Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 635 - DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE › Division 44 - PROTECTED WILDLIFE, HOLDING, AND GAME BIRD PROPAGATING RULES › Section 635-044-0460 - Holding of Live Black Bear (Ursus americanus), Cougar (Puma concolor), Bobcat (Lynx rufus), Wolf (Canis lupus), Raccoon (Procyon lotor) and Skunk (Mephitis spp.)

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) Black bears,
			 cougars, bobcats, wolves, raccoons and skunks held in captivity require a
			 Wildlife Holding or Wildlife Exhibitor/Animal Entertainment Industry or
			 Wildlife Sanctuary Permit and associated fees paid for those species held.
(2) Black bears, cougars, bobcats,
			 wolves, raccoons and skunks may only be held at AZA accredited facilities or in
			 Department approved facilities meeting standards defined in the Oregon
			 Enclosure and Caging Standards for Holding Wildlife (Exhibit 1) or as defined
			 in 635-044-0500(5)(b).
(3) Black bears, cougars, bobcats, and
			 wolves, acquired by transfer or new acquisition as part of an existing permit
			 or new holding application after January 20, 2017, shall only be held at AZA
			 accredited facilities or as approved by the Department in Wildlife
			 Exhibitor/Animal Entertainment or Wildlife Sanctuary facilities. No more than
			 one black bear, one cougar, or one bobcat may be held on a Wildlife
			 Exhibitor/Animal Entertainment or Wildlife Sanctuary Permit unless approved by
			 the Department.
(4) Black bears,
			 cougars, bobcats, wolves, raccoons, and skunks must have been acquired from an
			 out-of-state licensed USDA breeder with approved documentation that may include
			 a valid sales receipt, Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with import permit
			 from Oregon Department of Agriculture, valid agency transfer of ownership
			 permit identifying the animal was propagated and born in legal captivity, or as
			 approved by the Department.
(a) Black bears,
			 cougars, bobcats, wolves, raccoons and skunks must be marked permanently and
			 uniquely with either a lip or ear tattoo and/or implanted Radio Frequency
			 Identification Device (microchip). Holders of these defined species of animals
			 shall meet these requirements by January 21, 2018.
(b) Live black bears, cougars, bobcats,
			 wolves, raccoons, and skunks shall not be removed from the wild, with the
			 exception of animals captured and placed by the Department in an AZA accredited
			 facility, or as authorized by a Scientific Taking Permit (OAR
			 635-043-0023), Wildlife
			 Rehabilitation Rules (OAR 635 Div. 062), as nuisance wildlife captured by
			 permit (OAR 635 Div. 435), or as approved by the Department.
(c) Black bears, cougars, bobcats, wolves,
			 raccoons, and skunks held on a Wildlife Holding Permit or Wildlife
			 Exhibitor/Animal Entertainment Industry or Sanctuary Permit cannot be bred,
			 reproduced, or propagated in Oregon or offered for sale, trade, barter or
			 exchange, including grandfathered animals with one exception: The Department
			 recognizes that AZA-accredited facilities participate in native species
			 conservation, in part, by the breeding of native species in captivity;
			 therefore, AZA-accredited facilities may breed native species for which there
			 is a current AZA-approved SSP Program which calls for breeding in captivity at
			 the AZA facility with prior approval by the Department. AZA accredited
			 facilities must submit a copy of the relevant AZA SSP Breeding and Transfer
			 Plan Recommendations. If an AZA accredited facility wishes to breed a native
			 species that does not have an AZA-approved SSP Program or is not part of a
			 federal and/or state species recovery plan, the facility may request
			 authorization for breeding from the Department by including information on
			 justification for breeding, number of young desired, and proposed final
			 disposition of resulting progeny.
(d) Black bears, cougars, bobcats, and wolves
			 may only be transferred between valid Wildlife Exhibitor/Animal Entertainment
			 Industry, Sanctuary or AZA or ZAA accredited facilities with prior approval by
			 the Department. Raccoons and skunks may not be offered for sale, trade, barter,
			 or exchange as a household pet in Oregon (ORS
			 498.029).
(e) Black bears, cougars, bobcats, wolves,
			 and raccoons must be held within AZA accredited facilities or facilities
			 defined in Exhibit 1 and approved by the Department, except when:
(A) Transported to or from licensed Oregon
			 veterinary clinics or other ODFW-approved facilities in temporary holding or
			 transportation caging that is pre-approved by the Department; or
(B) With a Department letter of authorization
			 for requested activities.
(f) Application renewals must include a
			 description of permanent and unique animal identification mark and mark
			 location, and veterinary documentation of reproductive sterilization (if
			 required when both sexes are held). No access or contact shall occur between
			 wild animals and captive wildlife including but not limited to black bear,
			 cougar, bobcats, wolves, raccoons and skunks or other wildlife held on a
			 Wildlife Holding or Exhibitor/Animal Entertainment Industry or Sanctuary
			 Permit.