Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68A - Freshwater Fish and Wildlife › Chapter 68A-6 - CAPTIVE WILDLIFE › Section 68A-6.013 - Exceptions to Standard Caging Requirements for Captive Wildlife

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
Wildlife may be temporarily housed in cages or enclosures
				  smaller than the sizes set forth in this Chapter only under the following
				  circumstances:
(1) For transport and
				for performing and non-performing animals as specified in Rule
				68A-6.014 and
				68A-6.015, F.A.C.
(2) Wildlife being held for sale by those
				persons properly licensed pursuant to Section
				379.3761 or
				379.3711, F.S., or for
				veterinary care, or quarantine may be temporarily housed or caged in smaller
				cages or enclosures for a period not to exceed 60 days. With written
				notification to the Commission, this period may be extended in circumstances
				where a licensed veterinarian has certified that a longer holding period is
				medically necessary in the interests of the health, safety and welfare of the
				subject animals or the public. Medical records concerning all animals for which
				an extension of the 60-day period is obtained shall be maintained at the
				facility and shall be made available for inspection, upon request, by
				Commission personnel. The caging or enclosure of all wildlife temporarily held
				under this section shall not be smaller than that required for the caged animal
				to stand up, lie down, and turn around without touching the sides of the
				enclosure or another animal. All wildlife thus caged or housed shall be
				permanently marked or their enclosures shall be permanently marked, so as to be
				traceable to written records indicating the date the wildlife was placed in
				temporary holding. Such records shall be maintained and made available for
				inspection by Commission personnel. Commission personnel shall direct dealers
				to mark wildlife temporarily if, upon inspection, there is no record indicating
				the date the wildlife was placed in temporary holding.
(3) The standard caging requirements, as
				defined in this chapter, except for the fencing requirements, shall not apply
				to facilities possessing ratites (ostriches, rheas, emus, and cassowaries) for
				propagation purposes only and not for public exhibition or as personal pets.
				Facilities possessing bison for propagation purposes only and not for public
				exhibition or as personal pets are exempt from the standard caging
				requirements, as defined in this chapter.
(4) Newborn and juvenile mammals may be
				temporarily kept in enclosures below the standard caging requirements and are
				exempted from the facility requirements of paragraphs
				68A-6.010(5)(a)
				-(b), F.A.C., and structural strength requirements, Rule
				68A-6.011, F.A.C., as follows:
(a) Newborn mammals may be kept in incubation
				and rearing facilities. Nursing young may be maintained with their parents with
				no increase in required cage size for the adult animal for up to twelve weeks,
				provided that documentation is available to show the age of the young. Such
				time may be extended with a veterinarian's statement, showing that such size
				cage is required for the continued health and welfare of the animals until a
				certain date.
(b) Juvenile mammals
				may be kept in enclosures that meet or exceed the size specification in
				subsection (2) of this section, provided that:
1. Written documentation is available to
				verify the age of the animal.
2.
				The animal is marked or otherwise identifiable.
3. The animal shall be provided space for
				exercise on a daily basis.
4. Cages
				that meet the standard caging requirements shall be provided for Class I and
				Class II carnivores when they reach 25 pounds or six months of age, whichever
				comes first. Class III carnivores shall be provided cages that meet the
				standard caging requirements at six months of age. Class I, II, and III
				primates shall be provided cages that meet standard caging requirements at
				twelve (12) months of age.