Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68A - Freshwater Fish and Wildlife › Chapter 68A-6 - CAPTIVE WILDLIFE › Section 68A-6.004 - Possession of Class I, II, and III Wildlife: Permit Application Criteria

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Permits to possess wildlife in captivity,
				issued pursuant to Section
				379.3761 or
				379.3762, F.S., and the
				provisions of this chapter, shall authorize the keeping of captive wildlife, of
				the type and number specified in applications approved by the Commission, in
				accordance with law and Commission rules. Captive wildlife maintained under
				permit shall, unless otherwise authorized, be maintained only at the facility
				specified in the permit application and approved by the Commission.
(2) Qualification requirements for a permit
				to possess Class I or Class II wildlife:
All applicants shall qualify for permits as follows:
(a) Age Requirement: Applicants to possess
				Class I or Class II wildlife shall be at least 18 years of age.
(b) Applicants shall not have been convicted
				of any violation of captive wildlife regulations or venomous reptile or reptile
				of concern regulations involving unsafe housing of wildlife or that could
				potentially endanger the public; any violation involving the illegal
				commercialization of wildlife; any violation involving cruelty to animals; or
				any violation involving importation of wildlife within three (3) years of the
				date of application.
(c) Experience
				Requirement for Class I permits:
1. Applicants
				shall demonstrate no less than one (1) year of substantial practical experience
				(to consist of no less than 1, 000 hours) in the care, feeding, handling and
				husbandry of the species for which the permit is sought, or other species,
				within the same biological family (except crocodilians which shall be in the
				same biological order; ratites which shall be in the same biological sub-order;
				and cougars, panthers or cheetahs which shall remain at the genus level), which
				are substantially similar in size, characteristics, behavior, habits, care and
				nutritional requirements to the species for which the permit is
				sought.
2. For purposes of
				demonstrating compliance, applicants shall submit documentation of such
				experience, including:
a. A description of the
				specific experience acquired.
b.
				The dates and times the experience was obtained and the specific location(s)
				where acquired.
c. References of no
				less than two (2) individuals, no more than one of which may be a relative of
				the applicant, having personal knowledge of the applicant's stated experience.
				One of these references must be licensed by the commission for wildlife of the
				same family and the same or higher class for which the applicant is seeking
				authorization or a representative of a professional organization or
				governmental institution. Examples of such organizations or institutions
				include, but are not limited to, universities, public service agencies,
				zoological associations, herpetological societies and veterinarians.
d. Additional documentation may include
				records of prior permits for the keeping of captive wildlife, employment
				records, and any other competent documentation of the requisite
				experience.
3. Documented
				educational experience in zoology or other relevant biological sciences,
				obtained at the college or technical school level or above, may substitute for
				up to six months or 500 hours of the required experience.
4. Providing false information to document
				the applicant's experience, by the applicant or any reference, is prohibited as
				provided in Sections 837.012 and
				837.06, F.S.
(d) Experience and examination requirements
				for Class II permits:
1. Applicants may
				qualify for a permit for Class II wildlife by documenting one year of
				experience (to consist of no less than 1000 hours) as defined in subparagraphs
				68A-6.004(2)(c)
				1.-4., F.A.C., above. If the applicant is unable to document such experience,
				as an alternative, the applicant may take a written examination. The successful
				completion of a written examination for the particular species or family,
				administered by the Division of Law Enforcement, together with the
				documentation of not less than 500 hours of substantial practical experience
				(with documentation and compliance procedures as noted in subparagraphs
				68A-6.004(2)(c)
				1.-4., F.A.C., above) in the care, feeding, handling and husbandry of the
				species or family for which the permit is sought may be substituted for the
				one-year/1, 000-hour requirement. Upon receipt of an application, the
				Commission shall notify the applicant of the time and place of the next
				examination. Applicant scoring at least 80 percent correct on the examination
				shall be deemed as meeting the examination requirement for the particular
				species or family.
2. The above
				requirements shall not apply to applicants for permits to possess ostriches,
				rheas, emus, cassowaries or coyotes when possessed for purposes other than
				public exhibition or personal use.
3. The above requirements shall not apply to
				applicants for permits to possess species of the family
Bovidae
in accordance with Sections
				379.3711 and
				379.3712,
				F.S.
(e) Any licensed
				corporation applying for a permit or authorized to possess Class I or Class II
				wildlife must have qualified personnel responsible for the care of such
				wildlife. The corporation must provide documentation of experience for at least
				one person. Such person shall comply with the requirements defined in
				subparagraphs 68A-6.004(2)(c)
				1.-4. and (d)1., F.A.C., above. Such documentation of experience shall be
				submitted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of
				Law Enforcement, and subject to approval upon initial application and upon each
				instance of change in qualified person.
(f) Any person authorized pursuant to Section
				379.3761, F.S., to exhibit or
				sell Class I wildlife shall obtain and maintain a current and valid USDA
				license, where applicable, pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act and Animal
				Welfare Regulations of Title 9 CFR (effective Janurary 2017, which is hereby
				incorporated by reference at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-11137
).
				Such USDA license shall be obtained within 180 days of initial licensing by the
				Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Failure to obtain and
				maintain a current and valid USDA license may result in denial or revocation of
				any Class I authorizations issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
				Commission.