Licenses To Collect, Possess Or Sell

Top Licenses To Collect, Possess Or Sell

For Education, Exhibition, Scientific Research or Propagation of Non-Endangered and Non-Threatened Species

The licenses listed on this page allow for the collection, possession, or sale of the following species for education, exhibition, scientific research or propagation (breeding). The licenses on this page are for native species that are non-threatened and non-endangered only. To use endangered or threatened species for these purposes you must apply for an Endangered and Threatened Species License.

Fish (freshwater)
Wildlife
Shellfish (freshwater)
Crustaceans (freshwater)
Aquatic insects
Bird nests or eggs
Birds listed as migratory by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (includes non-native species). To view the list, visit the USFWS Migratory Bird List
Captive bred or permanently disabled species
For the collection of marine species, see License to Collect, Possess or Sell: Marine Resources
For the collection of freshwater mussels associated with waterbody disturbance projects (e.g. bridge maintenance/construction, dredging, etc.), see Freshwater Mussel Survey / Relocation License to Collect or Possess

Definition(s)

Education: collection, possession and exhibition of a species to teach or instruct about its characteristics, ecological role or conservation needs.
Exhibition: regular public display or showing of the species where the display itself is the chief object.
Scientific: use of fish, wildlife or parts thereof by a scientific institution, clinic, laboratory or individual researcher to expand scientific knowledge or to gain knowledge of a fish or wildlife species, population or community. Captive-bred populations may be established and maintained as part of a scientific endeavor.
Propagation: production or breeding of animals by application of husbandry techniques in a controlled environment.

License Types

DEC issues four different types of licenses that authorize the possession, collection or sale of non-threatened and non-endangered wildlife. Details of each license are below.

Education/Exhibition License to Collect or Possess	Scientific License to Collect or Possess	Banding License to Collect or Possess	Propagation License to Posses and Sell
Allows For: Possession of captive bred or permanently disabled native non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife or birds listed as migratory by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for education or exhibition purposes Possession and collection of native wild non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife or birds listed as migratory by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for education or exhibition purposes	Allows For: Possession of captive bred or permanently disabled native non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife for scientific purposes Possession and collection of native wild non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife or birds listed as migratory by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for or scientific purposes	Allows For: Possession and collection of migratory birds for banding purposes Possession of migratory birds for blood collection. Possession of migratory birds for feather collection	Allows For: Possession and sale of captive bred or permanently disabled native non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife for propagation purposes Possession of native wild non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife for propagation purposes
Does NOT allow: Possession of regulated species as pets Sale or propagation of regulated species Possession of Endangered or Threatened Species	Does NOT allow: Possession of regulated species as pets Sale or propagation of regulated species Possession of Endangered or Threatened Species Exhibition of regulated species	Does NOT allow: Possession of regulated species as pets Sale or propagation of regulated species Possession of Endangered or Threatened Species Exhibition of regulated species	Does NOT allow: Possession of regulated species as pets Exhibition of regulated species
License Fee: No Fee License Expires: 1 year from issuance	License Fee: No Fee License Expires: 1 year from issuance	License Fee: No Fee License Expires: 5 year from issuance	License Fee: No Fee License Expires: 1 year from issuance
Forms for Education/Exhibition (PDF documents): License Application (PDF) Annual Report of Activities (PDF) Designated Agents Forms (PDF) - use this form to list other individuals who will assist the license holder with actions performed under this license.	Forms for Scientific Collection License (PDF and Excel documents): License Application (PDF) Designated Agents Forms (PDF) - use this form to list other individuals who will assist the license holder with actions performed under this license. LCP Fish Report Form (Excel) - use this file to report on fish collections and email it to [email protected].	Forms for Banding (PDF documents): License Application (PDF)	Forms for Propagation (PDF documents): License Application (PDF) Annual Report of Activities (PDF) Designated Agents Forms (PDF) - use this form to list other individuals who will assist the license holder with actions performed
Other Possible Requirements DEC Temporary Revocable Permit - needed when conducting activities on New York State managed lands or conservation USDA-Animal Welfare-Class C Exhibitors License - needed when collecting or possessing mammals USFWS Migratory Bird or Eagle Permit - Needed when collecting or possessing migratory birds or eagles Letter from a veterinarian needed when possessing a wildlife rehabilitated animal. The letter must state that the animal is permanently disabled and cannot be released to the wild.	Other Possible Requirements: DEC Temporary Revocable Permit - needed when conducting activities on New York State managed lands or conservation USFWS Migratory Bird or Eagle Permit - Needed when collecting or possessing migratory birds or eagles	Other Possible Requirements USGS Banding Permit	Other Possible Requirements DEC Temporary Revocable Permit - needed when conducting activities on New York State managed lands or conservation USDA-Animal Welfare-Class C Exhibitors License - needed when collecting or possessing mammals USFWS Migratory Bird or Eagle Permit - needed when collecting or possessing migratory birds or eagles

Education/Exhibition License
to
Collect or Possess

Scientific License
to
Collect or Possess

Banding License
to
Collect or Possess

Propagation License
to
Posses and Sell

Allows For:

Possession of captive bred or permanently disabled native non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife or birds listed as migratory by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for education or exhibition purposes
Possession and collection of native wild non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife or birds listed as migratory by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for education or exhibition purposes

Allows For:

Possession of captive bred or permanently disabled native non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife for scientific purposes
Possession and collection of native wild non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife or birds listed as migratory by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for or scientific purposes

Allows For:

Possession and collection of migratory birds for banding purposes
Possession of migratory birds for blood collection.
Possession of migratory birds for feather collection

Allows For:

Possession and sale of captive bred or permanently disabled native non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife for propagation purposes
Possession of native wild non-endangered or non-threatened species of fish and wildlife for propagation purposes

Does NOT allow:

Possession of regulated species as pets
Sale or propagation of regulated species
Possession of Endangered or Threatened Species

Does NOT allow:

Possession of regulated species as pets
Sale or propagation of regulated species
Possession of Endangered or Threatened Species
Exhibition of regulated species

Does NOT allow:

Possession of regulated species as pets
Sale or propagation of regulated species
Possession of Endangered or Threatened Species
Exhibition of regulated species

Does NOT allow:

Possession of regulated species as pets
Exhibition of regulated species

License Fee: No Fee
License Expires: 1 year from issuance

License Fee: No Fee
License Expires: 5 year from issuance

License Fee: No Fee
License Expires: 1 year from issuance

Forms for Education/Exhibition (PDF documents):

License Application (PDF)
Annual Report of Activities (PDF)
Designated Agents Forms (PDF) - use this form to list other individuals who will assist the license holder with actions performed under this license.

Forms for Scientific Collection License
(PDF and Excel documents):

License Application (PDF)
Designated Agents Forms (PDF) - use this form to list other individuals who will assist the license holder with actions performed under this license.
LCP Fish Report Form (Excel) - use this file to report on fish collections and email it to [email protected].

Forms for Banding
(PDF documents):

License Application (PDF)

Forms for Propagation
(PDF documents):

License Application (PDF)
Annual Report of Activities (PDF)
Designated Agents Forms (PDF) - use this form to list other individuals who will assist the license holder with actions performed

Other Possible Requirements

DEC Temporary Revocable Permit - needed when conducting activities on New York State managed lands or conservation
USDA-Animal Welfare-Class C Exhibitors License - needed when collecting or possessing mammals
USFWS Migratory Bird or Eagle Permit - Needed when collecting or possessing migratory birds or eagles
Letter from a veterinarian needed when possessing a wildlife rehabilitated animal. The letter must state that the animal is permanently disabled and cannot be released to the wild.

Other Possible Requirements:

DEC Temporary Revocable Permit - needed when conducting activities on New York State managed lands or conservation
USFWS Migratory Bird or Eagle Permit - Needed when collecting or possessing migratory birds or eagles

Other Possible Requirements

USGS Banding Permit

Other Possible Requirements

DEC Temporary Revocable Permit - needed when conducting activities on New York State managed lands or conservation
USDA-Animal Welfare-Class C Exhibitors License - needed when collecting or possessing mammals
USFWS Migratory Bird or Eagle Permit - needed when collecting or possessing migratory birds or eagles

How to Apply

Complete the appropriate application form available in the table above. You may also contact the Special Licenses Unit at [email protected] to request an application.
Send completed information to the following address: NYSDEC Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233-4752.
Obtain any additional required permits, licenses or letters as noted in the "other possible requirements" in the table above.

Current License Holder Information

License Renewal

All licenses except for the banding license expire 1 year from the date of issuance. Banding licenses expire 5 years from date of issuance.
To renew your license you must complete the appropriate license application available in the table above.
Check the renewal box on the application to indicate you are renewing your license.

Annual Report of Activities

Scientific Collection and Propagation licenses are required to complete and submit an annual report of activities each year as specified by their license conditions. The Propagation report form is available in the table above.

License Amendments (i.e Address Changes)

License amendments should be submitted using the appropriate application for the license type available in the table above.
Check the "License Amendment" box on the application and follow the instructions on the last page of the application.

Applicable Laws and Regulations

Environmental Conservation Law (ECL)

Please visit New York State Legislature

11-0515 Licenses to Collect, Possess or Sell for Propagation, Scientific or Exhibition Purposes

New York Codes Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)

6 NYCRR Part 175 Special Licenses and Permits - Definitions and Uniform Procedures

Contact Information

Please contact the Special Licenses Unit with any questions or concerns about qualifying or applying for these licenses.
DEC Special Licenses Unit
625 Broadway, 5th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-4752
[email protected]
(518) 402-8985

For other permit or license requirements as noted in the table above, please contact the appropriate organization listed below.

USDA-APHIS Animal Welfare
Eastern Region-Raleigh, NC
920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: 919-716-5532
Fax: 919-716-5696
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Region 5 - Hadley, MA
Migratory Bird Permit Office
P.O. Box 779
Hadley, MA
Phone: 413-253-8643
Fax: 413-253-8424
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fws.gov/migratorybirds

U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, MD
Phone:301-497-5790
Fax: 301-497-5717
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl

Contact for this Page

DFW, Special Licenses Unit
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

Phone: 518-402-8985

[email protected]

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Licenses To Collect, Possess Or Sell

For Education, Exhibition, Scientific Research or Propagation of Non-Endangered and Non-Threatened Species

Definition(s)

License Types

How to Apply

Current License Holder Information

Applicable Laws and Regulations

Environmental Conservation Law (ECL)

New York Codes Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)

Contact Information

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