Wildlife Pest Control Paperwork Remains Unchanged
Published Date: 4/1/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing a paperwork process about controlling animals that cause damage, without making any changes. This affects farmers, landowners, and wildlife managers who deal with animal depredation. You’ve got until June 1, 2026, to share your thoughts, and there’s no new cost or extra hassle involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 6 costs, 0 mixed.
Information collection renewed unchanged
The Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing its existing information collection (OMB Control Number 1018-0146) for depredation and control orders without change. If you are a farmer, landowner, or wildlife damage manager, you must continue to follow existing reporting and recordkeeping requirements already in effect.
State and Tribal overhead mailing cost
The collection estimates a Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost of $78,000 for overhead costs (materials, printing, postage, etc.) associated with mailing surveys to conservation order participants; this cost is described as incurred by participating States and Tribes.
Canada goose nest/egg web registration
Landowners operating under the Canada geese nest-and-egg depredation order must register using the Service's web-based ePermits system (https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR). Registration is valid for 1 year and must be renewed annually; annual reports summarizing dates, numbers, and locations of nests and eggs must be completed by October 31 each year.
Recordkeeping and retention requirements
Persons and entities operating under depredation and control orders must keep accurate records in English. Generally records of any taking must be kept for five years after the activity ends; authorized agricultural producers must keep logs for three years and maintain records for three previous years at all times thereafter.
Immediate reporting for nontarget protected birds
If a nontarget migratory bird that is endangered, threatened, or a candidate is taken under a depredation or control order, it must be delivered to a rehabilitator and reported immediately by phone or email to the nearest Service Field Office or Special Agent. Some sections require reporting within 72 hours to the Pacific Region Migratory Bird Permit office, and information on metal leg-banded birds must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory via 1-800-327-BAND.
Key reporting deadlines to note
The notice includes multiple compliance dates: public comments due June 1, 2026; annual nest-and-egg reports due October 31; agricultural depredation State/Tribe reports due December 31; conservation order annual reports due September 15; population-control program annual reports due June 1; and breeding population estimates due August 1.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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