1501:31-25-01. Wild animal permit regulations

(A) The following regulations are hereby established by authority of sections 1531.08, 1533.08 and 1533.09 of the Revised Code.

(B) The chief of the division of wildlife is hereby authorized to establish a scientific collecting permit and an education permit. The chief shall establish criteria and guidelines for qualification for such permits. Persons not providing adequate qualifications will be denied a permit.

(C) Persons desiring to engage in bird banding activities shall receive banding permit from the division of wildlife. Banding permits allow banding and release activities only. All birds killed or injured during banding activities, shall be provided to the division of wildlife or transferred to an approved wild animal permit holder. All banding permit holders must have or work under the authority of a valid banding or marking permit issued by the U.S. geological survey.

(D) All persons requesting a scientific collecting, education or banding permit shall at the time of application for such permit provide the information requested on forms provided by the division of wildlife for each separate project. Permit holders may add projects during the duration of the permit but only after submitting projects and receiving approval from the wildlife chief.

(E) Persons failing to provide full information required on the application form to the satisfaction of the wildlife chief will be denied a permit. In addition, a copy of all published reports or publications derived from the data collected shall be provided to the division of wildlife.

(F) Wild animal permits expire at midnight on March fifteenth of each year.

(G) Persons who assist a permit holder are authorized to collect and/or possess wild animals for the permit holder.

(1) Persons who assist a permit holder are authorized to collect and/or possess wild animals only under the conditions of the permit, in compliance with wildlife laws.

(2) The permit holder is responsible for ensuring that wild animals are collected or possessed by his assistants only in compliance with the permit.

(H) The chief of the division of wildlife is hereby authorized to issue free letter permits to qualified persons for the taking, possession or transportation of wild animals, including aquatic nuisance species and endangered species. Persons desiring a letter permit shall supply information as required by the chief. Failure to provide such information will result in denial of the permit.

(I) It shall be unlawful for any person receiving a permit established by this rule or section 1533.08 of the Revised Code to fail to submit a written report of collecting activities prior to March fifteen each year. The report shall list the following information for each specimen collected:

(1) Scientific name and quantity collected.

(2) Date collected.

(3) Location (county and township) collected.

(4) Location, date and method each specimen was disposed of.

(J) It shall be unlawful for any person possessing a permit mentioned in this rule to take, possess, or transport any wild animal contrary to any condition set forth within the permit or established by the chief of the division of wildlife.

(K) It shall be unlawful to use or provide any contraceptive drugs, substances or chemicals to any free ranging wild animal. Provided further, persons may request permission from the chief of the division of wildlife to use contraceptives for scientific research. The chief may issue a conditional permit in writing after a person has submitted in writing the proposal which outlines the scientific research project.

(L) It shall be unlawful to disturb, molest, tamper with, damage, move or remove any labeled material, equipment or appurtenance associated with an authorized division of wildlife research, survey or inventory project activity unless authorized by the chief of the division of wildlife or their designee.

(M) It shall be unlawful to disturb, molest, remove or take any specimen associated with an authorized division of wildlife research, survey, inventory project or activity unless authorized by the chief of the division of wildlife or their designee.

(N) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code shall apply to this rule.

Effective: 7/7/2018
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 3/21/2018 and 07/07/2023
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10
Rule Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.101533.08, 1533.09
Prior Effective Dates: 05/01/1976, 01/02/1981, 06/01/1985, 08/15/1995, 09/24/2002, 05/27/2005, 07/01/2008, 01/01/2013