Florida Captive Permits

Research facilities with:

detailed research process
Record of progress that meet caging requirements

Rehabilitation

General:

Need federal permit to rehabilitate migratory birds
Age 18+
Veterinarian name, address and phone number
1 year (1000 hours) of documented experience in rehabilitation along with 2 references OR pass written exam (80%)
Meet caging standards within 30 days
Keep exotic and native species separate
May use exotic wildlife or domestic animals to foster orphaned wildlife
Allow inspections
Meet listed standards
Meet additional standards when required for emergencies

GRANDFATHERING

CLASS III

Unlisted Species

~ Exhibition/Sale/Take Pet Out in Public ~

License to Possess Class III Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale (ESC) $50

- Exempts dealers of ONLY poultry, hamsters, guinea pigs, domestic rats/mice, or chameleons

~ Personal Pet ~

Class III Personal Pet No-Cost Permit (PPNC) - FREE - 2 year

~ Falconry ~

Falconry Permit

~ Rehabilitation ~

Rehabilitation Permit

- Exempts exotic species with appropriate class or venomous reptile license

~ Importation ~

Wildlife Importation Permit - FREE - 45 days - Single Use

Class III Import Permit (ESC Permits) - FREE - 1 year - Multiple Use

-Excludes: venomous reptiles, capuchin/spider/woolly monkeys and cervids

Class I and II

Applications:

Age 18+
NO conviction for captive wildlife, venomous reptile or reptile of concern violations involving unsafe housing potentially dangerous to public, illegal commercialization of wildlife violation, animal cruelty violation or wildlife import violation within 3 years
Documentation of 1 year and 1000 hours of experience (Half may be substituted by zoology courses) with similar species in same family (any species for crocodilian, any suborder for ratites and specifically with cougars, panthers or cheetahs for those species)
- Description, dates, times and locations of experience AND references of 2 people (1 may be relative and 1 MUST be FWC licensee with same class or higher OR representative of professional organization or government institution)
- Class II Experience Alternative: pass (80% or more) two-part written exam for that species or family administered by the Division of Law Enforcement
- Exempt: ostrich, rhea, emu, cassowary or coyote not for public exhibition or personal use AND family Bovidae under private game preserves and farms license and private hunting preserve license
Corporations must have at least 1 qualified personnel
(Class I) USDA license at least 180 days before initial state license for exhibitors and sellers
Facility Information Location Form and allow inspections
Disaster and Critical Incident Plan

Caging/Care:

Be kept in safe and sanitary conditions
Be maintained in cages or enclosures (except when supervised or controlled as otherwise allowed) that are sufficiently strong to prevent escape and to protect the animal from injury AND have structural safety barriers with materials listed to prevent physical contact with public (unless allowed) AND safety entrance
Cages or enclosures <1,000 sq ft need top (except paddocks, reptile enclosures and habitats specified below)
- Non-native venomous/reptiles of concern need close-meshed wire top or equivalent
Unsafe or non-compliant caging must be reconstructed/repaired within 30 days
- Allows immediate placement in approved facility at owner's expense until remedied if threat to human or wildlife safety
Meet specie-specific caging
Meet sanitation and nutrition requirements
New facilities after 1/1/08
- 5 acres for Class I or 2 ½ acres for Class II (no more than 2 parcels)
- 35’ “buffer zone” between cages and property line
- 8’ high perimeter fence with at 11 ½ gauge chain link or strength equivalent
  - Class II may be 6’ high with a 2’, 45-degree inward angle overhang)
- EXCEPTIONS: Class I and II carnivores until 25# or 6 months of age, Class I and II primates until 12 months of age, crocodiles under 4’, ocelot, serval, caracal, bobcat, African golden cat, Temminck’s golden cat, fishing cat, uakari, saki and guenons
  - NOT EXCEPTED: patas monkeys, De Brazza’s monkey, blue monkey, Preuss’s monkey and Genus Cercopithecus over 14#
- Exempt Class I must NOT be kept in multi-unit dwellings or on less than ¼ acre (Class II may with private entrance, exit and yard) AND need 5’ fence for outdoor exercise area

Records/Transfers:

Need source and supplier of all wildlife
Maintain inventory records of acquisitions and sales or transfers with quantities and species and births and deaths
Live non-native birds: Maintain sale and transfer documentation for 24 months with name and address of recipient, date of sale or transfer, and number and species sold

Commercial Use:

Demonstration of sustained commercial activity which includes regular media advertising or website, signs or flyers, regular business hours, official letterhead, documented exhibition of wildlife and sale of wildlife (commercial use only)
(Class I) $10,000 performance or cash bond or letter of credit or $2,000,000 liability insurance which is forfeited if injury occurs (exhibitors)

Escapes (Class I):

Immediately report escapes from primary enclosure or facility or from leash or traveling enclosure AND maintain contact information for contiguous land owners or neighbors

Public Contact (Class I):

Full contact with public limited to felines until 25#, great apes over 6 months until 25#, lesser apes between 4 months and 2 years and elephants at any age
Incidental contact limited to carnivores (except cheetahs and cougars) until 40#, great apes over 6 months until 40#, lesser apes over 4 months and elephants of any age

Domestic Species

Domestic cats and dogs
Rats and mice
Rabbits
Ferrets
Gerbils and hamsters
Guinea pigs
Cattle, horses, sheep, goats, domestic pigs, poultry, peafowl, llamas, camels

Class I wildlife for personal use owned on 8/1/1990

Class I cougars, panthers and cheetahs owned on 8/27/2009

Needed permanent ID by 1/1/2010

EXEMPTIONS

Production meat, skins or hides, feathers or progency of:

Ostrich, cassowary, rhea, emu, bison

Excludes: personal possession, display or exhibition

Venomous Reptiles

~ Exhibition/Sale/Personal Pet ~

License to Possess or Exhibit Venomous Reptiles and/or Reptiles of Concern (VRC) - $100

Exempt: Traveling USDA exhibitors and FWC licensed zoo facilities

~ Sale ~

VRC above

AND

License to Possess Class III Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale (ESC) - $50

~ Importation ~

Wildlife Importation Permit - FREE - 45 days

Ratites and bison for farming

Captive Lists

CLASS I

Significant danger to humans

~ Exhibition/Sale ~

License to Possess Class I and Class II Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale

ESA – 1-25 animals - $150

ESB – 26+ animals - $250

~ Importation ~

Wildlife Importation Permit - FREE - 45 days

~ No personal use/pets ~

Venomous reptiles

Permanent ID for grandfathered and those held for export up to 180 days

CLASS II

Danger to humans

~ Exhibition/Sale/Take Pets Out in Public ~

License to Possess Class I and Class II Wildlife for Exhibition or Public Sale
ESA – 1-25 animals - $150
ESB – 26+ animals - $250

~ Personal Pet ~

Class II Personal Pet License (PPL) - $140

~ Importation ~

Wildlife Importation Permit - FREE - 45 days

Game Farms

General:

Be age 18+ (Bovids only)
NO captive wildlife inspection refusal within last 3 years (permit revoked for refusal)
NO conviction of game farm, hunt preserve, or captive wildlife unsafe housing, endangering the public, unlawful commercialization of wildlife, animal cruelty or wildlife import violations in last 3 years
Meet Class I Bovids experience requirements for those species (Exempt from experience for Class II Bovids)
Herd Health Plan for cervids within 180 days
Must NOT be more than 2000 acres and must NOT be joined to another game farm
Cervids need 8’ fence

Applications:

Information: business name of farm if any (registered with Florida Division of Corporations if corporation), mailing address, facility address including county and size in acres, email address, DOB, driver’s license number and copy of ID, height, hair color, sex and race, emergency contact
whether owned or leased along with copy,
estimated inventory with species and quantity
Corporations must have qualified personnel for Class I bovids with documentation of experience
Meet the game farm caging standards listed (may request deviation) except the following in smaller cages:
- Transport
- Wildlife held for sale by sellers or private game preserves or farms, veterinary care or quarantine for up to 60 days (may be extended for vets)
- Juvenile Caprinae (exotic sheep/goats), Suidae (swine), Cervidae and Bovidae until 6 months (may be extended for health) with verification of age, marking, exercise space
- Hatchling/fledging birds which allows normal postural movement
- Mobility-impaired animals where normal cage is detrimental to health with written documentation by vet
- At exotic animal auctions, flea markets, and animal swap meets if in non-injurious enclosures with fresh air that protect from temperature extremes and have continuous water, feces and food removed daily, are only in compatible groups, cages are not stacked without barrier between, and sick animals are promptly treated

Caging/Care:

Allow inspections
Continuous source of water
Sufficient food and humane treatment and sanitary
Must comply with captive wildlife rules regarding food, humane treatment and sanitary conditions

Records:

Maintain records of inventory changes including acquisitions, animals for consumption and sale and transfer for 5 years

Buying/Selling/Transfer/Import:

May buy, sell or transfer to or from licensed entities for propagation, restocking or food
Common carriers must have bill of sale or transfer with quantity and species, game farm and recipient name, address and license number and date except for personal consumption in escape-proof cage or enclosure that allows normal movements with “Live Animal” on enclosure and doors of vehicle, species name, quantity and game farm and recipient name and address
Comply with import requirements for cervids and carriers (Cervids only); comply with live mallard rules for mallards

Others:

Game for food must be killed on premises
Injured or wounded mammals must be immediately killed, taken to vet or treated by owner
Euthanasia must be by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians or American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines and only be vet, owner or authorized employee
Immediately report escapes from perimeter fence or location to FWC

REQUIREMENTS

Commercial ostrich, emu, rhea, bison farming operations

Excludes: hunting preserves, game farms, zoos, carnivals, circuses

Species Not Requiring A Permit

No permit required

Venomous Reptiles/Reptiles of Concern

Applications:

Age 18+
NO conviction for violations of unsafe housing of venomous reptile, reptile of concern, conditional species, prohibited species, or captive wildlife, illegal commercialization of wildlife, animal cruelty or wildlife import within 3 years
NO refusal of wildlife inspection in last 3 years (venomous species permits will be revoked if denied)
Specify facility location (venomous need prior inspection)
Venomous: 1 year and 1000 hours (half may be substituted by scoring 80% on written exam) of substantial practical experience in care and handling within the same family with description, dates and locations and 2 licensed references verifying it
Reptiles of concern: must do questionnaire
Corporations must have qualified person
Disaster and Critical Incident Plans

Caging/Care:

Must be safely penned
Meet caging and transporting requirements
Out-of-state facilities must meet requirements while traveling with venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern

Records:

Maintain records of births, deaths, acquisitions, sales and transfers
Captive Wildlife Inventory-Reptile form (exhibit, sale) or Captive Wildlife Inventory-Reptile form (personal use)Non-native venomous need photo ID or PIT tag and reptiles of concern need PIT tag in position listed

Commercial Use:

$10,000 performance bond or cash bond payable to FWC for venomous reptiles that holds harmless any injured party and is forfeited if injury occurs Performance bond or 2 million liability insurance (exhibit)

Snakes/Lizards under Reptile of Concern Personal Use in 2010

May be transferred to another permit holder if owner dies or loses license

Class III

Applications:

Age 16+
Class III questionnaire now part of application
Corporations must have at least 1 qualified personnel
Capuchins, spider monkeys, and wooly monkeys must meet age, experience and exam requirements for Class II wildlife
Be able to meet caging requirements within 30 days of approval of any permit
Ensure conditions will not create threat to public or animal
Facility Location Information Form AND capuchins, spider monkeys, and wooly monkeys need inspection before permit issued
Disaster and Critical Incident Plan

Caging:

Be kept in safe and sanitary conditions
Meet all general and specie-specific caging requirements and other specifications
35’ “buffer zone” between cages and property line

Records:

Need source and supplier of all wildlife
Maintain inventory records of acquisitions and sales or transfers with quantities and species
Live non-native birds: Maintain sale and transfer documentation for 24 months with name and address of recipient, date of sale or transfer, and number and species sold

Other:

Demonstration of sustained commercial activity which includes regular media advertising or website, signs or flyers, regular business hours, official letterhead, documented exhibition of wildlife and sale of wildlife (commercial use only)

FLORIDA CAPTIVE WILDLIFE Permits

Captive wildlife is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Captive Wildlife Office. Hybrids are regulated the same as their more restricted parent. Captive wildlife permits apply only to mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The Captive Wildlife Office does NOT have authority over or issue permits for conditional or prohibited species or imperiled species.

FLORIDA CAPTIVE WILDLIFE Permits

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