Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Wildlife carcasses (except for those that
are oiled) must be incinerated, buried, or otherwise destroyed, according to
local laws and regulations to avoid the risk of poisoning wildlife, a primary
permittee must not allow chemically euthanized wildlife to be scavenged.
(a) Wildlife carcasses may be donated to any
person or institution authorized under state or federal law to acquire and
possess specific wildlife carcasses or parts.
(b) A primary permittee on a wildlife
rehabilitation permit may keep the carcass of any bird, except golden eagle or
bald eagle, so the feathers on the carcass are available for imping and
education as long as they are in compliance with federal rules.
(c) A primary permittee must send any and all
remains of a golden eagle or bald eagle, including all talons, feathers and
other parts, to the National Eagle Repository following instructions from the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
(d)
A primary permittee may retain wildlife carcasses and skins for mounting or
skin preparation for the purpose of public display and education programs. If
prepared by a licensed taxidermist, the primary permittee must supply the
taxidermist with written documentation that the carcass or skin is possessed
pursuant to a wildlife rehabilitation permit. The taxidermist must possess the
written documentation at all times while the carcass or skin is in the
taxidermist's possession. The primary permittee must keep the mount at the
wildlife rehabilitation facility and may use it for public display for
education programs. If the wildlife carcass is a banded bird or has an
implanted microchip, the band number or microchip number must be reported to
the issuing agency, entity, or person.
(e) A primary permittee who retains a
wildlife carcass or parts may only possess the carcass or parts so long as the
primary permittee possesses a valid wildlife rehabilitation permit and complies
with all applicable federal laws. If the permittee no longer has a valid
wildlife rehabilitation permit, the person must have a different authorizing
state or federal permit to keep the carcasses or parts, or surrender the
carcasses or parts to the department.
(2) Animals that have died of or have been
euthanized due to reportable diseases must be disposed of as directed by
Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) wildlife veterinarian. No
carcasses or parts should be retained.
(3) A primary permittee must not dispose of
dead oiled wildlife without obtaining department approval.
(4) A violation of this section by a
permittee or subpermittee on a wildlife rehabilitation permit is punishable
under
RCW
77.15.750, Unlawful use of a department
permit-Penalty.
(5) A violation of
this section by a person who lacks a valid wildlife rehabilitation permit is
punishable under
RCW
77.15.120 for endangered birds;
RCW
77.15.130 for protected birds; or
RCW
77.15.400 for all other wild birds, depending
on the bird species.
Statutory Authority:
RCW
77.12.047,
77.12.240,
77.12.467,
77.12.469, and
77.32.070. WSR 13-18-046 (Order
13-192), §
232-12-865, filed 8/30/13,
effective 9/30/13.
