§20-2D-6. General provisions regarding wildlife rehabilitation.

(a) Permit holders or designated in-shelter assistants may have contact with wildlife being rehabilitated only to the extent necessary for adequate care and treatment. Wildlife may not be habituated to humans, tamed, kept as pets, or used in inappropriate ways.

(b) Public exhibition of wildlife being rehabilitated is prohibited.

(c) Permit holders shall notify the director immediately of the receipt of a federally threatened or endangered species.

(d) On advice from the permit holder’s consulting veterinarian, an injured or sick wildlife that is incapable of surviving if released to the wild must be:

(1) Humanely euthanized under the direction of the permit holder’s consulting veterinarian;

(2) Turned over to the director or his or her designee; or

(3) On approval by the director, may remain with the rehabilitator for educational display.

(e) Euthanasia of wildlife shall be carried out by the most humane means possible under the direction of the permit holder’s consulting veterinarian according to criteria established by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, or the International Wildlife Rehabilitators Council. Threatened or endangered species may be euthanized only on written approval from the director.

(f) Wildlife that are euthanized or die of natural causes must be buried or incinerated, except migratory birds. Federal permit holders must follow the guidelines of their permits for the final disposition of carcasses.

(g) Permit holders may not sell, barter, or give away any live or dead wildlife or any parts thereof.

(h) The Director or his or her designee shall be able to inspect any wildlife rehabilitation facility at any time for reasons including disease surveillance, collection of treatment records, and wildlife welfare checks.

(i) The Director can require wildlife to be tested, quarantined, and destroyed if they are exposed to or known to possess diseases or parasites of pathological or ecological significance to humans, domestic livestock and poultry, or native wildlife.