Aquatic Scientific Collector Permits are required for any learning institution, government agencies, or individual in order to take, kill, capture or possess any fish in Montana.
The permittee shall pay $50 for the permit, except that a permittee who is a representative of an accredited school, college, university, or other institution of learning or of any governmental agency is exempt from payment of the fee.
Aquatic Scientific Collectors Permit Application Form (PDF)
An annual report describing the results must be submitted to the Department by December 31 of the year issued. Beginning in 2012, Scientific Collector's Permit holders have been required to provide fish measurements and metadata relating to the sampling.
Reporting Form: Electrofishing (Excel)
Reporting Form: Netting (Excel)
OR
ATTN: Fisheries Division
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
Research or educational projects that involve capture, handling and/or possession of protected live wild animals or wild animal parts found in Montana require annually approved Scientific Collector's permits. The specific activities that require this type of permit are capture and handling of any live animals, wild bird banding, educational display of live wild animals, rehabilitation of wild animals, temporary housing of wild animals, and salvage of wild animal parts. Permits for the capture and handling of wild animals are approved only for projects with well defined study objectives and projects that result in valid scientific findings or management recommendations.
There are six different activities that require a Scientific Collector's permit. These activities are:
This includes all capture and handling of live animals as part of a research or educational project.
Note: Capture and handling of federally listed threatened or endangered species also requires a federal permit, see Note #1 below. IACUC review and approval may be required, see IACUC section below.
This includes all capture and handling of birds for banding with federal bands, color bands, etc.
Note: Bird banding also requires a federal bird banding permit, see Note #2 below.
This includes the use of live animals for education displays or public education presentations.
Note: Display of wild animals in a zoo setting for profit requires a zoo or menagerie permit.
This includes housing, treating, and caring for injured or orphaned wild animals.
Note: Rehabilitation of federally listed threatened or endangered species also requires a federal permit, see Note #1 below.
This includes temporary housing and care of wild animals intended for relocation.
This includes collection of wild animal parts or carcasses for research or educational purposes.
A federal permit is required for any project that entails the handling or capturing of species listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act or that may impact federally listed species. A list of Montana wildlife species that are listed under the federal ESA can be found at the USFWS Montana Ecological Services Field Office.
Montana birds are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (as amended), with the exception of rock doves (domestic pigeons), house sparrows and starlings (both exotic species). Any project that entails handling or capturing of migratory bird species therefore requires a federal permit issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A federal permit must be obtained before a Montana bird banding/possession permit can be issued.
An Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) review is required to capture or handle Montana wildlife. Applicants can apply for a review by the MFWP IACUC committee if one is not available through other means, typically universities have their own committees. Capture or handling activities must not begin until an official review has been completed. Federally permitted bird banding does not require an IACUC review unless extensive handling and long holding times are anticipated, such as in the case of radio telemetry work or the collection of multiple blood samples.
The purpose of this committee is to provide oversight for procedures used to capture and handle wildlife during scientific study and management activities in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and State law. Although exhibition, transport and trade are mentioned in the Act they fall outside the purview of this particular committee.
The FWP-IACUC will evaluate requests based on the following criteria with the emphasis on the suitability of the request as it relates to animal welfare issues:
Terrestrial Scientific Collector's Permits (MCA 87-2-806, Section 5) require permittee shall pay $50.00 for the permit, except that a permittee who is a representative of an accredited school, college, university, other institution of the learning, or of any governmental agency is exempt from payment of the fee. Airports and rehabilitators and are also exempt from this fee.
Checks will be cashed upon receipt due to mandatory administrative procedures. Refunds will be issued if a permit is denied.
According to MCA 87-2-806, Montana State Law provides for denial of permit for any of the following:
A report of activities conducted under the provisions of this permit must be sent to Fish, Wildlife & Parks by December 31 of the year issued. The report should list the number of animals handled, including species, date, specific location, other known biological information of animals handled and cause of death if known. This information will be used for administrative purposes, and to supplement location information in the Montana Natural Heritage Program on species of concern in Montana. Specific information will not be published or made available to the general public without permission of the permit holder. A permit will not be issued until the report from the previous year's work has been submitted and accepted.
OR
ATTN: Wildlife Division
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
A Scientific Collector's Permit is required to house or rehabilitate injured or orphaned wild migratory birds found in Montana. Rehabilitation of migratory birds requires both a Scientific Collector's Permit (see below) from the state of Montana and a Migrtory Bird Rehabilitation Permit (see below) from the USFWS. Species other than birds are rehabilitated at the Montana Wildlife Center in Helena, MT.
Any bear, coyote, mountain lion, tiger (or any large cat), or wolf that is held in captivity for any purpose must be reported to the department within 3 days of commencement of captivity by submitting a "Report of Acquisition or Capture and Application for Numbers to Tattoo Bears, Coyotes, Mountain Lions, Tigers, and Wolves". A registration fee of $10 per animal must accompany the application. The department will return a form to the applicant assigning tattoo number(s). Those tattoo numbers must be applied to the inside left thigh of the animal within 15 days of receipt. The numbers must be 3/8 inch in height for coyotes and 1/2 inch for all other animals. Certification of tattoo placement is documented on the form by either a veterinarian or a representative of the department, and that form must be returned to the department completing the registration process.
Any person holding a bear, coyote, mountain lion, tiger, or wolf in captivity must report the death, escape, release, or transfer of custody of that animal to the department immediately. In addition, compensation for any damage to the personal property of another person must be paid by the person who held the animal in captivity.
The fees for obtaining a registered tattoo number are $10 per animal, up to 5 animals. If more than 5 animals are registered at one time, the charge is $5 after the first 5 animals, up to a maximum of $200.
ATTN: FWP Enforcement Division
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
Anyone wishing to import a species that has not yet been classified can petition for that species to be classified. The classification review committee will review the petition and make recommendations to the Commission on the species classification. The species are then classified in the Administrative Rule. The process typically takes around 6 months.
To petition for classification of an exotic species for importation into Montana, complete the petition form and submit it to:
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
PO Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
There are no fees associated with this petition.
Written authorization to possess a species of exotic wildlife that has been classified as controlled may be requested by submitting an application. The application requires information on the exotic species requested, the intended purpose for possession, where the exotic species will be held, and the enclosures intended to contain the exotic species.
A permit fee will be assessed for each controlled species based on whether the controlled species is for private possession or is intended for breeding and/or sale. Breeding and/or sale of controlled species requires a Controlled Exotic Wildlife Possession Permit.
An annual fee of $25 is requied to obtain or to renew a Controlled Exotic Wildlife Permit. Renewal is contingent upon submission of the annual fee plus any required annual reporting of current inventory and any changes to the inventory during the preceding year.
An annual fee of $100 is required to obtain or to renew a Controlled Exotic Wildlife Permit if the controlled species is being used for breeding and/or sale. Renewal is contingent upon submission of the annual fee plus any required annual reporting of current inventory and any changes to the inventory during the preceding year.
ATTN: FWP Enforcement Division
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701