Chapter 635 Division 44

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission

January 20, 2017

Salem, Oregon

Background

Overview of Earlier Draft Rule Revisions

NEW Issues and Stakeholder / Public Review

Presentation Outline

Define protected wildlife

Identify species of wildlife that can be held

Regulate propagation of game birds

Division 44 - Purpose

Background

Overview of Earlier Draft Rule Revisions

NEW Issues and Stakeholder / Public Review

Presentation Outline

2014 - Wildlife Holding Advisory group

December 3, 2015 - Wildlife rehabilitation rules moved to new division

March 18, 2016 – Informational briefing

June 9, 2016 – Initial draft rule presentation

Timeline

Proposed Rule Presentation

• Protected Wildlife

• Wildlife Holding and Grandfathering

• Oregon Biodiversity Info Center (ORBIC) Classification

• Raccoon and Skunk Recommendations

• Integrate Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation Standards

Directed to meet further with stakeholders

Develop alternatives for professional/business level holding of wildlife

June 9, 2016

Background

Overview of Earlier Draft Rule Revisions

NEW Issues and Stakeholder / Public Review

Presentation Outline

All native wildlife species are protected EXCEPT:

• Through regulated take or permit/license or rule

Remove classification of “Nongame non-protected”

Black bear

Cougar

Wolf

Bobcat

Raccoon

Skunk

Squirrels

Chipmunk

Nongame non-protected

Grandfathering Provision

Enclosure and caging standards for holding

wildlife in captivity

Revised Exhibit 1

System based on science

• Rank and classify species according to their abundance and distribution

• Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC)

Holding Nongame Wildlife

1 = Critically imperiled, extreme rarity, vulnerable to extinction or extirpation

2 = Imperiled, rare, vulnerable to extinction (extirpation)

3 = Rare, uncommon or threatened, not immediately imperiled

4 = Not rare and apparently secure, cause for long-term concern

5 = Demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure

ORBIC State Status Rankings

Limited to select game bird species

Game Bird Propagation

Held native wildlife cannot be bred or propagated

Hybrid wolves and bobcats

Concerns from the education and animal entertainment industries

Holding of pet raccoons and skunks

Previous Topics

Background

Overview of Earlier Draft Rule Revisions

NEW Issues and Stakeholder / Public Review

Presentation Outline

Commission Direction and Input from Stakeholders

Wildlife Holding Permit

Wildlife Exhibitor/Animal Entertainment Permit

Wildlife Sanctuary Permit

Issue 1: Develop permit for commercial business pursuits

Wildlife held as pets

Grandfathered species

Nongame wildlife (ORBIC S-5 Species List)

Wildlife Holding Permit

Exhibitor / Educators • Living Wildlife Museum

• Zoos

• Exhibitors / Educators using native mammals and herps

Animal Entertainment / Film Industry

Wildlife Exhibitor / Animal Entertainment Permit

Requirements • Minimum 10 months / 6 events per year

• Business license / Federal permits

• Employee qualifications

• Emergency action plan

• Reporting escapes

Wildlife Exhibitor / Animal Entertainment Permit

Not for public display

No breeding

Animals previously held captive, not directly from the wild

Facilities accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries

Wildlife Sanctuary Permit

34 nongame species

• Amphibians

• Reptiles

• Mammals

Issue 2: Update species list for holding nongame wildlife

7 Amphibians

Northwestern Salamander

Long-toed Salamander Coastal Giant Salamander Ensatina

Western Red-backed Salamander

Rough-skinned Newt

Pacific Tree / Chorus Frog

11 Reptiles

Northern and Southern Alligator Lizard

Western Skink

Northern Sagebrush Lizard

Western Fence Lizard

Common Side-Blotched Lizard

Western Rattlesnake: excluding Willamette

Valley populations

Pacific Gopher Snake

Western Terrestrial Garter

Snake

Northwestern Garter Snake

Common Garter Snake

16 Nongame Mammals Porcupine

Long-tailed Vole

Montane Vole

Creeping Vole

Ermine

Long-tailed Weasel

Bushy-tailed Woodrat

Dusky-footed Woodrat

Deer Mouse

Great Basin Pocket Mouse

Coast Mole

Northern Pocket Gopher

California Ground Squirrel

Belding’s Ground Squirrel

Brush Rabbit

Douglas Squirrel

No new wolves or facilities as of December 31, 2009

One wolf facility (change wolf holding permit to sanctuary permit)

Allow wolves to be placed in AZA accredited facilities

Issue 3: Wolf holding permits

ORS 498.029 Purchase, sale or exchange of fox, skunk or raccoon prohibited; exceptions

May be offered for sale, trade, barter or exchange to a public park, zoo, museum or educational institution for educational, medical, scientific or exhibition purposes with Department approval

Issue 4: Clarify permit requirements for holding pet skunks

Residence or home meets the requirements for

adequate caging

Cannot be bred/reproduced or propagated

Acquired from out-of-state, USDA licensed breeders

Permanent ID/marking

No limit on number

Holding of pet skunks

Complex issue; large rule set

Expanded caging and care requirements

Improved consistency in regulatory direction for holding wildlife

Addressed variety of stakeholder concerns

Summary