Virginia.gov

Collecting, Exhibiting, and Releasing Wildlife

An important element of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' (VDGIF) mission is "to manage Virginia's wildlife and inland fish to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth." One way the Department does this is by enforcing the laws, regulations, and Agency guidelines governing the collection, holding, exhibiting, and release of wildlife by issuing permits and guidelines for these activities.

Possession, importation, sale, etc. of wild animals

It is unlawful to take, possess, import, cause to be imported, export, cause to be exported, buy, sell, offer for sale, or liberate within the Commonwealth any wild animals unless otherwise specifically permitted by law or regulation. It is unlawful to destroy or molest the nest, eggs, dens, or young of any wild bird or wild animal, except nuisance species*, at any time without a permit. It is unlawful to collect animal parts, such as feathers, claws, and bones without a permit (4 VAC 15-30-10 and §§29.1-521 and 29.1-553).

  • Nuisance species: house mouse, Norway rat, black rat, coyote, feral hog, nutria, woodchuck, European starling, English (house) sparrow, and pigeon (rock dove) (4 VAC 15-20-160).

Taking aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and nongame fish for private use**

It is lawful to collect and possess live for private use** only, and not for sale, no more than 5 individuals of any non-listed species of amphibian and reptile, and no more than 20 individuals of any non-listed species of aquatic invertebrate and nongame fish (4 VAC 15-360-10). Non-listed terrestrial invertebrates may be taken in unlimited numbers for private use** only. NO Threatened and Endangered Species may be held for personal use.

  • ** private use means for use in the home, not for scientific, research, survey or educational purposes (which requires a permit).

Releasing Native Reptiles and Amphibians

Wild-caught native reptiles and amphibians captured in Virginia may be released within 30 days under the following conditions:

  1. they are returned to the exact point of capture by September 15 to allow the animal time to prepare for hibernation;
  2. if more than one was collected from different locations, they were housed separately to prevent the potential spread of disease, and;
  3. they do not show any signs of illness.

Naturalized species of reptiles and amphibians cannot be released.

Threatened and endangered species

  • VDGIF adopts the federal list as well as a state list of endangered and threatened species.
  • Taking, exportation, transportation, or possession of endangered or threatened species may be permitted for zoological, educational, or scientific purposes and for propagation of such fish or wildlife in captivity for preservation purposes (§29.1-564 and 29.1-567 and 29.1-568 of the Code of Virginia).

Collection of Wildlife for Scientific and/or Educational Purposes

Virginia Scientific Collection, Research, Survey Permit/Salvage Permit/Threatened & Endangered Species Permit Applications and Permit(s) Report Form and Instructions

A permit is required for any activities involving the capture of nongame species.

"Collection" includes all sampling activities that remove, even temporarily, any individuals from the natural environment. "Collection" also includes habitat disturbance such as turning over rocks/logs, putting down cover boards etc. as well as the capture and handling of species. "Salvage" includes all taking of species found dead. A permit is required for Scientific Collection and/or Salvage activities ANYWHERE in the Commonwealth of Virginia including federal lands.

The following items are REQUIRED to receive a Threatened & Endangered Species, Scientific Collection, or Bird Banding Permit:

  • Fully completed permit application, including specific species and location information and you MUST have a specific project that the permit is addressing; blanket permits will not be issued. Applications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the project.
  • The formal Project Proposal/Study Plan/Field Plan, must include specific information regarding the scientific affiliation or purpose of the project and include; collection methods to be used, data to be collected, specific species to be collected, the proposed and justified quantity to be collected/vouchered, and disposition methods.
  • A resume/CV, or other documentation, providing project and species or taxon specific experience and qualifications for each person listed on the application. Students without experience should list appropriate course and must be accompanied by the Principal Permittee. (this applies only to the Collection, Threatened & Endangered Species, and Bird Banding applications)
  • Copy of federal permit (BIRD BANDING APPLICATION ONLY).
  • No hand written applications will be accepted.
  • All applications and other documentation must be provided electronically to collectionpermits@dgif.virginia.gov.

The following items are REQUIRED to receive a Salvage Permit:

  • Fully completed permit application.
  • Formal Proposal (Who/What/When/Where/(Why, Course curriculum will suffice))
  • No hand written applications will be accepted.
  • All applications and other documentation must be provided electronically to collectionpermits@dgif.virginia.gov.

Changes to Your Existing Permit(s)

If you need to make changes to your existing permit(s), you must submit a Supplemental Amendment Form. Amendment requests must also be submitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the requested activity. Amendments need to be submitted for any change to the existing permit. Examples: addition of species; changes in quantity to be collected; changes to the subpermittee list; new locations; new methods etc.

Justification must be provided for any addition of species and/or numbers and for new locations and methods. A resume/CV, or other documentation, must be provided for any new subpermittees. Resumes/CVs are only required for the addition of subpermittees to a collection or threatened & endangered species permit.

New Projects

Any new project(s), not previously attached to your existing permit, must be submitted as a new application(s) with all required documents.

Standard Conditions to Remember

  • Permittees must notify VDGIF of any incidental take of threatened or endangered species within 24 hours of the incident.
  • Permittees must notify VDGIF of any incidental observation or collection (and release) of threatened or endangered species within 5 days if they do not hold a Threatened & Endangered Species Permit.
  • Permittees must notify VDGIF a minimum of 4 days prior to sampling in the field and include where and when the sampling will take place.
  • All species will be released as quickly as possible, collected using methods described in your project description and on your permit, and all mortalities documented.
  • ALL notifications MUST be made to: collectionpermits@dgif.virginia.gov and/or (804) 367-6913 (email notification is preferred for record keeping purposes.)

Permit Documents for Download

You must have a recent version of Adobe Reader. If you do not, you may obtain it for free from Adobe's website.

These forms are NOT Apple/Mac compatible.

Payment Options

Payment and submission of required documentation DOES NOT guarantee issuance of any permit.

Payment MUST be made at the time of application and may be made using one of the following methods:

Check, made payable to "Treasurer of Virginia" and mailed, along with a copy of the first page of the application form, to:

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Attn: Shirl Dressler
4010 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230

OR

Via credit card (VISA or MasterCard),
Call (804) 367-6913
Print, complete and mail, along with a copy of the first page of the application, the Credit Card Authorization Form to the address above.

Report forms with all collection data for the year are due January 31.

Permit Report Form and Instructions for Download

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT YOUR REPORT!

To read the instructions, you must have a recent version of Adobe Reader. If you do not, you may obtain it for free from Adobe's website.

It is highly recommended that you save the form instead of opening it. This form/application is not designed or developed to run on the Apple Macintosh platform. You should download the reporting form/application each year to allow for any changes that may have been made to the form/application. You should NOT use the previous years reporting form/application. It is also recommended that you wait until at least October before starting your data entry, this will allow time for changes to be implemented and the new version posted to the website.

If there was no activity conducted under your permit(s), please submit an email to collectionpermits@dgif.virginia.gov containing the following statement: "No activity under Permit # (insert your permit number[s]) during (insert the appropriate year, i.e., 2008)."

For more information about Threatened and Endangered Species, Scientific Collection, Salvage Permit Applications and Permit(s) Report Form and Instructions, please contact:

Shirl Dressler
Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
4010 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 804-367-6913
Email: CollectionPermits@dgif.virginia.gov

Exhibitor's Permit Application

  • Exhibitor's Permit: for the exhibit of live animals for educational purposes. One-year permit. Fee: $20.00 for state agencies, educational institutions, towns, etc. $50.00 for private businesses.

For information about exhibiting wildlife and exhibitor permit applications and reporting, please contact:

Dianne Waller
Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
4010 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 804-367-9588
Email: dianne.waller@dgif.virginia.gov