New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE › Chapter 35 - CAPTIVE WILDLIFE USES › Part 5 - WILDLIFE REHABILITATION PERMITS › Section 19.35.5.12 - PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A. A
				permit holder shall carry out all rehabilitation in a manner consistent with
				the goal of returning wildlife to its native range and habitat and in
				conformity with its seasonal occurrence in New Mexico.
B. A permit holder may designate an agent to
				transport wildlife associated with rehabilitation efforts.
C. A permit holder shall carry out all
				rehabilitation in a humane manner and plan activities to return the injured
				animals to a condition which will allow them to survive in the wild.
D. Apprentices shall handle wildlife only
				under supervision of the permittee or co-permittee.
E. A permit holder shall conduct
				rehabilitation in an environment which minimizes human contact and prevents
				human and domestic animal imprinting.
F. Animals in rehabilitation shall not be
				used for display or public programs. One way windows or video observation is
				permissible.
G. Non-releasable
				protected wildlife may only be retained for approved fostering or socialization
				purposes incident to wildlife rehabilitation or transferred to other permitted
				rehabilitators, zoo permit holders, licensed falconers and licensed raptor
				breeders or educational permit holders in accordance with requirements of this
				regulation and only after a written request for such retention or transfer has
				been made to and approved in writing by the department.
H. Permittee's facilities shall be subject to
				unannounced inspections by authorized representatives of the director at
				reasonable times.
I. Permittees
				shall maintain detailed and complete records on each animal received under the
				permit.
J. Releases of
				Rehabilitated Wildlife:
(1) A permit holder
				shall not release wildlife in such a manner or at such a location so that the
				released animals are likely to become a nuisance or threat to humans or their
				property.
(2) Wildlife releases
				which are made to fenced or enclosed areas without a reasonable expectation
				that the individuals will be able to leave at will may be considered as captive
				releases.
(3) Captive releases may
				subject the landowner or person in control of the premises to additional
				licensing requirements for holding protected wildlife in captivity or stocking
				protected wildlife.
(4) Protected
				wildlife shall be released only to place and habitat by seasonal occurrence
				appropriate for the species.
(5)
				Terrestrial animals shall only be released in the county where they were
				acquired or found, or in an adjacent county unless specific written permission
				for release elsewhere is granted by the department. Release locations should
				consider gene pools and population dynamics including availability of
				appropriate food base. Release locations shall be included in annual
				report.
(6) Protected wildlife may
				not be imported from another state or another country without meeting
				importation permit provision allowing such activity.
(7) Rehabilitated wildlife shall be released
				into species appropriate habitat at a suitable time (with considerations for
				the season, weather conditions and time of day) which shall enhance the
				animal's continued survival.