The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today published a regulation that creates a new permit specifically for the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned migratory birds. Creation of this permit offers rehabilitators a definitive regulatory framework and ensures that migratory birds removed from the wild for rehabilitative purposes will receive quality care.
"The new permit regulation for rehabilitation of injured migratory birds sets the bar for excellence in the field," said Service Director Steve Williams. "Concerned citizens all over the country provide a great service to these wild creatures to help ensure their release back to their natural habitats."
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects more than 800 species of birds; possession of them is strictly prohibited unless an exemption is provided by either regulation or permit. Previously, wildlife rehabilitators who treated migratory birds have done so with the authority of permits issued under a miscellaneous permit category used to authorize activities not specifically covered by other existing types of permits. Because the permit was a "catch- all" permit, there were no specific regulatory provisions addressing criteria and standards for rehabilitative care for migratory birds.
By creating the new permit category specifically authorizing rehabilitation of migratory birds
