1. (a) Prohibition on Possession of Big Game Mammals, Exotic Game Mammals, or Fully Protected, Threatened or Endangered Species Except Under Department Permit. No person or wildlife rehabilitation facility may possess any big game mammal listed in Section 350, exotic game mammal listed in Section 375, Title 14, CCR, or any fully protected, endangered or threatened bird, mammal, fish, reptile or amphibian without specific written authorization from the department.

2. (b) Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities.

   1. (1) Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility Defined. For the purposes of these regulations, a wildlife rehabilitation facility is defined as a site where activities are undertaken to restore to a condition of good health, for the purpose of release to the wild, animals occurring naturally and not normally domesticated in this state.

   2. (2) Approval of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility.

      1. (A) The department may approve and issue a permit in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to only those wildlife rehabilitation facilities which meet the wildlife care standards set forth in the Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2000, Third Edition manual published jointly by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association; or as provided in the MOU. The above wildlife care standards are hereby adopted and made a part of this Title 14. All wildlife rehabilitation facilities, regardless of when established, shall comply with the wildlife care standards.
3. (c) This section shall only apply to a permittee holding a valid permit or MOU issued pursuant to this section prior to August 13, 2025.
4. (d) This section shall remain in effect through December 31, 2025, and as of January 1, 2026 is repealed.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 1050, 2000, 2127, 2150.2, 3005.5, 3800 and 4150, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 713, 1008, 2000, 2001, 2150.4, 2192, 3005.5, 3511, 3800, 3950, 3965, 4150, 4190, 4700 and 4800, Fish and Game Code; and Section 8670.61.5, Government Code.

History

1. New section filed 8-8-94; operative 9-7-94 (Register 94, No. 32).

2. Editorial correction of subsections (a) and (f)(1) (Register 2007, No. 12).

3. Amendment of section and Note filed 4-2-2007; operative 4-2-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 14).

4. Amendment of subsections (a)-(c) and amendment of Note filed 5-29-2024; operative 7-1-2024 (Register 2024, No. 22).

5. Amendment filed 8-13-2025; operative 8-13-2025 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2025, No. 33).