POLIC
Y
As the a
d
Wildlife
(
release o
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p
opulati
o
7:25 sub
-
mammal
s
This poli
c
rabies ve
c
Jersey.
V
result of
s
from wil
d
This poli
c
which af
f
Ideally,
a
N
ormal
h
spread o
f
wildlife
d
nature o
f
Under n
o
individu
a
of a parti
c
GENER
A
In order
t
p
rocessi
n
and/or d
e
b
eing co
n
visibly o
b
conditio
n
diseases/
p
when det
animal s
h
that the a
n
Release
s
Y
ON THE
R
d
ministering
a
(
NJDFW) h
a
f
wildlife do
o
ns. Authorit
y
-
chapters 4 a
n
s
, respective
l
c
y on the rel
e
c
tor species
a
V
arious chan
g
everal meet
i
d
life rehabili
t
c
y sets stand
f
ect the selec
a
ll terrestrial
a
h
ome ranges
f
disease and
d
isease of co
n
f
the disease
a
o
r
m
al circum
s
a
ls by minim
i
c
ular popula
t
A
L RELEA
S
t
o be consid
e
n
g natural fo
o
e
fending terr
i
n
sidered for
r
b
vious disea
s
n
, be fully re
c
p
arasites. T
h
e
rmining if/
w
h
ould be rele
a
n
imal was f
o
s
ite selection
N
R
ELOCATI
O
a
gency for t
h
a
s a responsi
b
not negative
y
to control
r
n
d 10 which
l
y.
e
ase of wild
l
a
nd was nec
e
g
es to the Re
l
i
ngs with re
p
t
ators, anim
a
ards for rele
a
tion of a rel
e
a
nimals sho
u
and dispersa
unnatural g
e
n
cern, additi
o
a
nd the speci
s
tances, rele
a
i
zing compe
t
t
ion; and for
S
E CRITE
R
e
red for relea
o
ds, evading
i
tories, and p
r
elease must
s
e and parasi
t
c
overed fro
m
e appropriat
e
w
hen an ani
m
a
sed as clos
e
o
und at a par
t
is more criti
N
ew Jersey
D
O
N OF WI
L
h
e wildlife r
e
b
ility to ens
u
ly affect hu
m
r
eleases is fo
u
regulate the
l
ife supersed
e
e
ssary to pre
v
l
ocation Poli
c
p
resentatives
a
l control of
fi
a
se of all sp
e
e
ase site.
u
ld be releas
e
l
distances f
o
e
ne flow. In
t
o
nal restricti
o
es involved.
a
sing animal
t
ition for foo
adult anima
l
R
IA
se, wildlife
m
and/or defe
n
erforming n
o
also exhibit
n
t
es, be suita
b
m
the presenti
e
season and
/
m
al is releas
a
e
as possible
t
icular locati
o
cal for terre
s
D
epartment o
f
Division
o
Mail
PO Box 42
0
Trento
n
L
DLIFE
e
source in N
e
u
re that hum
a
m
an health a
n
u
nd in N.J.S
captivity of
n
e
s the origin
a
v
ent an unna
t
c
y have bee
n
of affected
c
fi
cers and pe
s
e
cies and co
n
e
d as close t
o
o
r a species
s
t
he event of
a
o
ns may be
i
s
close to th
e
d
, den/nest s
i
l
s, allow a re
t
m
ust be capa
b
n
ding against
o
rmal seaso
n
n
ormal soci
a
b
ly waterpro
o
ng injuries,
a
/
or current
w
a
ble. If an an
i
t
o the site o
f
o
n indicates
s
trial and sed
f Environme
o
f Fish and
W
l
Code 501-0
0 / 501 East
n
, NJ 08625-
0
e
w Jersey, th
e
a
n activities
r
n
d safety, ag
r
.A. 23:4-63.
3
n
on-game a
n
a
l translocati
a
tural spread
n
made over
t
c
onstituency
s
t control op
e
n
siders both
b
o
the initial s
i
s
hould be co
n
a
known end
e
i
mposed by
N
e
capture sit
e
ites and mat
e
turn to an al
r
b
le of recog
n
t
predators, a
c
n
al movemen
a
lization wit
h
o
f for that sp
a
nd be free
o
w
eather cond
i
i
mal is deter
m
f
capture. Wi
t
that suitable
d
entary speci
e
e
ntal Protecti
o
W
ildlife
3
State S
t
0
420
e Division o
f
r
elating to th
e
r
iculture and
3
and 64.4,
a
n
d exotics an
i
on policy,
w
of the diseas
t
he years. T
h
groups and
i
e
rators.
b
iological an
d
i
te of captur
e
n
sidered to p
e
mic diseas
e
N
JDFW dep
e
e
will impro
v
e
s, and pres
e
r
eady establi
n
izing, obtai
n
cquiring she
l
n
t and disper
s
h
con-specifi
c
ecies, be in
g
o
f exposure t
o
i
tions must b
m
ined to be
r
t
h few exce
p
habitat exis
t
e
s such as a
m
o
n
f
Fish and
e
movement
local wildli
f
a
nd the N.J.
A
d game bird
s
w
hich stresse
d
e across Ne
w
h
is policy is
a
i
ncludes inp
u
d
social issu
e
e
as possible
.
p
revent unna
t
e
or emergin
g
e
nding on th
e
v
e survival o
f
e
rve the gene
t
shed territor
y
n
ing and
l
ter, acquiri
n
s
als. Wildlif
e
c
s, be free o
f
g
ood body
o
exotic
e considere
d
r
eleasable, t
h
p
tions, the fa
c
t
s for that sp
e
m
phibians, r
e
and
f
e
A
.C.
s
and
d
w
a
u
t
e
s,
.
t
ural
g
e
f
t
ics
y
.
n
g
e
f
d
h
e
c
t
e
cies.
e
ptiles
and small mammals than for avian species. Human interpretation of what is better habitat and what,
therefore, is a better release site is an academic exercise, which is often difficult even for experts.
When considering release, the concept of "carrying capacity" must be remembered. Carrying
capacity is defined as the number of individual animals a particular habitat can support because of
the food, water, cover and living space it provides for a particular species. The number of animals
that a particular location supports is, therefore, finite. Release of wildlife in a location other than the
site of capture may exacerbate competition for limited resources at a given location and should
therefore be avoided whenever possible. Release locations must vary so that many rehabilitated or
nuisance animals are not released at the same location. This practice, known as "dumping", will
likely result in decreased survival probability for the released animals and is therefore unacceptable
for either rehabilitated or nuisance wildlife. An unusually high density of wildlife that cannot be
supported at a particular location will invariably lead to increased stress, disease, parasites, and
ultimately death of many animals. Spill-over of wildlife into adjacent properties often leads to
nuisance wildlife situations.
Nuisance Wildlife
Relocation of nuisance wildlife must be evaluated on a case by case basis. In most cases, nuisance
wildlife need not be brought to wildlife rehabilitators. Whenever possible, habitat alteration (e.g.,
capping chimney) and education of the homeowner in order to allow release on site is encouraged.
Failure to remedy the situation by using exclusionary devices or removing the attractant (e.g.,
garbage) will guarantee that the problem will continue even if the offending animal is removed. If
release on site is not practical, relocation must follow the guidelines below.
Before relocating any adult wildlife during the spring and summer, a search for their newborns
should be conducted. If found, these young must be relocated with the adults. Any trapped nuisance
wildlife that appears to be injured or sick should be placed with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for
evaluation prior to release. If release on site or relocation of a nuisance animal will create a new
problem, euthanasia of the problem animals should be considered.
Property owners and occupants of dwellings, or their agents in writing, may control property damage
by lawful means when suffering such damage from squirrel, raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel,
coyote, fox and woodchuck (N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.21). If euthanasia is found to be the only viable method
of control, the above species may be euthanized according to the methods declared as acceptable or
conditionally acceptable in the most recent report of the American Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA) Guidelines on Euthanasia. The AVMA report states drowning is not an acceptable method
of euthanasia.
Other municipal and state laws, such as those relating to the discharge of firearms apply. Most other
common wildlife species are controlled through hunting and trapping seasons, established by state
and/or federal regulations.
Releasable Wildlife
Releasable wildlife can be grouped into two distinct categories; injured or orphaned juveniles and
injured adults. For many species, orphans or young-of-the-year have not yet established home ranges
and may naturally disperse considerable distances from their natal home range. Young-of-the-year
wildlife may be released at any appropriate habitat within the county of origin. Frequently, young
birds and mammals may be healthy enough to be returned to their own nest/den (if location is
known) or placed into a suitable nest/den/family of adults other than their parents (“fostering”).
Young mammals may be fostered into appropriate families within their county of origin; due to their
larger natural dispersal area, young birds may be fostered into suitable nests and/or families within
the state. In instances where placement of young birds will occur more than 50 miles from site of
origin, such placement should be done only in consultation with NJDFW. Most adults (one year or
older) already have established home ranges and would benefit greatly by release into familiar
territory.
When release at the site of initial capture is not possible for adult mammals, euthanasia or
permanent placement should be considered. Studies have shown that chances for survival are
minimal for adults relocated outside of original home range and habitat preference (i.e., urban to
rural).
Non-Releasable Wildlife
Animals that are unlikely to survive because of physical or behavioral problems should not be
considered for release. Non-releasable wildlife that are suitable for use in educational programs,
foster parenting, research projects, or other permitted activities may be placed by NJDFW staff with
persons permitted or otherwise authorized to possess such wildlife. Use of physically deformed
animals for educational purposes is discouraged. Animals that cannot be released by the rehabilitator
or placed by NJDFW are to be euthanized.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
Amphibians and Reptiles
Home ranges for amphibians and reptiles are not well known but are less than an acre for some
species. Survival depends on close proximity to important habitat components such as traditional
hibernacula (denning sites) or breeding sites. Disease spread and genetic flow over geographic
distance are certainly slower for these sedentary species. Relocation of captured animals over
relatively short distances may be highly detrimental to the individual animals, as well as, pose great
risk to local populations. Research and experience has shown that snakes may be released within
200 meters (slightly more than two football fields) from a capture location in a nuisance situation and
not present future problems. Movements greater than 200 meters may be too far to ensure their
survival. Therefore, the maximum relocation distance the state permits from the site of capture is 200
meters. Aquatic turtles should be returned to the watershed from which they were taken; other turtles
should be returned to within 200 meters of the site of capture.
For additional assistance with relocation of turtles or salamanders throughout the state, contact the
Endangered and Non-Game Species Program (ENSP) office in Clinton at (908) 638-4127.
Birds
Current rehabilitation practice usually involves releasing hatching-year passerines at the
rehabilitation center where supplemental feeding is available while birds gain flight experience.
Adult birds are often released off site in suitable habitat and at the appropriate time of year (e.g.,
returned to point of capture during breeding/nesting season, and released at an appropriate point in
their migration corridor during migration season). Since migratory bird species are widely dispersed,
there is no need to return them to point of capture during migration season. Adult birds found during
the nesting season may be territorial to an area and should be released close (within one mile) to the
location of their initial discovery, unless doing so would risk additional injury or put them in
otherwise unsuitable habitat (e.g., birds were captured during an oil spill and that area is still
contaminated).
Mammals
Ideally, all mammals should be released at the site of capture if it is known, and if permission of the
landowner is obtained. From a biological perspective, release of adult mammals outside of their
home range could lead to a decrease in survival and possible spread of disease. This policy
encourages all releases to be conducted within two miles of the initial capture. However, if potential
human conflicts prevent return to the area of capture, release distances specified in this policy will be
allowed. See General Guidelines and Releasable Wildlife on page 2.
Deer
Release of rehabilitated deer at the initial site of capture is usually impractical due to the difficulties
of transporting deer. Rehabilitators licensed for deer should have facilities that allow orphans to be
raised with as little human contact as possible. Fawns may be released on site gradually to allow for
assimilation into the local population. It is rare that adult injured deer can be rehabilitated, but release
at the facility is generally the least traumatic for the animal. Transportation of deer to a distant
release site is discouraged because of possible further stress and injury to the animal.
Bears and Bobcats
Handling and rehabilitation of these animals is limited to a few licensed rehabilitators and is
conducted in close consultation with NJDFW. All bobcat and black bear releases must be
coordinated with NJDFW.
Fox, Coyote, Beaver and Otter
Handling and rehabilitation of these animals is limited to a few licensed rehabilitators and is
conducted in close consultation with NJDFW.
Rabies Vector Species
Handling and rehabilitation of bats is limited to a few licensed rehabilitators and is conducted in
close consultation with NJDFW. Bats are protected under the Endangered and Nongame Species
Conservation Act and therefore may not be controlled by lethal means. Evictions and exclusions of
bats should not be conducted between May 1 and July 30 (unless there is an imminent public health
threat determined by the Dept. of Health) to prevent injury and death to young bats.
Raccoons, skunks, fox and woodchucks are currently classified as rabies vector species for the
raccoon rabies strain currently endemic in New Jersey. If release at site of capture for raccoons,
skunks, foxes and woodchucks is impossible, the following restrictions apply.
Rehabilitated Juvenile Rabies Vector Species
All young of the year must be released within the county of origin in suitable habitat and with
permission of the landowner.
Adult Rabies Vector Species
Releases of adult rabies vector species must take place within the township of origin in suitable
habitat and with permission from the landowner. No releases within the township may be greater
than a 10-mile distance from the capture site for raccoons and foxes, and 5 miles for skunks and
woodchucks.
Landowner Permission
No release of animals is permitted on federal, state, county or municipal land without prior
permission. Release of animals is not allowed on private properties without the permission of the
landowner. If no private land is available for release or release according to this policy is not
possible, NJDFW may approve a release on the closest or most appropriate state Wildlife
Management Area on a case by case basis.