Wildlife Rehabilitation

​​Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit

The wildlife rehabilitation permit authorizes a person to rescue, raise, and arrange veterinary care for orphaned, sick, displaced, or injured native wildlife, with the prudent goal of releasing the wildlife back to its natural habitat.

About the Permit

A wildlife rehabilitation permit shall be obtained before possessing live native wildlife. Removing young wildlife from the wild is illegal; you are risking citation, and a permit will not be issued for illegally taken wildlife. These animals should be left in the wild or returned there, and legal recourse for injured and orphaned wildlife is the prompt transfer of these animals to a presently permitted wildlife rehabilitator.

Mammal, reptile, and amphibian rehabilitation requires only this state permit.

In order to hold and rehabilitate federally protected birds (Migratory Bird Treaty Act), including raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl, a person shall have both a state wildlife rehabilitation permit and a federal rehabilitation permit. Information on the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Migratory Bird rehabilitation permits can be found here. USFWS requires proof of a state permit before issuing the federal permit. Therefore, KDFWR will issue a rehabilitation permit for birds, but it will be invalid until you also possess the federal permit.​​

Wildlife rehabilitators who exhibit wildlife for educational purposes must comply with the USDA Animal Welfare Act licensing requirements. If you are exhibiting non-releaseable wildlife for remuneration, including donations, and regardless of non-profit status, you may be required to have a valid Class “C” Exhibitors License issued by USDA-APHIS-Animal Care. It is your responsibility to comply with all state and federal laws. If you have questions regarding federal USDA licensing requirements or need to obtain this license, please call the USDA-APHIS-Animal Care Eastern Region office at 919-855-7100.​

Please Note: Non-releasable rabies vector species—including coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, and their hybrids—may not be displayed. In addition, non-releasable wildlife and wildlife undergoing rehabilitation may only be removed from the rehabilitation facility for the purposes of release, veterinary treatment, or transfer to another permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Important Links

Permits and Reports

Resources

Application Process

Wildlife rehabilitation permits are valid from January 1st thru December 31st. To obtain the wildlife rehabilitation permit, a person shall:

1. Be at least 18 years old;
   
2. Not hold a captive wildlife permit;
3. Prepare facilities that comply with the Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation for at least the species you plan to accept.
4. Have their facilities inspected by a KDFWR Game Warden ​to receive their required signature on the permit application if compliance is demonstrated;
5. Submit proof of successful completion of the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) course “Foundations of Wildlife Rehabilitation."​
   
• Licensed veterinarians are exempt from the course requirement
  
• See Upcoming IWRC Foundation of Wildlife Rehabilitation. If no classes are currently scheduled, call the IWRC at 866-871-1869 to inquire about future availability.
6. Submit an application fee (Please refer to the License and Permit Fees page) and complete a wildlife rehabilitation permit application. (Includes Facility Inspection Checklist.)
7. Every year, file an annual report and a non-releaseable wildlife report with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for the previous year's activity.