WILDLIFE

New Increases fees of many permits

BANS wildlife NOT listed as domestic or unregulated as pets.

PERMIT required for other species (both captive and wild) and purposes.

EXEMPT:
- Domestic species
- Unregulated species
- Species other than vertebrates, mollusks and crustaceans
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- Denver Zoo
- Landry’s Downtown Aquarium
- Pueblo Zoo
- Legal native reptiles and amphibians
- Possessing up to 25 game birds for up to 60 days for release
- Scientific collecting license (general requirements only) except terrestrial wildlife and aquatic wildlife
- USDA carnivals and animal acts (general requirements only) except terrestrial wildlife and aquatic wildlife
ALLOWS petitioning for a change in species listing.

PERMITS:

Scientific Collecting License (collecting wildlife outside season or limits)
- BANS venomous snakes, Felidae, canidae and ursidae

Field Trial License

Commercial Lake License (commercial fishing on personal property – BANS live)

Private Lake License (free fishing on personal property – BANS live)

Commercial Wildlife Park License (private parks, commercial purposes or educational use - must document profit motive)
- Big Game Hunting Park
- Wildlife Exhibitors Park (AZA or facilities before 1/1/2006)
  - Requires $500,000 insurance for exhibiting outside cage and an annual lesson plan for educators
- Non-Resident Temporary Exhibitors Park (import and exhibit by non-resident for 30 days)
- Wildlife Producers Park (sell, propagate, broker and transport wildlife)
- Upland Bird and Waterfowl Hunting and Producers Park (propagate and release for shooting)
- Zoological Park Licenses (public non-AZA facilities – primary purpose of exhibiting animals for education to public)
  - Park shall have 1) staff with training on husbandry, 2) regular hours, 3) veterinarian on staff or contract, 4) secondary fence or enclosure plus 8’ tall perimeter fence
  - Parks may buy, sell, exchange or loan animals to another zoo or export them
  - Must meet requirements in Colorado Statutes 33-4-102 (13)
  - Import of noncervid ruminants or camelids requires TB testing, isolation for 60 days after import and then tested again
1. BANS cervids
2. BANS Felidae, Canidae and Ursidae except for AZA zoos and commercial wildlife facilities for species owned 1/1/06
  1. need contingency plans in case the facility no longer exists or loses its license along with funds and financial assurance
3. BANS wildlife taken from wild
4. Allows venomous snakes

Non-Commercial Wildlife Park License (native birds except raptors along with exotic mammals owned in 1982 and their progeny as pets)
- BANS Felidae, canidae and Ursidae and venomous snakes
- BANS wildlife taken from wild

Wildlife Sanctuary License (AZA and GFAS sanctuaries or 501(c)3 sanctuaries prior to January 1, 2001)
- Provisional Wildlife Sanctuary (for facilities in process of becoming wildlife sanctuaries)
- Wildlife Sanctuary
  - Non-AZA wildlife sanctuaries may move their facility within Colorado without being AZA if impacted by an act of nature and may accept wildlife (limit 1 per year) taken from the wild of other states if the other state determines it is non-releasable and has been captive for no less than 24 months unless director approves exception
  - BANS Felidae, canidae and Ursidae except those permitted on 1/1/01 - need contingency plans in case the facility no longer exists or loses its license along with funds and financial assurance
  - BANS wildlife taken from wild
  - BANS venomous snakes

(Colorado Statutes 33-4-102 (2), (13), (14); 2 CCR 406-0 #002(A), 406-08, 406-11, 406-12)

TRAVELING ANIMAL ACTS (Added 5/14/21)

Performance = animal act, circus, ride, carnival, parade, race, performance or similar where wild animals are required to perform tricks, give rides or participate for entertainment, amusement or benefit of audience OR used primarily for photos

BANS causing a performance of a listed animal or hybrids.

PENALTY: misdemeanor of $250-1000 fine per violation
EXEMPT:
- wildlife sanctuary
- AZA or GFAS nonmobile permanent institution
- environment educational program if not used more than 6 months a year or kept in vehicle used to transport to locations more than 12 hours/day
- university, college, lab or research facility
- film or television production if NO live exhibit or performance or audience, client, public or customer interaction
- working dog trials, livestock or horse shows, livestock exhibition
- rodeo or county fair

LIST: (excludes livestock)
- Nonhuman primates
- Ratites, penguins
- Wild canids except domestic dogs
- Elephants
- Felines except domestic cats
- Marsupials
- Bears
- Cetartiodactyla (Artiodactyla and Pinnipedia) except bison, cattle, deer, elk, goat, reindeer, swine, sheep
- Perissodactyla except horse, donkey mule

(Colorado Revised Statutes 33-1-126 (SB 21-135 2021))

NONGAME WILDLIFE

BANS harassment, take and possession of nongame wildlife (protected).

EXEMPT:
- Scientific collection license
- Rehabilitation license
- Zoological, education, propagation or another special license
- Raptors under a falconry license
- Nuisance bats, mice except Preble’s mouse, rats, voles, porcupines and ground squirrels
- Up to 4 each annually (12 total) of these reptiles and amphibians:
  - Plains spadefoot
  - Woodhouse’s toad
  - Boreal chorus frog
  - Painted turtle
  - Ornate box turtle
  - Common sagebrush lizard
  - Ornate tree lizard
  - Common side-blotched lizard
  - Prairie lizard
  - Plateau fence lizard
  - Gophersnake
  - Terrestrial gartersnake
  - Plains gartersnake
  - Common lesser earless lizard
  - Tiger whiptail
  - North American racer
  - Plains hog-nosed snake
- Threatened or endangered wildlife imported into the state
- Peregrine falcon under USFWS permit
- Greenback cutthroat trout for catch and release
- Livestock owners using hazing techniques against gray wolves

(2 Colorado Code of Regs 406-10)

COMMON SNAPPING TURTLES

Common snapping turtles may be taken in any number and possessed alive.

(2 Colorado Code 406-0 Art. XI)

ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES

BANS take, possession, transport, export, sale, shipment, or transport of native endangered and threatened species

EXEMPT: Scientific, zoological, educational and propagation in captivity purposes

(Colorado Statutes 33-2; 2 Colorado Code of Regs 406-10 Art. II)

TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE

LIST: #008(B) prohibited species:

Exotic sheep and goats (Caprinae)
Oryx, gemsbok, and addax
Wildebeest, hartebeest, sassabies (Damaliscus), blesbok
Wild pigs, javalinas and peccaries
Cervids not listed as alternative livestock, unrestricted or domestic except commercial park licensed by 3/2/14
Raccoon
Nonnative grouse (Tetraoninae)
Striped skunks
Hedgehogs: woodland (Erinaceus except Central African), long-eared (Hemiechinus) and desert (Paraechinus)
Brush-tailed possums: common, Northern and short-eared
Monk parakeet
Sun squirrels (Heliosciurus)
Rope or African striped squirrels (Funisciurus)
African dormice (Graphiurus)
Gambian giant pouched rats (Cricetomys)
Brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus)
Striped mice (Hybomys)
Prairie dogs (except native ones for scientific collection, relocation or rehabilitation)
Nonhuman primates (except research facility or USDA exhibitor)

TRANSPORTATION

BANS intrastate transportation of live terrestrial wildlife in #008(B).

REQUIREMENTS:

Export must comply with receiving state's laws.
Wild ungulates need USDA ear or Division approved tags and come from TB tested or accredited herd
Live cervids need negative TB test in last 60 days
Deer and elk need written authorization within 30 days
Meet CWD requirements

(2 Colorado Code 406-0 #006)

IMPORTATION

PERMIT (Importation Permit) needed from both Division and State Veterinarian to import terrestrial wildlife.

PERMIT (Raptor Importation form) needed to import raptors.

EXEMPT: rehabilitation with notice

REQUIREMENTS:

Must be same family of animals on permit
Wild ungulates need USDA or approved ear tags and source-herd premises information, originate from TB monitored, qualified or accredited herd for 12 months under USDA Bovine TB Eradication unless natural born addition
Health certificate except research or slaughter
Meet testing requirements
isolate wild ungulates, turkeys and grouse for 30 days after
Raptor Importation form for raptors 7 days before
- EXEMPT: rehabilitators importing for imminently-necessary medical care if phone notice provided before
EXCLUDES fallow deer from needing to originate from herd under CWD surveillance for 60 months unless negligible

(2 Colorado Code 406-0 #007)

POSSESSION

BANS possession of terrestrial wildlife.

GRANDFATHERS: animals owned on 9/1/1990 that were tagged, recorded and reported
EXEMPT: #008(B) species authorized in writing for possession

REQUIREMENTS:

Must come from legal source
CWD in commercial wildlife park requires quarantine - No longer need to destroy deer that come into contact with CWD positive deer but depopulation may be required if there is CWD in free-ranging deer surrounding them – Replaces quarantine with herd plan if no substantial risk
Allows Director to issue written order for destruction or disinfection of a fish or wildlife production facility
Escaped animal can be removed as they are deemed detrimental to wildlife
Big game hunting parks need bovine TB testing and/or slaughter surveillance for captive wild ungulates

(2 Colorado Code 406-0 #008)

RELEASE

BANS release of any wildlife.

EXEMPT:
- Rehabilitators releasing wildlife with permission

BANS release of nonnative raptors and hybrids.

EXEMPT: Falconers with raptors

REQUIREMENTS:

Allows release of 25 total privately owned game birds on private land
Allows release of privately-owned game birds on State Wildlife Areas authorized for that purpose in #901
Up to 25 game birds may be released for dog training
More than 25 game birds may be released for field trials authorized under #801
Hunting limited to day of release for privately-owned game birds or they become property of state
- no hunting license required except #804
- total number of game birds taken must not exceed those released
Wildlife needs receipt showing lawfully acquired including source and purpose or acquisition date
Migratory birds need USFWS band except for falconry

(2 Colorado Code 406-0 #002(M), #009)

Aquatic Nuisance Species

BANS import, export, possession, transport, shipment and release of aquatic nuisance species.

LIST: No official list found – examples include:

Zebra mussel
Quagga Mussel
New Zealand mudsnail
Asian carp
Rusty crayfish
Eurasian watermilfoil

(Colorado Statutes 33-10.5)

AQUATIC WILDLIFE (Rest)

LIST: Approved Aquatic Wildlife #012

Amphibians:

Bullfrogs (unlimited take and possession under fishing laws)
Aquatic Gilled forms of Tiger Salamanders (50 under 5” take and possession under fishing laws)
Amphibians (nongame listed in that section)
Amphibians (unregulated wildlife)

Crustaceans: East of Continental Divide:

Virile Crayfish
Waternymph Crayfish
Calico Crayfish
Ringed Crayfish
Southern Plains Crayfish

Fish: Subject to fishing laws:

Brown, brook, cutthroat, golden, lake and rainbow trout, and their hybrids
Arctic char
Grayling
Kokanee salmon
Whitefish
Sculpin
Smallmouth, largemouth, spotted, striped, and white bass
Wipers
Common Carp
Triploid grass carp
Bullhead, blue, channel, and flathead catfish
Black and white crappie
Drum
Northern pike
Tiger muskie
Sacramento and yellow perch, and their hybrids
Sauger and saugeye
Speckled dace
Rainbow smelt
Tench
Walleye
Bluegill and bluegill hybrids
Green, redear and pumpkin-seed sunfish
Gizzard shad
Longnose and white suckers
Fathead minnow
Family Cyprinidae except for bighead carp, black carp, and silver carp
Unregulated wildlife

Food Production:

Blue, Mozambique and Nile tilapia and hybrids
barramundi
other allowed fish
redclaw crayfish

TRANSPORT

BANS transport within state of any aquatic wildlife

EXEMPT: #012 Approved Aquatic Wildlife

REQUIREMENTS (for approved species):

Need one of the following:
- Personal fishing license
- commercial fishing license
- donation certificate
- receipt from commercial or private lake licensee, aquaculture facility or pet animal facility
- aquaculture facility permit
- pet animal facility permit
- importation permit
- bill of lading or similar documentation
Live fish need:
- copy of fish health certificate for source facility showing compliance with #014 except for transport through
  - May be waived for transport between Food Production Facilities

(2 Colorado Code of Regulations 406-0 #010)

IMPORT

LICENSE (Importation License) issued to import #012 Approved Aquatic Wildlife.

BANS import of all other live native and nonnative aquatic wildlife.

REQUIREMENTS (for approved species):

Submit an application at least 7 working days before import
LImited to import of species and import from facilities listed on permit - must apply for additional 7 working days before
Allows inspections of live fish or viable gametes before release into state waters or private holding facilities
Receipt of wildlife must be reported
Fish import must comply with state fish health management regulations
Facility health certification must accompany each shipment if applicable
Release must comply with all regulations

(2 Colorado Code of Regulations 406-0 #011)

POSSESSION

BANS possession of all native and nonnative aquatic wildlife.

EXEMPT:
- Those allowed under Colorado Statutes Title 33 Wildife or Title 35 Agriculture
- #012 Aquatic Approved Wildlife
- Unregulated wildlife
- Those allowed under Ch W-13 Scientific Collecting and Special Licenses
- Fish taken from wild for personal use if killed (excludes nongame, endangered, threatened)

REQUIREMENTS:

Must be from legal source

(2 Colorado Code of Regulations 406-0 #012)

RELEASE

Bans release of aquatic wildlife other than limited exceptions.

PERMIT (Stocking Permit) issued for certain purposes.

REQUIREMENTS:

Stocking permit, letter of authorization or commercial or private lake license AND other requirements
- Limited to:
  - rainbow, brook, brown, and cutthroat trout and hybrids, fathead minnow and certified triploid grass carp
  - East of Continental Divide: crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and green sunfish
  - East of Divide outside Salmon habitat: tiger muskie, walleye, gizzard shad, yellow perch, and wipers

(2 Colorado Code of Regulations 406-0 #013)

AQUACULTURE

PERMIT (Aquaculture Permit) needed to propagate, sell, broker, trade or transport aquatic organisms (fish, mollusk, crustacean, aquatic reptiles and amphibians, aquatic insects, aquatic invertebrates).

EXEMPT:

Brokers who never take physical possession
retail food establishment that sells for use as food
- Must be in holding tank not hydrologically connected to state waters
- Must NOT propagate, transport or release

Registered bait dealer with live organisms
- If certified free of disease
- Need records and customer receipts
Obtain and possess live fish for aquaria or private ponds if hydrologically closed systems not connected to state waters
Federal, state or county agency
scientific collecting permit
AZA zoo
Transport live aquatic organizations for non-commercial personal use or consumption
- Must not release in state waters
- Must be allowed species

REQUIREMENTS:

Must be on approved aquatic wildlife list
Allow inspections
Maintain acquisition records for 3 years after disposition
Issue invoice for sales, trades, take and dispositions kept for 3 years

(Colorado Revised Statutes 35-24.5; 8 CCR 1201-21)

FALCONRY

PERMIT (Falconry Permit) required. Issues apprentice, general and master falconry permits.

(2 Colorado Code of Regulations 406-5 Art. VI & 406-6)

Wildlife Rehabilitation

LICENSE issued to rehabilitate sick, injured, imprinted or orphaned wildlife to return to the wild.

Wildlife Rehabilitation License
Provisional Rehabilitation License (those in process)

EXEMPT:

Those transporting sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife to Division, Wildlife or Provisional Wildlife Rehabilitator, DVM, animal control agency or local law enforcement agency when instructed to do so by them

REQUIREMENTS:

Applications:

Certify they are 18+
Declare prior animal welfare or wildlife violations or suspension or revocation of rehabilitation license
On-site holding facility that meets criteria in #1404 (may be sponsor's if provisional)
Submit application (provisional must be signed by sponsor)
DVM letter willing to treat
Learning plan
USFWS special purpose rehabilitation permit if applicable
Certification of compliance with city and county ordinance with permits
Certification of compliance with Public Health and Environment laws
Sponsor certification of having necessary skills and abilities (regular must also have 1 year experience as provisional)
Certification applicant read Zoonoses Information and Prevention packet
Cerification of reading CWD information
Allows interview and inspections

1st Renewal:

Complete basic wildlife rehabilitation curriculum

Other: Must meet all other requirements listed.

(Colorado Code of Regulations 406-14)

Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act

All animals, including wild and domestic and hybrid animals, kept or sold as pets are regulated under the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act.

(Colorado Statutes 35-80)

HYBRID ANIMALS

The state created an advisory group to study feline and canine hybrids.

(Colorado Statutes 35-81)

LIVE BIRD MARKETS

REGISTRATION with Department of Agriculture required for live bird markets.

IMPORT (AGRICULTURE)

The Department of Agriculture also regulates import of circus, exotic, zoo and other animals.

EXEMPT: Aquaculture

All non-livestock animals must comply with Parks and Wildlife laws.

REQUIREMENTS: Click for specific requirements for each animal.

Animals imported to zoological parks need certificate of veterinary inspection and meet any required testing or post-entry quarantine requirements.

(8 CCR 1201-19)

COLORADO Laws

Colorado Revised Statutes

Colorado Code of Regulations