(1) The department may issue permits, subject to the conditions and restrictions determined by the department, which authorize and limit the kind and number of wildlife that may be taken or possessed, the type of equipment and methods to be used, the time and seasons for take, and the geographic locations where take may occur.

(2) Authorized Individual(s) shall carry in their possession a valid, government-issued form of identification at all times when conducting any take and/or possession activity authorized in a permit issued under this Section. The only acceptable forms of identification are driver's licenses or other photo identification cards issued by a U.S. state, a Native American tribe for its member, or an international passport. An identification card from a college, university or school is not a valid form of identification.

(3) In compliance with Section 1054.2 of the Fish and Game Code, Authorized Individual(s) shall carry in their possession the permit, including any amendments to the permit, and a current List of Authorized Individuals, at all times when conducting any activity authorized in a permit issued under this Section. Such permit documents shall be shown upon request to any person authorized to enforce the Fish and Game Code.

(4) Permits are non-transferable between Permitholders.

(5) The commercial sales, trade, or barter of wildlife taken or possessed pursuant to this Section is prohibited. Personal or human consumption of wildlife taken pursuant to this Section is prohibited, unless specifically allowed by conditions of the permit, or as exempt pursuant to subsection 650(u). Educational programs approved by the department are not considered commercial or consumptive activities. Wildlife taken and possessed by biological supplier businesses shall not be used for human consumption or commercial purposes, and shall only be taken and/or possessed for scientific or educational purposes when requested by a researcher or educator.

(6) A permit issued pursuant to this Section is required for any activity conducted for scientific, educational, or propagation purposes that directly or incidentally takes, possesses, injures, or damages wildlife within any Marine Managed Area, Marine Protected Area, or Special Closure, including installation of scientific equipment or sensors for studying or tracking wildlife or monitoring oceanographic conditions, as specified in Section 632 of these regulations.

(7) Any permit issued pursuant to Section 650 of these regulations (operative 7-18-1996) prior to October 1, 2018 shall be valid until the expiration date listed on the permit. All amendments and renewals following the effective date of these regulations shall comply with the procedures established in this Section, and those forms listed in subsection 703(c) of these regulations.

(1) “Anadromous Waters” means those waters defined in Section 1.04 of these regulations.

(2) “Authorized Individual” means the Permitholder, the Principal Investigator, or any other person approved by the department to conduct any permitted activity(ies) independently of the Principal Investigator, and who is named or covered on the permit's List of Authorized Individuals (LAI).

(3) “Display” means to place or locate wildlife, or the nests of wildlife, so that public viewing is allowed.

(4) “Education” means formal academic instruction, informal interpretive programs, cultural or ceremonial activities, or other educational programs.

(5) “Entity” means a non-profit, or for profit, public or private organization, institution or affiliation, state, local, or federal agency, or Native American tribe.

(6) “Executive Signatory” means the principal officer or responsible party on an Entity permit, having the legal or other authority to act for, or bind the Entity. The Executive Signatory may designate or change the Principal Investigator on an Entity permit when necessary, subject to approval by the department.

(7) “Field Assistant” means a person who may assist with activities authorized by a permit issued under this Section, but may only do so while under the direct supervision of an Authorized Individual.

(8) “Finfish” means those fish defined in Section 1.46 of these regulations.

(9) “Humane” in the context of taking and/or possessing, or conducting procedures on live wildlife, means utilizing methods that involve the least possible degree of pain and suffering practicable to the animal(s) involved, and possession of wildlife under healthful conditions.

(10) “Inland Waters” means those waters defined in Section 1.53 of these regulations.

(11) “Marine Waters” means the Ocean and San Francisco Bay District as defined in Section 27.00 of these regulations, and including salt water and/or brackish estuaries, lagoons, and river mouths.

(12) “Marking” means the placement of any device or identifying information on or in an animal, or physical alterations to the animal or carcass for identification and/or tracking purposes.

(13) “Nest” means a site or a structure built, maintained or used by an animal that is occupied by eggs, nestlings, or young, or is otherwise essential to the survival of a juvenile animal.

(14) “Non-native” means those species of wildlife, as defined by this Section, that are not native to California, including species previously established in the state by the aid of humans.

(15) “Part” includes, but is not limited to, biological samples collected from an animal, bones, skin, scales, fins, fur, bird feathers, and raptor pellets, consistent with Section 80 of the Fish and Game Code.

(16) “Permitholder” means the Entity to whom an Entity permit is issued, or the person to whom an Individual permit or Student permit is issued.

(17) “Person” means an individual.

(18) “Possession” means the temporary or permanent retention, transportation or relocation of live or dead wildlife (i.e., carcasses or specimens) and the parts thereof.

(19) “Principal Investigator” (“PI”) means a person approved by the department to be the primary person responsible for overseeing the permitted activities. In the case of an Entity permit, the PI is designated by the Permitholder; in all other cases the PI is the same as the Permitholder. The PI also:

(20) “Procedures” includes measurement, weighing, experimental manipulation, surgical or medical techniques conducted on wildlife, including, but not limited to, anesthesia, gastric lavage, marking, collection of wildlife parts or products thereof, or other procedures as determined by the department.

(21) “Propagation” means captive breeding, captive rearing, and other activities that help sustain or increase wildlife populations for scientific, conservation, management, or educational purposes.

(22) “Pursue” means to follow, chase, or otherwise target wildlife with the intent to catch, capture, possess, kill, mark, or conduct one or more procedure(s) on said wildlife.

(23) “Research” means scientific investigation, and may include educational components such as training. Research also includes surveys or inventories to assess the potential for, or to monitor actual project impacts on wildlife resources, as required by environmental documents, permits, or other legal authorizations.

(24) “Science” means basic research, or applied research.

(25) “Take” includes all activities listed in Section 86 of the Fish and Game Code, as well as collecting, handling, marking, manipulating or conducting other procedures on wildlife, whether wildlife are released, or retained in possession.

(26) “Wildlife” means and includes all life stages of any native and non-native organism in the following plant and animal taxonomic groups, including carcasses, specimens, and/or parts thereof:

(1) Science, the results of which achieve either, or both, of the following:

(2) Education, which includes, but is not limited to:

(3) Propagation, efforts for which the objective is consistent with Section 1801 of the Fish and Game Code for maintaining biologically sustainable populations, such as:

(1) “Inland Fisheries” program reviews applications for anadromous fish, non-anadromous fish, and aquatic invertebrates taken in inland waters;

(2) “Marine” program reviews applications for marine and anadromous finfish, marine algae, marine plants, and marine invertebrates taken in marine waters;

(3) “Terrestrial Wildlife” program reviews applications for terrestrial and vernal pool invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds; or,

(4) If an application requests take and/or possession of wildlife for more than one department review program, more than one review program may process a single application, at the department's discretion, as specified in subsection 650(i)(2).

(1) Applicants for a permit shall utilize those forms listed in subsection 703(c) of these regulations. Application forms are available on the department's internet web site: www.wildlife.ca.gov. Applications shall be submitted in an electronic format when available; no handwritten applications shall be accepted. Name(s) of all persons listed on the permit application shall match those on government-issued identification.

(2) Applicants shall provide all relevant and applicable information requested in the forms listed in subsection 703(c) of these regulations for the application to be considered complete. Failure to answer any questions fully or submit any required information may delay the processing of the application, or may result in denial of the application.

(3) Following receipt of an application, the department will determine whether an application is complete within 40 calendar days from the date the application fee clears payment.

(1) “Entity permits” may be issued to an eligible Entity in the name of the Entity as the Permitholder. The Executive Signatory of an Entity permit shall designate a PI to oversee all activities conducted under the permit on the Entity's behalf. The Executive Signatory may also apply as the PI on a permit; in both cases, the PI shall be subject to approval by the department. Both the Entity and the PI shall be liable for any violations of this section or any authorizations, conditions, or terms of an Entity permit.

(2) “Individual permits” may be issued in the name of an eligible person who acts as both the Permitholder and PI, and that person is responsible for overseeing all activities conducted under the permit.

(3) “Student permits” may be issued in the name of a student as defined in subsection 650(g)(8). Students shall act as the Permitholder; however, one faculty member affiliated with the student's college or university shall act as a Student Sponsor, as described in subsection 650(h).

(1) Employees of local, state, and federal agencies who take and/or possess wildlife in connection with their official duties;

(2) Members of Native American tribes, and these tribes, or their agents and employees;

(3) Employees, contractors, and volunteers at zoological gardens, museums, or aquariums;

(4) Employees, contractors, and volunteers at non-governmental and non-profit organizations, or citizen scientists;

(5) Employees and contractors of private consulting firms, or independent biological consultants;

(6) Employees of businesses, including but not limited to timber and forest management, utilities, biomedical research, and biological suppliers (notwithstanding Section 651 of these regulations);

(7) Faculty, other employees and volunteers at universities, colleges or other educational or academic institutions; and

(8) Students, 18 years of age or older, of collegiate level, enrolled at a university, college, or other academic institution of higher education.

(1) A statement of qualifications that quantifies and describes experience with requested wildlife and/or similar wildlife. The statement of qualifications shall include:

(2) A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) that describes the educational background and wildlife-related experience, including a list of any relevant publications.

(3) Except for when applying as Student Permitholders, current contact information (name, title, affiliation, e-mail address, and phone numbers) for two (2) references (for example, other Permitholders or subject matter experts) who can verify the person's experience with requested wildlife. For new applicants requesting take and/or possession of mountain lion, two letters of recommendation shall be submitted with the application as verifiable documentation, pursuant to Section 4810 of Fish and Game Code.

(4) In addition to the statement of qualifications and resume or CV, when applying as Student Permitholders, the applicant shall have one faculty member affiliated with the student's university or academic institution provide proof of sponsorship of the student via a letter of sponsorship submitted on organization letterhead. Proof of sponsorship by a faculty member shall be in lieu of the two references.

(1) A General Use permit:

(2) A Specific Use permit:

(1) For a General Use level permit:

(2) For a Specific Use level permit:

(3) A copy of the current LAI shall be in possession of all Authorized Individuals while conducting permitted activities, in addition to the requirements listed in subsection 650(a)(3).

(4) Field Assistants are not required to be named or covered on the LAI, but their names shall be provided to the department during reporting of permitted activities.

(1) General Use and Specific Use permits for Entity and Individual Permitholders are valid for three (3) years from the date of issuance. General Use and Specific Use permits for Student Permitholders are valid for one (1) year from date of issuance. Issued permits are a public record.

(1) Administrative Updates. Updating contact or affiliation information, or removing Authorized Individuals from the permit's LAI are administrative changes that do not constitute an amendment.

(2) Amendments for General Use level permits. A General Amendment may be requested for eligible changes listed on General Use level amendment forms specified in subsection 703(c) of these regulations. Eligible changes include the Executive Signatory changing a PI on an Entity permit, the addition or exchange of Authorized Individuals on the LAI under one or more Authorizations for both Entity and Individual permits, and the addition of one or more new Authorizations within the same permit for all Permitholder types. The amendment request will be reviewed by the appropriate department review program upon payment of the General Amendment fee specified in subsections 650(m) and 703(c) of these regulations, and may be approved or denied at the department's discretion.

(3) Amendments for Specific Use level permits. A Specific Amendment may be requested for eligible changes listed on the Specific Use level permit forms specified in subsection 703(c) of these regulations. Eligible changes include the Executive Signatory changing a PI on an Entity permit, the addition or exchange of Authorized Individuals on the permit's LAI for both an Entity and Individual permit, and the amendment of Specific Use permit information for all Permitholder types. Specific Use permit information includes the proposed number and kind of wildlife to be taken or possessed, activities, methods, procedures, timeframe, and location. The amendment request will be reviewed by the appropriate department review program(s) upon payment of the Specific Amendment fee specified in subsections 650(m) and 703(c) of these regulations, and may be approved or denied at the department's discretion.

(4) New permit. Any amendment request to an existing General Use permit that requires more than eight Authorized Individuals per Authorization (aside from the PI), or requests Authorizations for taxonomic groups requiring review by a different department review program, shall require the appropriate new General Use permit application be submitted pursuant to subsections 650(d) and (e), and payment of fees pursuant to subsections 650(m) and 703(c) of these regulations. Any amendment or change request to an existing Specific Use permit that changes the fundamental scope, or goals and objectives of the original permit shall require a new permit application be submitted pursuant to subsections 650(d) and (e), and payment of fees pursuant to subsections 650(m) and 703(c) of these regulations.

(1) Field activities that may occur sequentially over more than one day, but within a 14-day period, or that follow a set schedule of up to a 14-day period, may be covered under a single notification, unless otherwise specified in the conditions of the permit. If field activities may span longer than a consecutive 14-day period, individual notification forms shall be re-submitted to the same contacts listed in the permit conditions every 14 days.

(2) Any change to the notification information provided for any permitted activity requires submission of a revised notification form following the timeframes specified in subsection 650(o).

(1) Each Student Permitholder, or the PI on an Entity or Individual permit, shall report all wildlife taken and/or possessed within 30 days following the expiration of the permit, or upon submitting a renewal application, whichever comes first, or as required by the Authorizations or conditions in the permit. Even if the permit will not be renewed, each Student Permitholder, or Entity or Individual PI shall submit a final report to the department.

(2) The department shall require reporting in the format specified in subsection 650(p)(2)(A), and may require one or more of the following formats specified in subsection 650(p)(2)(B) through (F):

(3) Failure to submit required information or reports shall result in revocation of an existing permit, and may result in denial of subsequent applications by that Permitholder, or may result in denial of future approval as a Permitholder or Authorized Individual on other permits, pursuant to subsection 1002(m) of the Fish and Game Code.

(1) Live wildlife may only be possessed, for purposes of this Section, with a valid permit or written authorization issued by the department. No live wildlife held, possessed, or displayed may be released to the wild for any purpose without written authorization by the department. Live wildlife may be transferred only as specified in the permit or written authorization, but shall be accompanied by the completed custody form as specified in subsection 703(c) of these regulations.

(2) Accidentally killed or legally acquired dead wildlife that are salvaged, or otherwise possessed under a permit issued pursuant to this Section, may be transferred only as specified in the permit or in subsection 650(q)(3). Persons or entities receiving dead wildlife taken or possessed pursuant to this Section may be named as Authorized Individuals on the permit's LAI itself, and when a copy of the permit accompanies the dead wildlife, this shall serve as documentation of lawful taking and possession of said wildlife.

(3) Even if the recipients are named or covered on the permit, a completed custody form as specified in subsection 703(c) of these regulations, in lieu of a permit, shall document and accompany the transfer of all dead wildlife taken or possessed under this Section, at all times, including during transport and shipment; this shall serve as documentation of lawful taking and possession of said wildlife. Subsequent transfers of such dead wildlife to another recipient shall also be documented and accompanied by the completed custody form specified in subsection 703(c) of these regulations, and that form shall include all prior transfers. Reporting of such transfer via the custody form shall occur as specified in the original Permitholder's permit conditions as the donor, as required by the custody form for reporting by a subsequent recipient acting as a donor, or as required for reporting under subsection 650(p).

(4) Eligible entities as defined in subsection 650(g) engaged in scientific study, education, or propagation of wildlife that are open to the public for viewing of wildlife specimens may possess, accept donations of, or exchange between organizations, such specimens lawfully taken or possessed pursuant to this Section without obtaining a separate permit. A copy of the permit under which the animal was taken, or a custody form as specified in subsection 703(c) of these regulations, shall accompany such wildlife. This exemption shall not apply to wildlife taken pursuant to other codes or regulations, including any candidate, threatened, endangered, or fully protected species, or wildlife taken under a hunting or fishing license.

(5) The above entities shall comply with all other local, state, and federal laws and regulations pertaining to permitting of wildlife taken, possessed, and displayed.

(6) The department may direct disposal of dead wildlife, wildlife accidentally taken by motor vehicle, or and wildlife taken incidental to an otherwise lawful activity.

(1) Circumstances for denial, as determined by the department, include:

(2) The department shall notify the applicant in writing of the denial action, and within 30 days of applicant's receipt of notification of the denial, the department shall describe the reasons for the denial, as well as the applicant's right to request reconsideration of the department's action.

(1) The department shall revoke an existing permit if the Permitholder fails to comply with the reporting requirements of this Section, or the conditions of the permit, pursuant to subsection 1002(m) of the Fish and Game Code.

(2) The department may suspend, revoke, or modify any permit issued pursuant to this section for any of the following reasons:

(3) The department shall notify the Permitholder of any permit revocation, suspension, or modification action in writing, and within 30 days of applicant receipt of notification, the department shall send electronically and via certified mail the following information: the name of the Permitholder, any permit identification number(s), a description of the reasons for the revocation, suspension, or modification, any action(s) necessary for the Permitholder to correct any deficiencies, the required disposition of wildlife, and the Permitholder's right to request reconsideration of the department's action.

(1) Federally recognized tribes and their members possessing accidentally killed or legally acquired dead wildlife that is not a big game, rare, threatened, endangered, or fully protected species.

(2) Entities or persons performing monitoring activities for dreissenid mussels in waterbodies or water supply systems as defined in Sections 672(a)(10) and (11) of these regulations under a department-approved Dreissenid Mussel Control Plan pursuant to subsection 672.1(a), or a department-reviewed Prevention Program pursuant to subsection 672.1(b) of these regulations.

(3) Routine water or sediment sampling for chemical, bacterial, or other analyses as required by government regulation or mandate when aquatic, freshwater, or benthic invertebrates, or other wildlife are not being targeted. This exemption does not apply for the following activities in marine waters:

(4) The take or possession for scientific, educational, or propagation purposes, if it is authorized in another approval issued by the department, such as in a permit issued under the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act.

(5) Take or possession of terrestrial and vernal pool invertebrates for scientific, educational, or propagation purposes, if those invertebrates are not:

(6) Take or possession of terrestrial plants, and freshwater plants and algae. Persons wanting to take or possess rare, threatened, and/or endangered plant species shall obtain a scientific, educational or management permit, pursuant to Section 786.9 of these regulations, or sections 1900 et seq. or 2080 et seq. of the Fish and Game Code.