Maryland Administrative Code

.04 Wildlife Damage Control Permits. A. Requirements; Exceptions. (1) Except as provided in §A(2) of this regulation, a person providing either commercial or public agency wildlife damage control services shall obtain a wildlife damage control permit from the Service. (2) A wildl…

.05 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Written Examination. A. An applicant for a wildlife damage control permit shall pass a written examination before obtaining the permit. B. The minimum passing score for the written examination is 80 percent. C. The written examination shall c…

.06 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Application Form. A. An applicant shall obtain application forms from the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service, 580 Taylor Ave., E-1, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, or by calling 410-260-8540. The applicant shall mail or deliver the completed a…

.07 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Application Fee. A. The application fee for a commercial wildlife damage control operator permit is $50. The Service shall return half the application fee if it denies a permit application. B. An application fee is not required for a public a…

.08 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Species List. The applicant shall provide, from the following list, the species that the applicant seeks authority to control: A. The following mammals: (1) Bats; (2) The following furbearing mammals: (a) Beaver; (b) Bobcat; (c) Coyote; (d) F…

.09 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Area of Operation. The applicant shall provide a list of counties in which it will perform wildlife damage control services.

.10 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Release of Information. The applicant may waive the provisions of COMAR 08.01.06.06G to allow application information to be made available to the public.

.11 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Minimum Age. An individual who applies for a wildlife damage control permit shall be 18 years old or older.

.12 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Permit Term. A wildlife damage control permit expires on December 31 of each year.

.13 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Change of Address. A permittee shall immediately inform the Service at the address in Regulation .06 of this chapter of a change in business ownership, name, address, or phone number.

.14 Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Permit Transfer. The holder of a wildlife damage control permit may not transfer the permit to another person.

.15 Commercial Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Employees. The applicant shall include a list of employees who will conduct commercial wildlife damage control services as assistants under Regulation .16 of this chapter.

.16 Commercial Wildlife Damage Control Permits — Assistant Permit Application. A. To apply for or to renew an assistant commercial wildlife damage control operator permit, an individual shall submit to the Service a completed application form provided by the Service that includes…

.17 Existing Wildlife Control Cooperator Permit Holders. A. A wildlife control cooperator permit issued to a person providing wildlife damage control services before the effective date of this regulation remains valid until the stated expiration date. B. A person that has a wildl…

.18 Business Practices. A. A wildlife damage control operator may not engage in any form of false or misleading advertising or promotional activities, including, but not limited to, the falsification or misrepresentation of: (1) The work of a wildlife damage control operator or o…

.19 Operations and Procedures. A. A wildlife damage control operator shall have the permit in the permittee's possession while conducting wildlife damage control operations. The permittee shall provide the permit to a client or law enforcement officer upon request. B. A wildlife …

.20 Operations and Procedure — Bats. A. A wildlife damage control operator shall remove bats only by nonlethal methods, except when a State or local public health department requires lethal removal. B. A wildlife damage control operator may capture and release individual bats tha…

.21 Operations and Procedure — Chimney Swifts. A federal permit is required to: A. Clean, repair, or cap a chimney that contains active chimney swift nests that include either eggs or young; or B. Conduct any activity that will result in the destruction of chimney swift adults, e…

.22 Operations and Procedure — Reptiles and Amphibians. A wildlife damage control operator may not kill reptiles and amphibians.

.23 Operations and Procedure — Fisher and River Otter. A wildlife damage control operator shall tag all fisher and river otter captured from November 15 to March 15 with tags provided by the Service.

.24 Disposition of Trapped Wildlife. A. Any live wildlife taken into possession under the authority of this permit, except as provided in §§B—G of this regulation, shall be: (1) Released on site; (2) Transported and released on a wildlife management area or other areas with writt…

.25 Disposition of Trapped Wildlife — Killing. A. Killing, as allowed in Regulation .25 of this chapter, shall be done: (1) On-site; or (2) After transport, by: (a) The permittee; (b) The local humane society; (c) The local animal control entity; or (d) A licensed veterinarian. B…

.26 Disposition of Trapped Wildlife — Sale, Trade, Barter, or Transfer. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, the sale, trade, barter, or transfer to another person of any live or dead wildlife acquired under the authority of this chapter is prohibited. B. A wildlife da…

.27 Record Keeping and Reporting. A. A wildlife damage control operator shall maintain records at the operator's normal place of business, including the following information for each wildlife complaint to which the operator responds: (1) The date of the complaint; (2) The name a…

.28 Penalties. A. The Service may revoke, restrict, or suspend a permit issued under this chapter for a violation of: (1) This chapter; (2) The terms of the permit; (3) A State or federal wildlife law or regulation; or (4) Animal cruelty laws. B. Providing deceptive or false info…

.01 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Conviction” includes: (a) A guilty verdict; (b) Accepted plea of nolo contendere; (c) An admission of guilt to any charge made by the prepayment of the applicable fine ins…

.02 Incorporation by Reference. A. In this chapter, the following document is incorporated by reference. B. Document Incorporated. Boone and Crockett Club Official Scoring System for North American Big Game Trophies Non-Typical Whitetail and Coues' Deer, 2015. Cross References 08…

.03 Suspension. A. Any person who is convicted of an offense under §§B—D of this regulation or similar offenses under federal law in Maryland may: (1) Have all hunting licenses, permits, or stamps issued by the Department suspended; (2) Be prohibited from engaging in any hunting …

.04 Restitution for Deer. A. In accordance with Natural Resources Article, §10-1101.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, a person convicted of deer poaching in Maryland shall pay restitution. B. Amount of Restitution. (1) For each antlered white-tailed deer that obtains a gross score o…

.05 Restitution for Wildlife Species Other than Deer. A. If a person is convicted of violating any provision of Natural Resources Article, Title 10, Annotated Code of Maryland, and the violation causes or results in the injury, death, or destruction of any wildlife, a court may o…

.01 Incorporation by Reference. The Irreplaceable Natural Areas Portfolio (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, March 2023), establishing management objectives for irreplaceable natural areas, including: a map depicting boundaries for each area…

.02 Sites Designated as Irreplaceable Natural Areas. A. Allegany County. (1) Bells Hill Shale Glade. (2) Big Run — Green Ridge. (3) Black Sulphur Run. (4) Boyer Knob. (5) Carroll Road Barrens. (6) Dans Mountain. (7) Deep Run. (8) East Gilpin Shale Cliff. (9) East Pratt Hollow Slo…

.01 Definitions. A. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meaning indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Act” means the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (85 Stat. 213 46 U.S.C. 1451, et seq.) (2) “Arc of swing” means the circumference of the circle the radius of which is forme…

.01 Maryland Boat Act Advisory Committee. A. A committee, to be known as the Maryland Boat Act Advisory Committee, is hereby created. The members shall represent groups or organizations concerned with boating activities, and shall be selected by the Secretary of Natural Resources…

.01 Vessel Numbering. A. A person may not use a vessel unless: (1) It has a number issued on a certificate of number by the Department or the issuing authority in the state where the vessel is principally used; or (2) The vessel is exempt from numbering pursuant to 33 CFR §173.13…

.02 Possession of Certificate of Number. A. Except as provided in 33 CFR §173.13 and 33 CFR §173.17 as amended, a person may not use a vessel unless it has on board: (1) A valid certificate of number or temporary certificate for that vessel issued by the issuing authority in the …

.03 Exemptions. The numbering requirements do not apply to the following vessels: A. Exceptions noted in Natural Resources Article, §8-712(a)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland; B. A motor boat used solely for power boat racing which carries an official racing number issued by a reco…

.04 Reciprocity. A. A vessel numbered in another state and temporarily using Maryland waters is deemed in compliance with the numbering system requirements of Maryland. B. When a vessel is moved to Maryland as the new state of principal use, a number awarded by another state shal…

.05 Certificate of Number. A. A person required to secure a certificate of number under 33 CFR §173.15 as amended shall submit to the Department an application for certificate of number and the required fee. B. The Department shall collect the information required by 33 CFR §187 …

.06 Notification to Department. A person whose name appears as the owner of a vessel on a certificate of number shall notify the issuing authority within 15 days of: A. Any address change; B. The theft or recovery of the vessel; C. The loss or destruction of a valid certificate o…

.07 Removal of Number. The person whose name appears on a certificate of number as the owner of a vessel shall remove the number and validation sticker from the vessel when the: A. Vessel is documented by the Coast Guard; B. Certificate of number is invalid under Regulation .08 o…

.08 Validity of Certificate of Number. A. A certificate of number issued by the Department is invalid after the date when the: (1) Vessel is documented or required to be documented under 46 CFR §67 as amended; (2) Person whose name appears on the certificate of number as owner of…

.09 True Copies. A. The Department may supply true copies of applications for Certificates of Title or Certificates of Number to a vessel owner or his agent upon written application accompanied by a $10 fee for each true copy. B. The Department may supply a statement of the histo…

.10 Validation Stickers. A. Except as provided in §F of this regulation, in order to use Maryland waters, a vessel numbered by the State shall display two validation stickers issued in accordance with the provisions of Natural Resources Article, §8-712.1, Annotated Code of Maryla…

.11 Hull Identification Numbers. A. The hull identification number is the permanent identification for any vessel titled under the provisions of Natural Resources Article, §8-715, Annotated Code of Maryland. B. The hull identification number shall be displayed on the vessel pursu…

.01 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Marina” means a facility for the mooring, docking, or storing of more than ten vessels on tidal navigable waters, including a commercial, noncommercial, or community facili…

.02 Marine Gathering Permit. A. Permit Required. (1) Except as provided in §A(2) of this regulation, an individual shall obtain a permit from the Natural Resources Police prior to sponsoring or holding a marine gathering. (2) A permit is not required if the marine gathering will …

.01 Report of Boating Accidents. A. If a person dies or disappears from a vessel as a result of an occurrence that involves a vessel or its equipment on the waters of the State, the operator without delay, shall notify the Department by the quickest means available of the followi…

.01 Livery Vessel Operation. A. A livery vessel owner or his agent or employee may not permit any vessel to depart from his premises unless equipped, either by the livery owner or the person renting the vessel, with the lifesaving and safety equipment required by the Natural Reso…

.02 Personal Watercraft Livery Operation. A. In addition to Regulation .01 of this chapter, a personal watercraft livery owner shall: (1) Prominently display the personal watercraft regulations in COMAR 08.18.02; (2) Advise renters or operators to read COMAR 08.18.02; (3) Within …