabilitator license from another state.

(c) An applicant for a Class I apprentice rehabilitation permit shall provide the following on or with the application form:

(1) The name, address, telephone number, email address, if applicable, and date of birth of the applicant;

(2) The types of species of animals which the applicant is prepared to rehabilitate;

(3) Summary of experience in handling and caring for wildlife;

(4) The date of the application;

(5) The signature of the applicant;

(6) The name, address and telephone number of the sponsoring licensed Class II rehabilitator; and

(7) The signature of the sponsoring Class II rehabilitator.

(d) An applicant for a Class II rehabilitation permit shall provide the following on or with the application form:

(1) The name, address, telephone number, email address, if applicable, and date of birth of the applicant;

(2) The types of species of animals which the applicant is prepared to rehabilitate;

(3) Summary of experience in handling and caring for wildlife;

(4) The location of the rehabilitation facility;

(5) The date of the application;

(6) The signature of the applicant;

(7) The name, address and telephone number of a licensed veterinarian with whom the applicant can consult, if the applicant is not a veterinarian; and

(8) The signature of the consulting veterinarian, if the applicant is not a veterinarian.

(e) In order to be eligible for a Class II permit, an applicant either be a licensed veterinarian or shall submit a letter of support signed by the applicant's Class II sponsor certifying that the applicant has met the 200 hour requirement in Fis 812.01(b)(2)b.1.

(f) Upon receipt of a complete Class II application, fish and game department personnel shall inspect the applicant's premises to determine if they are adequate for the care and rehabilitation of injured or orphaned wildlife.

(g) To be considered adequate, facilities shall:

(1) Include isolation cages for acute care that shall be of sufficient size to permit the animal to rest in its normal posture;

(2) Include larger holding cages of sufficient size to permit full freedom of movement and exercise for the recovery period;

(3) Be clean and well ventilated;

(4) Maintain wildlife in quiet surroundings accessible only to the permittee and assistants; and

(5) Comply with the housing requirements of wild animals as specified in the Third Edition, 2000, Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation published by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, as specified in Appendix II.

(h) Permits shall be issued for not more than 2 years and shall expire on the second December 31 after issue.

(i) The executive director shall authorize the rehabilitation of certain rabies vector species (RVS) to rehabilitators who provide a signed statement that the permittee assumes full liability and responsibility for themselves and their assistants in the care of and contact with RVS. "Rabies vector species" means raccoons, woodchucks, fox, skunks or bats.

(j) Wildlife rehabilitation permittees shall request renewal by a written request to the executive director.

(k) For permit renewal, the permittee shall provide the following on or with the application form:

(1) Permittee's name, address, and email address, if applicable;

(2) Request for renewal;

(3) For Class I, the concurrence and signature of the sponsoring Class II rehabilitator;

(4) For Class II, the concurrence and signature of consulting veterinarian, if the applicant is not a veterinarian; and

(5) Signature of permittee.

(k) Class II rehabilitators may assign assistants to work with wildlife under their permit at the facility.

(l) Any person who, as of October 1, 2015, was licensed by the department as a Wildlife Rehabilitator shall be deemed a Class II Wildlife Rehabilitator.

#6889, eff 11-21-98; ss by #7808, eff 12-25-02; ss by #9824, INTERIM, eff 11-24-10, EXPIRES: 5-23-11; amd by #9880-A, eff 3-1-11, (paras (a)-(c) & (e)-(k)); amd by #9880-B, eff 3-1-11, (para (d))

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