1. (1) Payment may be accepted for providing abatement activities if the permittee has a USFWS special purpose abatement permit. It is important to note that a federal depredation permit may also be required because a federal abatement permit does not allow the killing of other wildlife; only the scaring or driving away.
2. (2) If conducting abatement activities for a fee beyond recoupment of costs or beyond de minimus expenses (such as fuel costs or meals), a nuisance animal damage control permit from TWRA shall be required prior to conducting abatement activities in accordance with Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs 1660-01-21. For the purposes of this rule, abatement activity occurs when the person AND USE OF RAPTORS uses a raptor to destroy, or otherwise control nuisance wildlife and charges a fee for such services.
3. (3) If experience is sufficient, the TWRA may waive the animal damage control test for a Master Falconer when one practices falconry bird-based damage control only. Possession of a USFWS special purpose abatement permit is evidence of sufficient experience to carry out falconry bird-based damage control only and an animal damage control test is not required.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 70-1-206, 70-2-201, 70-2-202, 70-4-404, and 70-4-414. Administrative History: New rules filed January 8, 2025; effective April 8, 2025.