Wildlife Service Renews Animal Damage Permits
Published Date: 7/1/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing a paperwork process about controlling animal damage without making any changes. This affects folks who deal with wildlife depredation rules and won’t cost extra time or money. You’ve got 30 days from July 1, 2026, to share your thoughts before the renewal is finalized.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
State/Tribe Reporting Deadlines and Overhead Cost
States and Tribes operating under certain orders must submit specific annual reports on set dates (for example: conservation order reports by September 15; agricultural order summaries by December 31; population-control program reports by June 1; and a breeding population estimate by August 1). The notice estimates a Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost of $78,000 for each participating State or Tribe for overhead (materials, printing, postage) associated with mailing surveys to conservation order participants.
Annual Form 3-2436 Reporting
If you act under a depredation or control order, you must file an annual report on FWS Form 3-2436 listing species taken, number taken, method, month/year taken, State(s)/county(ies), purpose of take, and disposition of any nontarget birds. The form must be submitted by the date listed in the specific regulation for the order under which you operate.
Recordkeeping and Retention Rules
Persons and entities operating under the orders must keep legible records in English of any takings and retain those records for five years after they cease the authorized activity; authorized agricultural producers must keep a log of dates and numbers of birds/nests/eggs taken and retain that log for 3 years (and records for the prior three years at all times). Records for those operating in or commercially in the U.S. must be kept at a U.S. location and made available for inspection.
Canada Geese Nest/Egg Registration and Deadline
Landowners who take resident Canada goose nests or eggs must register via the Service's web-based system; the registration is valid for 1 year and must be renewed each year (renewal requires certifying or updating information). Registrants must also file an annual report summarizing month/date, numbers, and locations of nests and eggs taken by October 31 each year.
Immediate Notifications and Landowner Consent Rules
Under several sections, operators must immediately report the take of any species protected under the Endangered Species Act to the Service, and certain activities (for example destroying nests/eggs on private property) require prior landowner consent. Airports, military airfields, homeowners' associations, and States/Tribes have specific notification and landowner-consent obligations as listed in the regulations.
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