<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 08.03.15.04" title_num="08" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="15" heading="Wildlife Damage Control Permits.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Requirements; Exceptions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §A(2) of this regulation, a person providing either commercial or public agency wildlife damage control services shall obtain a wildlife damage control permit from the Service.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A wildlife damage control permit is not required to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Control deer under the authority of a deer cooperator permit as provided in COMAR 08.03.09.11;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Control mice, moles, rats, or voles, if the species is not listed in COMAR 08.03.08;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Transport sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife to a:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Licensed wildlife rehabilitator for rehabilitation; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Facility authorized to euthanize animals;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Remove dead animals from areas within Maryland if the person is under contract with a governmental agency to provide removal services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Respond to rabid animal complaints or other public health emergencies as directed by the State or local public health department; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Control European starlings, feral pigeons, and house sparrows if the person is certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, as defined in COMAR 15.05.01.08A(7)(c).</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The wildlife damage control permit allows the permittee to provide wildlife damage control services subject to the provisions of this chapter for the species or species groups authorized on the permit.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>There are two classes of commercial wildlife damage control operator permits:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Business; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Assistant.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Employees or Assistants.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>General. Except as provided in §D(2) and (3) of this regulation, an employee or assistant working under the direct supervision of a wildlife damage control operator does not have to be individually authorized to provide wildlife damage control services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Commercial.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An employee or assistant of a commercial wildlife damage control operator working without the direct supervision of the commercial wildlife damage control operator shall pass the written examination described in Regulation .05 of this chapter and obtain the assistant commercial wildlife damage control operator permit.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>In emergency situations as determined and preapproved by the Department, employees or assistants of a commercial wildlife damage control operator who are not permitted as assistant commercial wildlife damage control operators may work without the direct supervision of the commercial wildlife damage control operator.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Public Agency. An employee or assistant of a public agency wildlife damage control operator working without the direct supervision of the public agency wildlife damage control operator shall pass the written examination described in Regulation .05 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The permittee is responsible for the quality and content of all work performed by those working under the permit.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>