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Washington Administrative Code (Last Updated: November 23, 2016) |
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Title 232. Fish and Wildlife, Department of (Wildlife) |
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Chapter 232-12. Permanent regulations. |
Section 232-12-849. Wildlife rehabilitation—Releasing wildlife.
Latest version.
- (1) A primary permittee must release rehabilitated wildlife according to subsection (3) of this section as soon as the animal is deemed physically, behaviorally, and psychologically capable of surviving in the wild.(2) It is unlawful to hold wildlife for rehabilitation longer than one hundred eighty days. A primary permittee must obtain department authorization if he or she wishes to retain wildlife longer than the one hundred eighty-day time limit normally allowed for wildlife rehabilitation. The department will grant an extension of time if the permittee needs to find suitable placement for the wildlife, or the wildlife is over-wintering, molting, or completing recovery.(3) A primary permittee must release wildlife into the same area from which the wildlife was taken. If doing this poses a substantial risk to the health or safety of the wildlife or humans, the permittee may release the wildlife at a location within its normal individual range and appropriate habitat. The primary permittee must obtain department approval prior to releasing wildlife at a location other than where it was taken or outside its normal individual range. The department may direct the permittee to release wildlife at a location other than where the wildlife was taken.(4) A group of unrelated wildlife that are of the same species and that were raised together for socialization purposes may be released at the same location even if that location is not where the wildlife was originally taken. All other release requirements must be followed.(5) If a primary permittee does not know where wildlife was originally taken, he or she must release the wildlife into appropriate habitat and at a location where substantial risk to the health or safety of the wildlife and humans is minimal. Primary permittees must obtain department authorization for the release location prior to releasing cervids, large carnivores, or coyotes.(6) The primary permittee must notify the department at least seventy-two hours prior to releasing state or federally designated threatened, endangered, or sensitive species.(7) Hacking of orphaned raptors is permitted at or through a permitted facility where appropriate hacking facilities are available.(8) A violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.750(1), Unlawful use of a department permit—Penalty.