Scientific and Educational Collecting Permits

301 KAR 4:070

What are SCIENTIFIC or EDUCATIONAL COLLECTING PERMITS?

1. The Scientific and Educational Collecting Permit authorizes the collecting and holding of wildlife for zoological, educational, or scientific purposes.

2. Scientific wildlife collecting—means the taking and subsequent possession or release of protected wildlife specimens for the purposes of conducting scientific investigations or evaluations for which compensation is received.

3. Educational wildlife collecting—means the taking and subsequent possession or release of protected wildlife by an individual or nonprofit organization for use in the bona fide instruction of students or for a university-related research project.

How do I get SCIENTIFIC or EDUCATIONAL COLLECTING PERMITS?

1. Fill out the appropriate application, available on our website or upon request;

2. A “Scientific and Educational Collecting Permit Qualifications Form” is required for each person listed on the application; it is available on our website or upon request.  New qualifications forms are required with this year’s packets (2009).

3. If the applicant(s) are wanting to collect bats, mussels, copperbelly watersnakes, fishes in a watershed known to harbor federally threatened or endangered fish species, or is specifically sampling for federally protected species of fish or wildlife, they must also submit:

1. Written and notarized affidavits for each applicant stating that they possess the ability to identify federally protected species in the field.  New affidavits are required with this year’s packets (2009). 
2. A project proposal stating the specific goals and locations of the collecting activities.

4. Current Costs: Educational Collecting Permit is $25.00; Scientific Collecting Permit is $250.00. There is no cost for Government agencies.

5. Permit Renewal:

1. Prior year’s data must be reported prior to application for renewal (see below for reporting information);
2. Applicant must submit a new and/or updated application each year.

Other important facts about SCIENTIFIC or EDUCATIONAL COLLECTING PERMITS….

1. A Scientific and Educational Collecting Permit is valid from January 1 through December 31 of the same year.

2.      A department-approved, qualified person as listed on the Scientific or Educational Collection Permit shall be present at all collection activities involving bats, mussels, fishes within watersheds known to harbor federally protected fishes, or when any other federally-protected species is possibly going to be collected.

3.      At least one (1) person in a field party shall carry a valid Scientific or Educational Collecting Permit or a photocopy of the permit.  Each person collecting protected fish and wildlife shall be listed on the Scientific or Educational Collecting Permit.

4.      A Scientific or Educational Collecting Permit shall not be used in lieu of hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses.

5.      Federally-threatened or endangered species may not be killed.  Federally threatened or endangered species inadvertently killed shall be reported to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources within twenty-four (24) hours and all specimens submitted to the department within seven (7) days of taking.  All captured protected wildlife not killed shall be released at the capture location.

What are reporting requirements for both types of permits?

1.      All Scientific Collecting Permit holders must submit a report.

2.      For Educational Collecting Permits, only university-related research projects are required to report their data according to the requirements below.  If not related to university research, you are not required to submit a report but can if you would like to.

3.      In a given collection year, if you have “no data”, you have to submit an official letter or e-mail to the appropriate Divisional administrative assistants stating that no specimens were collected.  This letter or e-mail will serve as your annual report.

4.      Data must be submitted annually and prior to renewal of new permits; this applies even if you have “no data” (see #3 above).