Washington Administrative Code
Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of
WILDLIFE
Chapter 220-420 - Falconry
Section 220-420-230 - Captive propagation of raptors

(1) A Washington falconry permit is required for anyone in the state to conduct raptor propagation with permitted native North American raptors. The director will cease to issue a specific raptor propagation permit for captive breeding and rearing of raptors at such time as this regulation becomes effective. Thereafter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will have the sole responsibility for issuing raptor propagation permits in Washington.

(2) The department may promulgate state regulations for the management of captive raptor propagation in addition to federal regulations for raptor propagation.

(3) Raptors possessed under a falconry permit may be used for captive propagation if the propagator has the required U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service propagation permit. It is not necessary to transfer a raptor from a state falconry permit to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service propagation permit if the raptor is used for fewer than eight months in a year for captive propagation. The raptor must be transferred by reporting that action if the raptor is permanently transferred for use in propagation. The raptor must then be banded as required by state and federal regulations. The offspring of captive raptors are considered as captive-bred.

(4) Raptors held under falconry and propagation permits shall be maintained in humane and healthful conditions.

(5) Wild-caught raptors taken in Washington may be used for propagation purposes, progeny shall not be sold or traded.

(6) A wild-caught falconry raptor may be transferred to a raptor propagation permit after the raptor has been used in falconry for at least two years, with the exception that transfer of a sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), a Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii), a merlin (Falco columbarius), or an American kestrel (Falco sparverius) is allowed after one year. This transfer shall be reported within ten days.