Section 232-12-841. Wildlife rehabilitation permits—Requirements and restrictions.

(1) All wildlife held under a wildlife rehabilitation permit remains the property of the state and is subject to control by the state.

(2) Wildlife rehabilitation permits.

(a) The department may issue a wildlife rehabilitation permit if the applicant:

(i) Completes and submits a current application form to the department's wildlife rehabilitation manager;

(ii) Demonstrates completion of at least six months, or one thousand hours, of experience in wildlife rehabilitation under the direct supervision of a wildlife rehabilitator. At least three months, or five hundred hours, of this experience must occur during the spring or summer. The department, at its discretion, may consider education in wildlife rehabilitation to suffice as a partial substitute for experience;

(iii) Submits to the department a written letter of recommendation from a wildlife rehabilitator who has two or more years of experience in wildlife rehabilitation and who agrees to advise the applicant in performing wildlife rehabilitation;

(iv) Submits to the department a written agreement from a veterinarian who is willing to serve as the principal veterinarian for the applicant;

(v) Successfully completes the Washington general wildlife rehabilitation examination by correctly answering eighty percent or more of the questions. An applicant who fails the exam may retake it beginning fourteen days from the date of the failed exam; and

(vi) Possesses, is employed by, or volunteers at suitable facilities that are inspected and approved by the department.

(b) Veterinarians are exempt from the requirements in (a)(ii) through (v) of this subsection.

(c) The department will determine which species the wildlife rehabilitator is qualified to care for and may tailor the permit according to the applicant's training, experience, capabilities, and facilities.

(d) Wildlife rehabilitators must display the wildlife rehabilitation permit or a copy of the permit in a location at the facility that is visible to the public.

(e) Wildlife rehabilitation permits are valid for up to three years, as long as the information on the permit remains valid and the permittee adheres to permit conditions and department rules.

(f) Wildlife rehabilitators must report any permit information changes to the department within ten business days of the change.

(g) The department may refuse to issue a wildlife rehabilitation permit to an applicant if the applicant:

(i) Was convicted of a fish or wildlife offense; or

(ii) Was convicted of any offense involving animal cruelty or neglect, or child abuse or neglect.

(3) Large-carnivore rehabilitation endorsement.

(a) A person must possess a large-carnivore rehabilitation endorsement to rehabilitate large carnivores. Large carnivores are brown bear, black bear, cougar, wolf, bobcat, and lynx. The department may issue large-carnivore endorsements to wildlife rehabilitators who:

(i) Have at least three months, or five hundred hours, of direct rehabilitation practice with and handling of large carnivores;

(ii) Have received training in large-animal restraint techniques, including knowledge of proper catchpole use and immobilization-drug administration;

(iii) Submit to the department a written recommendation from a wildlife rehabilitator who has two or more years of experience in large-carnivore rehabilitation and who agrees to advise the applicant in performing large-carnivore rehabilitation;

(iv) Successfully complete the written large-carnivore rehabilitation examination by correctly answering eighty percent or more of the questions. An applicant who fails the exam may retake it beginning fourteen days from the date of the failed exam; and

(v) Possess department-inspected and -approved facilities suitable for large carnivores as required by department rule and the standards set by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA).

(b) Applicants are exempt from the requirements in (a)(i) and (iii) of this subsection if they are or were employed for at least three months or five hundred hours as a zookeeper or wildlife biologist with direct practice handling and housing large carnivores.

(4) Raptor rehabilitation endorsement. A person must possess a raptor rehabilitation endorsement to rehabilitate raptors. The department may issue raptor rehabilitation endorsements to wildlife rehabilitators who:

(a) Demonstrate one hundred hours direct practice with and handling of raptors;

(b) Successfully complete the written raptor rehabilitation examination by correctly answering eighty percent or more of the questions. An applicant who fails the exam may retake it beginning fourteen days from the date of the failed exam;

(c) Possess department-inspected and department-approved facilities suitable for raptor housing and rehabilitation as required by department rule and the standards set by the IWRC and the NWRA; and

(d) Submit to the department a written recommendation from a wildlife rehabilitator who has two or more years of experience in raptor rehabilitation and who agrees to advise the applicant in performing raptor rehabilitation.

(5) Raptors-only rehabilitation permit.

(a) The department may issue raptors-only rehabilitation permits that allow a person to rehabilitate only raptors and no other wildlife. To qualify for these permits, an applicant must:

(i) Demonstrate one hundred hours direct practice with and handling of raptors;

(ii) Successfully complete the raptor rehabilitation examination by correctly answering eighty percent or more of the questions. An applicant who fails the raptor rehabilitation examination may retake it beginning fourteen days from the date of the failed exam;

(iii) Submit to the department a written recommendation from a wildlife rehabilitator who has two or more years of experience in raptor rehabilitation and who agrees to advise the applicant in performing raptor rehabilitation; and

(iv) Possess department-inspected and department-approved facilities suitable for raptor housing and rehabilitation as required by department rule and IWRC/NWRA.

(b) General falconers licensed for three years or more and master falconers are exempt from the requirements in (a)(i) and (iii) of this subsection.

(6) Oiled-wildlife rehabilitation endorsement. An oiled-wildlife rehabilitation endorsement is required to rehabilitate oiled-wildlife. The department may issue oiled-wildlife rehabilitation endorsements to wildlife rehabilitators who possess or have permission to access or use department-inspected and department-approved facilities for oiled-wildlife.

(7) Wildlife rehabilitation permit renewal. To renew a wildlife rehabilitation permit, the permittee must submit the following information at least thirty days prior to his or her permit expiring:

(a) A new, completed wildlife rehabilitation permit application form; and

(b) Documentation demonstrating ten hours or more of continuing education during the previous permit period. Continuing education includes:

(i) Documented attendance at state wildlife rehabilitator meetings, NWRA annual meetings, or IWRC Annual Symposiums;

(ii) A certificate of completion of an IWRC online or in-person class;

(iii) Completion and documented attendance of privately offered wildlife rehabilitation training;

(iv) Completion and documented attendance of wildlife rehabilitation classes at a college or university;

(v) Documented training with a wildlife rehabilitator; or

(vi) Other continuing education activities as approved by the department.

(8) Reinstatement of expired permits.

(a) A permit expired for less than three years may be reinstated for the facility and species listed on the expired permit so long as the facilities have not changed within that three-year period. If the facilities change after the permit expires, the department must inspect and approve the facilities before the permit is reinstated.

(b) Permits expired for three years or more may be reinstated if:

(i) The applicant possesses facilities that meet the standards set by the department, the NWRA, and the IWRC's minimum standards for wildlife rehabilitation for treating and housing wildlife for rehabilitation;

(ii) The facilities are inspected and approved by the department; and

(iii) The applicant takes and successfully completes the Washington general wildlife rehabilitation examination, the raptor rehabilitation examination, or large carnivore rehabilitation examination, whichever examination is applicable, by correctly answering eighty percent or more of the questions. An applicant who fails the examination may retake it beginning fourteen days from the date of the failed exam.

(9) Out-of-state wildlife rehabilitators. Wildlife rehabilitators who have a current wildlife rehabilitation permit or a comparable permit issued by another state, and who move to Washington state for the purpose of residency and wish to practice wildlife rehabilitation in Washington, must follow the same procedures and requirements as a new applicant for a Washington state wildlife rehabilitation permit. However, out-of-state wildlife rehabilitators are exempt from the requirement of providing a letter of recommendation from another wildlife rehabilitator.

(10) A violation of this section by a person who engages in wildlife rehabilitation without a department permit is punishable under the appropriate statute for the species being rehabilitated, including RCW 77.15.120 for endangered fish or wildlife; RCW 77.15.130 for protected fish or wildlife; RCW 77.15.400 for wild birds; RCW 77.15.410 for big game; and RCW 77.15.430 for wild animals not classified as big game.

(11) A violation of this section by a person who has a wildlife rehabilitation permit is punishable under RCW 77.15.750(1), Unlawful use of a department permit—Penalty.

[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), § 232-12-841, filed 8/30/13, effective 9/30/13.]

RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.240, 77.12.467, 77.12.469, and 77.32.070. WSR 13-18-046 (Order 13-192), § 232-12-841, filed 8/30/13, effective 9/30/13.