15A NCAC 10B .0106. WILDLIFE TAKEN FOR DEPREDATIONS

(a)  Depredation permits allow the take of undesirable or excess wildlife resources as described in Subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this Paragraph. The taking of depredating coyotes in the counties of Dare, Hyde, Washington, Tyrrell, and Beaufort, with or without a permit, is allowed only as described in Paragraph (g) of this Rule.  Only employees of the Wildlife Resources Commission and Wildlife Damage Control Agents may issue depredation permits. Each permit must be written on a form supplied by the Commission.  No permit is needed for the owner or lessee of a property to take wildlife while committing depredations on the property, however the manner of taking, disposition of dead wildlife and reporting requirements as described in this Rule still apply

No permit shall be issued to take any endangered or threatened species of wildlife listed under 15A NCAC 10I, except alligators, by reason of depredations to property. Only the Executive Director may issue depredation permits for Special Concern species listed in 15A NCAC 10I .0103 and for alligators.  An individual may take an endangered or threatened species in immediate defense of his own life or of the lives of others without a permit.  Any endangered or threatened species that may constitute a demonstrable but non-immediate threat to human safety shall be reported to a federal or state wildlife enforcement officer, who, upon verification of the report, may take or remove the specimen as provided by 15A NCAC 10I .0102.  Depredation permits for other species shall be issued under the following conditions:

(1)           for taking wildlife that is or has been damaging or destroying property provided there is evidence of property damage. No permit may be issued for the taking of any migratory birds and other federally protected animals unless a corresponding valid U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service depredation permit, if required, has been issued.  The permit shall name the species allowed to be taken and may contain limitations as to age, sex or any other condition within the species so named. The permit must be issued to a landholder or an authorized representative of a unit of local government for depredations on public property. The permit shall be used only by individuals named on the permit.

(2)           for taking of wildlife resources in circumstances of overabundance or when the wildlife resources present a danger to human safety.  Cities as defined in G.S. 160A-1(2) seeking such a depredation permit must apply to the Executive Director using a form supplied by the Commission requesting the following information:

(A)          the name and location of the city;

(B)          the acreage of the affected property;

(C)          a map of the affected property;

(D)          the signature of an authorized city representative;

(E)           the nature of the overabundance or the threat to public safety; and

(F)           a description of previous actions taken by the city to ameliorate the problem.

(b)  Wildlife Damage Control Agents:  Upon completion of a training course designed for the purpose of reviewing and updating information on wildlife laws and safe, humane wildlife handling techniques and demonstration of a knowledge of wildlife laws and safe, humane wildlife handling techniques, an individual with no record of wildlife law violations may apply to the Wildlife Resources Commission (Commission) to become a Wildlife Damage Control Agent (WDCA). Those persons who demonstrate knowledge of wildlife laws and safe, humane wildlife handling techniques by a passing score of at least 85 percent on a written examination provided by a representative of the Wildlife Resources Commission in cooperation with the training course provider shall be approved.  Those persons failing to obtain a passing score shall be given one chance for re-testing without re-taking the course.  Those persons approved as agents by the Commission may then issue depredation permits for depredation as defined in Subparagraph (a)(1) of this Rule to landholders and be listed as a second party to provide the control service.  WDCAs may not issue depredation permits for coyotes in the counties of Dare, Hyde, Washington, Tyrrell, and Beaufort, big game animals, bats, or species listed as endangered, threatened or special concern under 15A NCAC 10I .0103, .0104 and .0105 of this Chapter.  WDCAs must report to the Wildlife Resources Commission the number and disposition of animals taken, by county, annually. Records must be available for inspection by a Wildlife Enforcement officer at any time during normal business hours.  Wildlife Damage Control Agent status shall be revoked at any time by the Executive Director when there is evidence of violations of wildlife laws, failure to report, or inhumane treatment of animals by the WDCA.  A WDCA may not charge for the permit, but may charge for his or her investigations and control services.  In order to maintain a knowledge of current laws, rules, and techniques, each WDCA must renew his or her agent status every three years by showing proof of having attended at least one training course provided for the purpose of reviewing and updating information on wildlife laws and safe, humane wildlife handling techniques within the previous 12 months.

(c)  Each depredation permit shall have an expiration date or time after which the depredation permit is no longer valid. The depredation permit authorizes possession of any wildlife resources taken under the permit and must be retained as long as the wildlife resource is in the permittee's possession.  All individuals taking wildlife resources under the authority of a depredation permit are obligated to the conditions written on the permit and the requirements specified in this Rule.

(d)  Manner of Taking:

(1)           Taking Without a Permit.  Wildlife taken without a permit while committing depredations to property may, during the open season on the species, be taken by the landholder by any lawful method.  During the closed season such depredating wildlife may be taken without a permit only by the use of firearms or archery equipment as defined in 15A NCAC 10B .0116.

(2)           Taking With a Permit.  Wildlife taken under a depredation permit may be taken only by the method or methods authorized by the permit.  When trapping is authorized, in order to limit the taking to the intended purpose, the permit may specify a reasonable distance from the property sought to be protected, according to the particular circumstances, within which the traps must be set.  The Executive Director or agent may also state in a permit authorizing trapping whether or not bait may be used and the type of bait, if any, that is authorized.  In addition to any trapping restrictions that may be contained in the permit the method of trapping must be in accordance with the requirements and restrictions imposed by G.S. 113-291.6 and other local laws passed by the General Assembly.  No depredation permit shall authorize the use of poisons or pesticides in taking wildlife except in accordance with the provisions of the North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971, the Structural Pest Control Act of 1955, and G.S. 113, Article 22A.  No depredation permit shall authorize the taking of wildlife by any method by any landholder upon the lands of another except when the individual is listed as a second party on a depredation permit.

(3)           Intentional Wounding.  It is unlawful for any landholder, with or without a depredation permit, intentionally to wound a wild animal in a manner so as not to cause its immediate death as suddenly and humanely as the circumstances permit.

(e)  Disposition of Wildlife Taken:

(1)           Generally.  Except as provided by the succeeding Subparagraphs of this Paragraph, any wildlife killed without a permit while committing depredations shall be buried or otherwise disposed of in a safe and sanitary manner on the property. Wildlife killed under a depredation permit may be transported to an alternate disposal site if desired.  Anyone in possession of carcasses of animals being transported under a depredation permit must have the depredation permit in his or her possession.  Except as provided by the succeeding Subparagraphs of (d)(2) through (5) of this Rule, all wildlife killed under a depredation permit must be buried or otherwise disposed of as stated on the permit.

(2)           Deer and feral swine.  The edible portions of feral swine and deer may be retained by the landholder for consumption but must not be transported from the property where the depredations took place without a valid depredation permit. The landholder may give a second party the edible portions of the feral swine and deer taken under the depredation permit. The receiver of the edible portions must hold a copy of the depredation permit.  The nonedible portions of any deer carcass, including head, hide, feet, and antlers, shall be disposed of as specified in Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph or turned over to a wildlife enforcement officer for disposition. 

(3)           Fox.  Any fox killed under a depredation permit may be disposed of as described in Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph or, upon compliance with the fur tagging requirements of 15A NCAC 10B .0400, the carcass or pelt thereof may be sold to a licensed fur dealer.

(4)           Furbearing Animals.  The carcass or pelt of any furbearing animal killed during the open season for taking such furbearing animal for control of depredations to property, whether with or without a permit, may be sold to a licensed fur dealer provided that the person offering such carcass or pelt for sale has a valid hunting or trapping license, provided further that, bobcats and otters may only be sold upon compliance with any required fur tagging requirement set forth in 15A NCAC 10B .0400.

(5)           Animals Taken Alive.  Wild animals in the order Carnivora, armadillos, groundhogs, nutria, and beaver shall be humanely euthanized either at the site of capture or at a facility designed to humanely handle the euthanasia or released on the property where captured.  Feral swine must be euthanized while still in the trap in accordance with G.S. 113-291.12.  For all other animals taken alive, the animal must be euthanized or else released on property with permission of the landowner.  When the relocation site is public property, written permission must be obtained from an appropriate local, state or federal official before any animal may be released.  Animals transported or held for euthanasia must be euthanized within 12 hours of capture. Anyone in possession of live animals being transported for relocation or euthanasia under a depredation permit must have the depredation permit in his or her possession.

(f)  Reporting Requirements.  Any landholder who kills an alligator, deer, Canada goose, bear or wild turkey under a valid depredation permit shall report such kill on the form provided with the permit and mail the form upon the expiration date to the Wildlife Resources Commission.  The killing and method of disposition of every alligator and bear taken without a permit shall be reported to the Wildlife Resources Commission within 24 hours following the time of such killing.

(g)  In the counties of Dare, Hyde, Washington, Tyrrell, and Beaufort depredating coyotes may be taken subject to the following restrictions:

(1)           Taking coyotes without a permit. Depredating coyotes may be harassed by non-lethal means. Coyotes may be shot in defense of a person's safety or the safety of others, or if livestock or pets are threatened.

(2)           Taking coyotes with a permit.  Only employees of the Commission shall issue depredation permits for the taking of coyotes in these counties.  Commission employees shall only authorize trapping or other non-lethal manners of take in the permit.

(3)           Reporting and disposition. All coyotes taken under a depredation permit shall be reported to the Wildlife Resources Commission within 24 hours and disposed of as stated on the permit. All coyotes killed in accordance with Subparagraph (g)(1) of this Rule shall be reported to the Wildlife Resources Commission within 24 hours.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-273; 113-274; 113-291.4; 113-291.6; 113-300.1; 113-300.2; 113-307; 113-331; 113-333; 113-334(a); 113-337;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2013; January 1, 2012; August 1 2010; July 1, 2010; May 1, 2008; August 1, 2002; July 1, 1997; July 1, 1995; January 1, 1995; January 1, 1992; August 1, 1990.

Temporary Amendment Eff. August 1, 2014 and shall remain in effect until amendments expire as specified in G.S. 150B-21.1(d) or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina's court order number 2:13-CV-60-BOs signed on May 13, 2014 is rescinded, whichever date is earlier.  The court order is available at www.ncwildlife.org.