Wyoming Administrative Code
Agency 040 - Game and Fish Commission
Sub-Agency 0001 - Game and Fish Commission Regulations
Chapter 60 - REGULATION GOVERNING GREATER SAGE-GROUSE RAISED ON PRIVATE GAME BIRD FARMS
Section 60-6 - Disease Free Certification
Current through March 23, 2024
(a) All sage grouse possessed under a Certification of Compliance shall be maintained disease free in accordance with Department requirements and applicable Commission regulations. All facilities utilized in the game bird farm shall be maintained so as to prohibit the acquisition, spread or transmittal of diseases and parasites. Upon the discovery or exposure of any captive sage grouse to any contagious disease, the licensee shall immediately place such affected sage grouse under the professional care of a veterinarian licensed in the State of Wyoming and such incident shall be reported within twenty-four (24) hours to a Department representative listed on the licensee's Certificate of Compliance, their local game warden or regional office by the game bird farm licensee or their designee.
(b) All sage grouse enclosures and hatching facilities shall be cleaned and sanitized prior to placing any sage grouse in these facilities.
(c) The licensee shall submit an annual National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) certificate to the Department prior to renewal of their certification.
(d) The licensee shall provide to the Department an annual avian influenza free certification from a veterinarian licensed in the state of Wyoming for their sage grouse enclosure and hatching facility prior to renewal of their certification.
(e) All sage grouse scheduled for release shall test negative within thirty (30) days prior to release for Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae, M. meleagridis, avian influenza, Salmonella pullorum (Pullorum Disease) and S. gallinarum (Fowl Typhoid).
(f) The licensee shall maintain an active parasite monitoring program as approved by the Department and manage or treat sage grouse as needed to maintain low parasite burdens.
(g) A Department veterinarian shall inspect a licensee's enclosure, hatching facility and sage grouse a minimum of one (1) time per year to insure they are disease free.
(h) If facilities or sage grouse are found not to be disease free, or if diseased sage grouse present a threat to the wildlife of the state as determined by the Department, the Department may require additional disease or parasite testing or order such action as necessary, including quarantine or destruction of sage grouse, sterilization of enclosures and facilities, cessation of activities and disposal of the diseased sage grouse in a manner satisfactory to the Department. The Department may refuse to lift the quarantine or refuse to allow the operation of the game bird farm until such time as the facilities and sage grouse meet disease free requirements. When it is shown the facilities and sage grouse meet disease free requirements, the Department may lift the quarantine.
(i) Sage grouse scheduled for release shall be held in a separate holding pen for a minimum of thirty (30) consecutive days prior to their release. Any sage grouse mortality from those held for release during this thirty (30) day period shall immediately be reported to the Department and sent for necropsy to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory at the expense of the licensee. Copies of the necropsy results from the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory shall be provided to the Department by the licensee within five (5) calendar days from the date of the report. In such cases, written permission from the Department shall be required prior to release of any remaining sage grouse.
