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Capture Live Wildlife for Falconry and Zoos

This application allows you to capture live wildlife for Falconry and zoos. See section 2(h) of the Wildlife Act – Permit Regulation.

Note: When applying under section 2(h), applicants must also indicate that they require a permit under section 2(j) if they intend to possess a wild Falcon for Falconry purposes. (See Possess Live Wildlife for Falconry activity guidance for more information).

The permit holder must comply with all laws applicable to the activities carried out under this permit. Applicants should be aware of and follow the conditions indicated on their permit, should their permit application be approved.

Contents:

• Overview
• Mandatory Authorizations
• Costs
• Eligibility Requirements
• Information Requirements
• Related Links
• Other Things you Should Know

About this Activity Guide

This guide summarizes the most common requirements and recommendations for your chosen activity and is designed to help you submit a complete application. Be aware that this information is for guidance purposes only. Class I and Class II Raptors Class I Raptors are: Peregrine Falcons; Gyrfalcons; Ferruginous Hawks; and Northern Hawk Owls Class II Raptors are: Northern Goshawks Cooper's Hawks; Sharp-shinned Hawks; Red-Tailed Hawks; Prairie Falcons; Merlins; American Kestrels; Legally imported species and their captive-bred progeny (Saker Falcon, Lanner Falcon, and Harris Hawk); Seamless banded, captive-bred Gyrfalcons and Peregrine Falcons; and Hybrids of any of the above (a to i)

Mandatory Authorizations

Authorization Name	Link to Authorization Guidance	Link to Application
Permit under Wildlife Act, Permit Regulation (section 2(h)	Authorization Guidance	Apply Now
Permit under Wildlife Act, Permit Regulation (section 2(j) - Possess a wild Falcon, if applicable	Authorization Guidance	Apply Now

Costs

Cost may be a specific value or range of values. The cost includes GST, where applicable.

Cost Type	Cost Description	Cost	Link to Details
Permit Fee	Fee paid for a permit issued generally or for the wildlife, purpose or method specified (if any) plus the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) surcharge (if any).	Pre-Capture Permit Fee $100 + $10 HCTF = $110 Note: Once captured, additional capture fees are applicable based on the species captured. Refer to Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Act Permit Regulations	Wildlife Act Permit Regulation - Schedule 2

Eligibility Requirements

Ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements prior to applying.

Requirement	Description
Wildlife	Must be wildlife as defined under the Wildlife Act.
Class II Raptor Possession	Proof that you have possessed a Class II Raptor for at least 24 months before being eligible to possess a Class I Raptor. (If a person held a possession permit for falconry outside of British Columbia, the person must be able to prove that they have possessed Class II Raptors for a 24 month period. This only applies to wild Class I Raptors; captive-bred raptors are deemed Class II.)
Age	Applicant must be at least 19 years old, unless a parent or guardian has given written consent to the application. A permit must NOT be issued to an applicant under age 10.
Residency (if capturing a raptor for the purpose of falconry)	A permit under section 2(h) for the capture of a raptor for the purposes of falconry may be issued only to a resident as per Section 9(3) of the Wildlife Act Permit Regulations. See the definition of "resident" under the Wildlife Act, Definitions and Interpretations

Information Requirements

Requirement	Description	Link to Details
Information to be provided on General Wildlife Application	Valid possession permit number (if applicable) Common Name and Scientific Name (see BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer); Is wildlife species provincial wildlife (see Schedule A of the Designation and Exemption Regulation of the Wildlife Act) ie. Geese/ducks are considered migratory birds and applicant would require permit from Canadian Wildlife Service Number, age and gender of wildlife to be captured Location(s) of the proposed capture (Region and M.U.) Proposed methods of capture, transportation, containment & feeding Proposed use of the wildlife Previous Permit Number (authorization number) if applicable.	Permit 2(h)
Public Safety Plan	If your activity involves the capture, transport, possession, release or export of live animals or viable eggs, you must also include a detailed safety plan that explains the measures you will take to ensure that public safety will be protected (see section 10(1) of the Wildlife Act Permit Regulations) Not required for Falconry.	Public Safety Plan [PDF 103 KB]
BC Animal Care Form	Not required for Falconry	BC Animal Care Form
Reporting Requirements	For Raptors: either within 21 days from the date of capture or within 21 days from the permit expiry (if not captured), a Rapture Capture Report must be submitted to FrontCounter BC. This report will be an appendix to the issued permit. For Raptors: Within 21 day of the date of capture, the permit holder must submit to FrontCounter BC an application for a possession permit 2(j) (unless a valid possession permit is already in effect).
Location Map	Provide map showing primary, secondary and alternate capture locations proposed
Information to be provided on General Wildlife Application	See activity guidance for Possess Live Wildlife used for Falconry, if applicable	Permit 2(j)

Related Links

Link	Description
BC Animal Care Form
BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer
Schedule A of the Designation and Exemption Regulation of the Wildlife Act
Wildlife Act - Permit Regulation
Raptor Report Form

Other Things You Should Know

Archaeology Information
Archaeological sites are protected under the Heritage Conservation Act and must not be altered or damaged without a permit issued by the Archaeology Branch. Information regarding potential risks to protected archaeological sites may be obtained by submitting an online data request form to the Archaeology Branch or by contacting a professional archaeologist via the BC Association of Professional Archaeologists (www.bcapa.ca) or via local directories. Visit the Archaeology Branch website for more information.

BCeID - What Is It and Why Get It?
BCeID is an online service that allows you to create a user ID and password to sign in securely to many Government services in British Columbia. The benefits of having a BCeID account include:

• Stop and start. Save and return later to complete your application without losing any information previously entered.
• Real time status information. Check the status of your application in real time.
• Access your applications for multiple people (Business BCeID only) to edit or submit your application or check its status. To enroll in this service, visit the BCeID web page: FrontCounter BC - BCeID

Consulting with First Nations

• The Province is committed to reconciliation as part of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act.
• The Province is responsible for ensuring adequate and appropriate consultation and accommodation, it may involve the proponent in the procedural aspects of consultation.

Proponents are encouraged to engage with First Nations as early as possible in the planning stages to build relationships and for information sharing purposes. To get more information about the guidelines and procedure manuals that are designed to assist government officials and proponents with meeting consultation obligations, please visit the Consulting with First Nations web page.

Legal Disclaimer
This guide provides the most current and accurate information available to the Government of British Columbia at the time of publishing; however, we make no warranty regarding the completeness, currency or accuracy of this information. This information is for guidance purposes only and does not replace legislated requirements. Each application is unique and circumstances may result in additional requirements beyond those included in this guide.

Last Updated: July 14, 2023