N.H. Code Admin. R. Fis 812.02
General Conditions
Effective Apr 21, 2026#6889, eff 11-21-98; ss by #7808, eff 12-25-02; ss by #9824, INTERIM, eff 11-24-10, EXPIRES: 5-23-11; ss by #9880-A, eff 3-1-11; ss by #10868, INTERIM, eff 6-25-15, EXPIRED: 12-22-15 New. #11029, eff 1-26-16; ss by #14558, eff 4-21-26, EXPIRES: 4-21-36Executive Director, Fish and Game Department
- (a) A federal permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall be secured by the permittee before receiving or rehabilitating any species protected by federal law.
- (b) Permittees who acquire a federal or state listed endangered or threatened wildlife species, black bear, white-tailed deer, moose, or bobcat shall, within 24 hours, notify the fish and game department's executive director or designee. The care and disposition of any of these species shall be handled under the direction of the executive director or designee.
- (c) Wildlife shall be released back into the wild as soon as the animal is physically capable of survival in the opinion of a consulting veterinarian or the rehabilitator.
- (d) Wildlife shall be released into its natural habitat within the state of New Hampshire at a location agreed upon by the executive director or designee assigned to the patrol area where the release is planned.
- (e) Wildlife may be transferred to other rehabilitation permittees if better care or facilities are required and are available.
- (f) Except as provided in Fis 812.04, relative to unreleasable wildlife, no wildlife shall be kept alive when, in the opinion of a consulting veterinarian, it becomes evident that rehabilitation and release into the wild is impossible.
- (g) No injured wildlife shall be kept longer than 6 months, and no orphaned wildlife shall be kept longer than 10 months, except as provided in Fis 812.04. If the appropriate season for release is outside the timeframe, the permittee shall notify the executive director which wildlife will be kept until the appropriate time for release and the expected date of release.
- (h) The permittee shall keep human contact with wildlife being rehabilitated at a minimum.
- (i) The fish and game department and its employees shall not be responsible for any costs or liability involved in the treatment of any wildlife.
Source. #6889, eff 11-21-98; ss by #7808, eff 12-25-02; ss by #9824, INTERIM, eff 11-24-10, EXPIRES: 5-23-11; ss by #9880-A, eff 3-1-11; ss by #10868, INTERIM, eff 6-25-15, EXPIRED: 12-22-15 New. #11029, eff 1-26-16; ss by #14558, eff 4-21-26, EXPIRES: 4-21-36