Regulation .03 Landowner Wildlife Damage Control Permit.
Regulation .03 Landowner Wildlife Damage Control Permit.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Except as provided in §B of this regulation, a landowner who wishes to control wildlife on the landowner’s property may do so only after obtaining a landowner wildlife damage control permit from USDA or a federal depredation permit for migratory birds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
B.
A landowner wildlife damage control permit is not required for a landowner or the landowner's agent to control:
(1)
Game mammals or birds during legal hunting seasons with legal devices;
(2)
Deer under the authority of a deer management permit as described in COMAR 08.03.04.02;
(3)
Canada geese under the authority of COMAR 08.03.07.10;
(4)
Blackbirds and crows under the authority of COMAR 08.03.05.05;
(5)
Any of the following unprotected species:
(a)
Nutria;
(b)
Woodchuck;
(c)
Feral pigeon;
(d)
European starling; or
(e)
House sparrow; or
(6)
Any of the following species or species groups when causing damage or destroying the personal or real property of the landowner:
(a)
Mouse;
(b)
Mole;
(c)
Rat; or
(d)
Vole.
C.
To obtain a landowner wildlife damage control permit, a person shall apply by telephone to USDA in Annapolis, Maryland, at 410-349-8055 or 1-877-463-6497.
D.
Permit Issuance.
(1)
USDA shall evaluate the problem and determine if a control permit is appropriate to help resolve the problem.
(2)
Based on its evaluation, USDA may issue a permit to the landowner to control the wildlife.
E.
Terms and Conditions. The permit shall specify:
(1)
The species of wildlife to be controlled;
(2)
The acceptable procedures for controlling the wildlife;
(3)
The disposition of the wildlife; and
(4)
The effective dates of the permit.
F.
Foothold traps are legal if specifically allowed on the permit.
G.
Duration.
(1)
Landowner permits expire after 2 months.
(2)
If the wildlife problem continues after the permit has expired, USDA may extend the permit for an additional period of 2 months.