ARC 0284D

ARC 0284D

NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION[571]

Adopted and Filed

Rulemaking related to scientific collecting and wildlife rehabilitation

    The Natural Resource Commission (Commission) hereby rescinds Chapter 111, “Scientific Collecting and Wildlife Rehabilitation,” and adopts a new Chapter 111, “Natural Resources Collector Permits: Research, Education and Wildlife Rehabilitation,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code sections 461A.41, 481A.39 and 481A.65.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code sections 461A.41, 481A.39 and 481A.65 and 50 CFR Parts 10, 20, and 21.

Purpose and Summary

    Chapter 111 explains the process for members of the public to obtain permits to take, acquire, or possess wildlife or plants for educational projects, scientific collecting, wildlife rehabilitation, and wildlife salvage. The rules clarify compliance with State and federal law and adopt standards as identified by the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

    This chapter has been reviewed and edited consistent with Executive Order 10. Definitions and rules have been revised to align with state and federal law. Specific publication titles have been added with dates certain to clarify the standards that apply to applicants and permittees. In an attempt to reduce and simplify regulatory burdens, the new chapter defines, clarifies, and minimizes the redundancies found in the previous version.

Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking

    Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on January 7, 2026, as ARC 9921C. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   January 28, 2026

     ?   February 4, 2026

    No one attended the public hearings. No public comments were received. No changes from the Notice have been made.

Adoption of Rulemaking

    This rulemaking was adopted by the Commission on April 9, 2026.

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    This rulemaking is subject to the waiver provisions of 571—Chapter 11. Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Commission for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

    This rulemaking will become effective on June 17, 2026.

    The following rulemaking action is adopted:

    ITEM 1.  Rescind 571—Chapter 111 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 111

NATURAL RESOURCES COLLECTOR PERMITS:
RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND WILDLIFE REHABILITATION

571—111.1(481A) Definitions.

    “Department” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 481A.1.

    “Educational project permit” means a permit to take, acquire and possess live wildlife for natural resource-based educational programs and displays.

    “Permit” means a license for the purpose of this chapter.

    “Permittee” means an organization or person that possesses a valid permit issued by the department under Iowa Code section 481A.65.

    “Scientific collector’s permit” means a permit to take, for scientific purposes only, any birds, nests, eggs, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, plants or parts thereof that are protected by state regulations.

    “Wildlife rehabilitation permit” means a permit to take and temporarily possess injured, sick or orphaned authorized wildlife species with the sole intent to return the animal to its natural habitat as soon as possible.

    “Wildlife salvage permit” means a permit to possess, for natural resource education programs or scientific studies, authorized protected wildlife species that have died as the result of natural causes or accidents, were legally taken, or were donated specimens that have been legally obtained.

571—111.2(481A) General conditions for permits.

    1.   Applications will not be approved for private collections or for commercial use of protected species.

    2.   Any costs incurred by the permittee for the administration of any permit authorized by this chapter are the responsibility of the permittee.

    3.   Scientific collecting permits, wildlife salvage permits, and educational project permits unless for migratory birds are generally issued in the name of the institution or organization. The principal collector or permittee will be listed on the permit and be responsible for administering the permit. All persons collecting or working under the authority of the permit shall carry a copy of the permit and a letter of authorization from the principal permittee.

    4.   Educational project permits for migratory birds and wildlife rehabilitation permits may list an institution or organization but also must list the person or persons with the qualifications for that particular permit. These permits do not necessarily continue with the institution or organization if the person or persons listed on the permits leave. If replacement personnel with the proper qualifications for the permit or permits are found, then the permit or permits may stay in the institution’s or organization’s name.

    5.   Specimens collected or possessed under any permit authorized by this chapter remain the property of the state of Iowa. The department reserves the right to determine the disposition of all specimens collected under authority of these permits.

    6.   Records, facilities and inventories must be made available for inspection by the department’s agents during reasonable hours.

    7.   Records of collections and the manner in which specimens have been acquired and their disposition must be kept current at all times.

    8.   Authorization to collect or possess endangered or threatened species requires special permission and must comply with provisions established in Iowa Code chapter 481B.

    9.   A representative of the department must be notified within 72 hours of a permittee taking or holding threatened or endangered species that are found dead and within 24 hours for those that are injured or sick.

    10.   A permitted rehabilitator or veterinarian must determine if a migratory bird is permanently crippled before it may be held under an educational project permit.

    11.   Permit fees will be $5 for one year, $10 for two years, and $15 for three years.

    12.   Applicants for scientific collectors, wildlife rehabilitation, and educational projects must be at least 18 years old or provide written permission from a parent or guardian.

    13.   No animals being rehabilitated may be used for educational programs.

    14.   Applicants for scientific collector, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife salvage, and educational project permits that are requesting permission to collect, possess, or hold wildlife species as listed in 50 CFR Parts 10, 20, and 21 as amended through August 4, 2025, must follow provisions set forth and may be required to obtain a federal permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

    15.   Any native mammals, reptiles, amphibians, or fish that are not state-listed endangered or threatened species and are obtained from legal sources outside the state of Iowa are exempt from these permit requirements. Proof of origin of each animal is the responsibility of the owner.

571—111.3(481A) Scientific collector’s permit. A scientific collector’s permit may, after investigation, be issued to any business, organization, university, college or person engaged in a scientific project approved by the department.

This permit may be issued for a period of up to three years.

The application narrative shall include the reason for study, expected conservation benefit for Iowa, species, number of specimens to be collected, geographic location, time frame and collection methods subject to department approval.

571—111.4(481A) Wildlife salvage permit. A wildlife salvage permit may be issued to any business, university, college, school, public agency, other organization or person engaged in a natural resource education or research program approved by the department.

This permit may be issued for a period of up to three years.

Special approval is required for the salvage of migratory birds, including nests and eggs.

571—111.5(481A) Educational project permit. The following classes of educational project permits may be issued by the department:

    111.5(1) A general educational project permit for protected animal species, other than migratory birds, may be issued to any university, college, school, public agency, other organization or person engaged in a natural resource education program approved by the department. The limitation on the number of animals in possession shall be established by the ability of the applicant to provide adequate facilities and care.

This permit may be issued for a period of up to three years.

    111.5(2) A migratory bird apprentice educational project permit may be issued to a person interning to meet the requirements of the federal special purpose possession permit and being sponsored by a person possessing the following: a master wildlife rehabilitation permit and two years’ experience using migratory birds under a state or federal educational project permit, a master class falconry permit or a migratory bird general educational project permit for at least five years. Sponsorship information shall be submitted with the apprentice application on a form prescribed by the department. An apprentice will be limited to the possession of one American kestrel and one screech owl that are permanently crippled or human imprinted. In the case where an apprentice will be in charge of an existing facility with additional birds, the sponsor and the conservation officer must approve the possession of the additional species and individuals.

This permit may be issued for a period of up to two years.

    111.5(3) A migratory bird general educational project permit for migratory birds may be issued to a person who has served the appropriate apprenticeship and is recommended by the person’s sponsor, has previously held an educational project permit for migratory birds issued by the department or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or has held a master class state and federal falconry permit within the last five years.

This permit may be issued for a period of up to three years.

571—111.6(481A) Wildlife rehabilitation permit. The following classes of wildlife rehabilitation permits may be issued by the department:

    111.6(1) An apprentice wildlife rehabilitation permit may be issued to a person serving a one-year internship with and being sponsored by a person possessing a master wildlife rehabilitation permit or to a person serving a two-year internship with and being sponsored by a person possessing a general wildlife rehabilitation permit. Sponsorship information shall be submitted with the apprentice application on a form prescribed by the department.

This permit may be issued for a period of up to two years.

    111.6(2) A general wildlife rehabilitation permit may be issued to a person who has served the appropriate apprenticeship; has graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine; or has previously held a rehabilitation permit issued by the department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or any other state natural resource agency.

A general wildlife rehabilitator may sponsor up to four apprentices at a given time.

This permit may be issued for a period of up to three years.

    111.6(3) A master wildlife rehabilitation permit may be issued to a person who has completed five consecutive years of extensive rehabilitation work and has received a recommendation from the local state conservation officer assigned to the person’s resident county or who is a licensed veterinarian with specific training and experience in wildlife rehabilitation. The department may issue a master wildlife rehabilitation permit to individuals who have demonstrated special ability, knowledge, training and experience in wildlife rehabilitation.

A master wildlife rehabilitator may sponsor up to six apprentices at a given time.

This permit may be issued for a period of up to three years.

571—111.7(481A) Application qualifications. All applicants for any permit defined herein must possess adequate qualifications and experience and facilities to house and properly confine species held under the permit if applicable. Applicants are subject to the following standards:

For scientific collectors permits, the applicant must certify to following the guidelines set forth by the organization’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee or the organization overseeing the research.

For education and rehabilitation permits, the applicant and officer will be provided the appropriate Permit Inspection Sheet based on the guidelines set forth by the appropriate governing body and the appropriate governing body’s permit resources.

If they are housing animals, wildlife rehabilitation and educational project applicants must provide a completed and signed Consulting Veterinarian Agreement on the form provided by the department from a licensed veterinarian that will provide professional counsel to the applicant. Applicants must list species or groups of species, such as but not limited to rabbits, squirrels, migratory birds, snakes or turtles, for which they will be providing rehabilitation services on the applicants’ permit application narrative.

The application narrative for an educational project permit must list the species and number of each species that will be held. Facilities for migratory birds must meet the design and size criteria set forth by the standards listed above.

If an applicant has been found in court to have committed an act of animal cruelty or neglect, the applicant shall not be eligible for a license for at least five years from the date of the conviction or guilty plea.

571—111.8(481A) Evaluation committee. For the purpose of evaluating facilities, standards of care, study design, sample numbers, and impacts to wild populations from applications requested by applicants under this rule, the director may establish an ad hoc committee of persons with expertise in wildlife, rehabilitation, veterinary medicine, research or education. Upon request by the director, the committee shall inspect the facilities, procedures and educational programs and provide the department with appropriate recommendations. The committee may also consider the National Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Code of Ethics for its recommendations. The recommendations may be used as a basis for placing certain conditions on a permit or modifying or terminating a permit.

571—111.9(481A) Disposition of animals, parts, eggs or nests. Injured or orphaned animals that cannot be returned to their natural environment shall be transferred to someone with an educational project permit or, after being euthanized by or under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian, handled as follows:

    111.9(1) The animals will be transferred to someone with a scientific collector’s permit or a wildlife salvage permit after obtaining permission from the department, or

    111.9(2) Disposition of carcasses must be in accordance with local ordinances and according to Iowa Code chapter 167.

All threatened and endangered species that have died, that must be euthanized, or that cannot be released shall be referred to the department for further determination of proper disposition.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 461A.41, 481A.39, and 481A.65.

[Filed 4/17/26, effective 6/17/26]

[Published 5/13/26]

EDITOR’S NOTE: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 5/13/26.