SB1125: Propagation of mammalian wildlife; unlawful without a permit premature separation.

Legislative Summary

Department of Wildlife Resources; propagation of mammalian wildlife unlawful; premature separation; hybridization. Makes it unlawful to prematurely separate any mammalian wildlife offspring born in captivity from the mother prior to the natural time of weaning that is appropriate for such species, except that wildlife offspring may be prematurely separated if a medical necessity exists pursuant to a written order from a veterinarian licensed to practice in the Commonwealth with appropriate species-specific experience and expertise. The bill excludes the following from its provisions: (i) noncommercial transfers or trades between accredited zoological facilities, (ii) an accredited zoological facility that retains the mammalian wildlife offspring that has already been prematurely separated by such zoological facility, and (iii) a person operating under a wildlife rehabilitator permit issued by the Department of Wildlife Resources. The bill also makes it unlawful to intentionally and for commercial purposes propagate mammalian wildlife of different species, also known as hybridization.