Endangered critter lab rules paperwork up for renewal
Published Date: 9/2/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew three information collections without change.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Grizzly take authorizations near livestock
For the North Cascades grizzly population in Washington State, the Service may issue written authorization allowing lethal take within 200 yards (183 meters) of legally present livestock in Management Areas B and C after confirmed depredation, and may authorize lethal take in Management Area C if a bear is an ongoing threat. Individuals must also obtain or confirm landowner authorization where appropriate.
Existing reporting rules remain unchanged
The Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing three information collections without change, so existing reporting rules for experimental populations remain in force. The collections apply to individuals and households, the private sector, and State/local/Tribal governments and keep the same reporting categories and requirements.
Specific reporting deadlines for incidents
If you report incidents involving experimental population animals, the rules require quick reporting: lethal take generally must be reported within 24 hours, opportunistic or intentional harassment within 7 days, and certain nonlethal grizzly injuries within 5 days. These deadlines apply to individuals, private-sector parties, and authorized agencies as described in the rules.
Colorado wolf annual report due June 30
Colorado Parks and Wildlife must produce an annual report by June 30 each year summarizing wolf monitoring and management, including counts, reproduction, movements, cause-specific mortalities, and conflicts. The report requirement supports evaluation of progress toward State downlisting and delisting criteria while the gray wolf is federally listed.
Estimated respondent burden and response counts
The notice lists estimated annual burden and response counts: the general experimental-population collection shows 105 annual responses totaling 55 burden hours; the Colorado gray wolf collection totals 25 responses and 25 burden hours; and the grizzly bear collection totals 15 responses and 15 burden hours. Most individual reporting and recordkeeping tasks are estimated at about 30 minutes each.
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