To rehabilitate wild animals legally in the United States, you need wildlife rehabilitation permits from both the federal government and your state, with the specific combination depending on which species you plan to treat. Migratory birds, eagles, and federally listed endangered species fall under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and non-migratory birds fall under your state wildlife agency. Most working rehabilitators hold at least two permits, and treating a wider range of species means more.
If you only want to help a hurt animal you found, the rules are different and much simpler. Federal regulations let anyone pick up a sick, injured, or orphaned migratory bird and transport it to a permitted rehabilitator or licensed veterinarian without a permit.1eCFR. 50 CFR 21.76 – Rehabilitation Permits That exception covers transport only. You cannot keep the bird, treat it at home, or hold it any longer than needed to hand it off. Call your state wildlife agency or a licensed rehabilitator first and follow their instructions.
Which Permits You Need by Species
The federal/state split is the first thing to understand, because it determines how many applications you file and to whom.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to pursue, take, capture, kill, or possess any migratory bird, nest, egg, or part without authorization.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 703 – Taking, Killing, or Possessing Migratory Birds Unlawful The covered list runs from hawks and owls to songbirds and waterfowl. To rehabilitate any of them, you need a federal migratory bird rehabilitation permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unauthorized possession is a misdemeanor carrying fines up to $15,000 and up to six months in jail, and the penalty applies regardless of good intentions.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 707 – Violations and Penalties
Eagles sit under their own statute. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act limits possession permits to public museums, scientific societies, zoological parks, specific tribal religious purposes, and narrow wildlife management situations.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 668a – Taking and Using of the Bald and Golden Eagle A rehabilitator who receives an injured eagle needs explicit federal authorization beyond a standard rehabilitation permit, and the bird must be transferred to a facility permitted to care for eagles when one is available.
Federally listed endangered or threatened species require a separate Section 10 recovery permit under the Endangered Species Act, granted only if the Secretary of the Interior finds the activity will not disadvantage the species.5U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Section 10 Exceptions – Endangered Species Act Applications go through the FWS ePermits system.6U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Scientific Purposes, Enhancement of Propagation, or Survival Permits (Recovery Permits) In practice, most rehabilitators who encounter listed species coordinate with the nearest FWS field office rather than hold a standing permit.
Everything else, raccoons, deer, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, and most non-migratory animals, is managed by the state. You need a state rehabilitation permit to possess or treat them. State requirements differ widely: application fees range from zero to about $90, some states require written exams, some conduct pre-permit facility inspections, and most require proof of a working relationship with a licensed veterinarian. Many restrict which species categories you can handle based on your training and facilities.
Qualifications You Must Meet Before Applying
Federal migratory bird applicants must be at least 18 years old and have at least 100 hours of hands-on rehabilitation experience with the types of birds they intend to treat, gained over at least one full year. Up to 20 of those hours can come from seminars or courses rather than direct animal care.1eCFR. 50 CFR 21.76 – Rehabilitation Permits The application also requires two support letters: one from a federally permitted rehabilitator familiar with your training, and one from a permitted rehabilitator willing to provide ongoing assistance.7U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. FWS Form 3-200-10b – Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Application
State requirements for non-migratory species can diverge sharply from that baseline. Some states require hundreds, or close to a thousand, hours of supervised mentorship. Several use a written competency exam. Others accept a college curriculum or formal apprenticeship. Age minimums go up to 21 in some states. Contacting your state wildlife agency early in the process is the single most useful step you can take.
Criminal Background
A felony conviction under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Lacey Act, or the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act disqualifies you from a federal permit unless the FWS Director grants a written waiver.8GovInfo. 50 CFR 13.21 – Issuance Criteria A prior permit revocation triggers a five-year ban on holding a similar permit. States often add disqualifiers for animal cruelty, poaching, or wildlife law violations.
Rabies Vaccination
The CDC classifies wildlife rehabilitators as a higher-risk group and recommends rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis for anyone who works directly with animals that could be rabid.9Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Guidance Many states make this mandatory before issuing permits for raccoons, skunks, foxes, or bats. Rehabilitators handling these species also follow strict protocols when an animal shows signs of rabies, which in most states means mandatory euthanasia and submission of the head for laboratory testing.
Facilities and the Veterinary Relationship
Your enclosures must be adequate for the species you plan to treat. Federal standards require that enclosures be secure against predators and domestic animals, built from materials that won’t entangle or injure birds, kept clean and well-ventilated, and sized to prevent overcrowding, with only compatible species housed together.1eCFR. 50 CFR 21.76 – Rehabilitation Permits The federal application wants photographs and diagrams of every enclosure, with exact dimensions and construction materials.7U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. FWS Form 3-200-10b – Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Application
State agencies set their own standards for mammals and reptiles, and many conduct physical inspections before issuing a permit. If your facilities don’t pass, expect to correct the deficiencies and schedule a re-inspection before the application moves forward. Fixing the facility before you apply saves months.
Every rehabilitator also needs a licensed veterinarian willing to provide assistance. The federal application requires a letter from that veterinarian.7U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. FWS Form 3-200-10b – Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Application If the relationship ends later, federal regulations give you 30 days to establish an agreement with a new veterinarian and provide a copy to the issuing office.1eCFR. 50 CFR 21.76 – Rehabilitation Permits
How to Apply for the Federal Permit
The federal migratory bird rehabilitation application goes to your regional FWS Migratory Bird Permit Office. The package includes a completed FWS Form 3-200-10b, a copy of your state rehabilitation permit or license if your state requires one, and the application fee.1eCFR. 50 CFR 21.76 – Rehabilitation Permits The form asks you to describe your hands-on experience in detail, broken down by species and by activity type: handling and restraint, transport, daily care and feeding, and medical treatment.
You submit the two support letters with the application, plus the veterinarian letter described above. Processing times vary, but plan on one to three months for each permit while agencies review your credentials and, in some cases, schedule facility inspections. State applications typically ask for similar documentation, including facility address, species categories, waste disposal plans, and proof of the veterinary relationship.
What the Permit Lets You Do, and What It Doesn’t
A federal rehabilitation permit lets you take sick, injured, or orphaned migratory birds from the wild or receive them from other people, and possess them for up to 180 days while providing care. You can transport birds to suitable release habitat, transfer them to another permitted rehabilitator, or humanely euthanize those that cannot recover. In emergencies, you may stabilize species not covered by your permit for up to 48 hours while arranging transfer to an appropriate facility.1eCFR. 50 CFR 21.76 – Rehabilitation Permits
The 180-day limit matters. Some states impose similar deadlines and require euthanasia if an animal hasn’t recovered by the cutoff; others leave the timeline to the rehabilitator’s judgment. A rehabilitation permit never authorizes keeping an animal as a pet. The entire framework is built around release.
A rehabilitation permit also does not authorize using migratory birds for education.1eCFR. 50 CFR 21.76 – Rehabilitation Permits When a bird cannot be released but is suitable for programs, you may transfer it to a person or organization that holds a separate education or special purpose permit, with approval from the issuing Migratory Bird Permit Office.10eCFR. 50 CFR Part 21 – Migratory Bird Permits If you plan to display non-releasable wildlife to the public yourself, a USDA exhibitor license under the Animal Welfare Act is likely required as well, with limited exemptions for small private collections.11U.S. Department of Agriculture. Licensing and Registration Under the Animal Welfare Act
Keeping the Permit: Records, Reports, and Compliance
Federal permit holders must keep complete records for every migratory bird they receive: the date received, the injury or illness, the final outcome (released, transferred, euthanized, or died), and the date of that outcome. Records must be kept for five years after the end of the calendar year they cover.1eCFR. 50 CFR 21.76 – Rehabilitation Permits Most state agencies impose similar requirements for mammals and other non-migratory species.
An annual report summarizing all case activity for the preceding calendar year is due to your issuing Migratory Bird Permit Office by the deadline on your permit. You can use the FWS standard form or submit data from your own database as long as it contains all required fields. Skipping the report is one of the fastest ways to lose a permit; failing to submit timely and accurate reports can disqualify you from holding a permit for as long as the deficiency exists.8GovInfo. 50 CFR 13.21 – Issuance Criteria
Rehabilitators often spot emerging disease threats before anyone else. Suspected cases of reportable diseases, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, should be reported to your state veterinarian or the APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge for your state. After-hours reports go to the Foreign Animal Disease hotline at 866-536-7593.12Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. National List of Reportable Animal Diseases
Revocation carries weight beyond the current permit: it triggers a five-year ban on holding any similar federal wildlife permit, and unpaid fees or penalties block new applications until resolved.8GovInfo. 50 CFR 13.21 – Issuance Criteria File reports on time, keep facilities to standard, and tell your permit office when things change.