Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
PART 17—ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS
Subpart D—Threatened Wildlife
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§ 17.40 Special rules—mammals.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) Grizzly bear ( Ursus arctos )—(1) Prohibitions. The following prohibitions apply to the grizzly bear:
(i) Taking. (A) Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(1)(i)(B) through (F) of this section, no person shall take any grizzly bear in the 48 conterminous states of the United States.
(B) Grizzly bears may be taken in self-defense or in defense of others, but such taking shall be reported, within 5 days of occurrence, to the Assistant Regional Director, Division of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 (303/236–7540 or FTS 776–7540), if occurring in Montana or Wyoming, or to the Assistant Regional Director, Division of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lloyd 500 Building, Suite 1490, 500 Northeast Multnomah Street, Portland, Oregon 97232 (503/231–6125 or FTS 429–6125), if occurring in Idaho or Washington, and to appropriate State and Indian Reservation Tribal authorities. Grizzly bears or their parts taken in self-defense or in defense of others shall not be possessed, delivered, carried, transported, shipped, exported, received, or sold, except by Federal, State, or Tribal authorities.
(C) Removal of nuisance bears. A grizzly bear consituting a demonstrable but non immediate threat to human safety or committing significant depredations to lawfully present livestock, crops, or beehives may be taken, but only if:
( 1 ) It has not been reasonably possible to eliminate such threat or depredation by live-capturing and releasing unharmed in a remote area the grizzly bear involved; and
( 2 ) The taking is done in a humane manner by authorized Federal, State, or Tribal authorities, and in accordance with current interagency guidelines covering the taking of such nuisance bears; and
( 3 ) The taking is reported within 5 days of occurrence to the appropriate Assistant Regional Director, Division of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as indicated in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) of this section, and to appropriate State and Tribal authorities.
(D) Federal, State, or Tribal scientific or research activities. Federal, State, or Tribal authorities may take grizzly bears for scientific or research purposes, but only if such taking does not result in death or permanent injury to the bears involved. Such taking must be reported within 5 days of occurrence to the appropriate Assistant Regional Director, Division of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as indicated in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) of this section, and to appropriate State and Tribal authorities.
(E) [Reserved]
(F) National Parks. The regulations of the National Park Service shall govern all taking of grizzly bears in National Parks.
(ii) Unlawfully taken grizzly bears. (A) Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(B) and (iv) of this section, no person shall possess, deliver, carry, transport, ship, export, receive, or sell any unlawfully taken grizzly bear. Any unlawful taking of a grizzly bear shall be reported within 5 days of occurrence to the appropriate Assistant Regional Director, Division of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as indicated in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) of this section, and to appropriate State and Tribal authorities.
(B) Authorized Federal, State, or Tribal employees, when acting in the course of their official duties, may, for scientific or research purposes, possess, deliver, carry, transport, ship, export, or receive unlawfully taken grizzly bears.
(iii) Import or export. Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) (A) and (B) and (iv) of this section, no person shall import any grizzly bear into the United States.
(A) Federal, State, or Tribal scientific or research activities. Federal, State, or Tribal authorities may import grizzly bears into the United States for scientific or research purposes.
(B) Public zoological institution. Public zoological institutions (see 50 CFR 10.12) may import grizzly bears into the United States.
(iv) Commercial transactions. (A) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(1)(iv)(B) of this section, no person shall, in the course of commercial activity, deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce any grizzly bear.
(B) A public zoological institution (see 50 CFR 10.12) dealing with other public zoological institutions may sell grizzly bears or offer them for sale in interstate or foreign commerce, and may, in the course of commercial activity, deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship grizzly bears in interstate or foreign commerce.
(v) Other violations. No person shall attempt to commit, cause to be committed, or solicit another to commit any act prohibited by paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(2) Definitions. As used in paragraph (b) of this section:
Grizzly bear means any member of the species Ursus arctos of the 48 conterminous States of the United States, including any part, offspring, dead body, part of a dead body, or product of such species.
Grizzly bear accompanied by young means any grizzly bear having offspring, including one or more cubs, yearlings, or 2-year-olds, in its immediate vicinity.
Identified means permanently marked or documented so as to be identifiable by law enforcement officials at a subsequent date.
State, Federal or Tribal authority means an employee of State, Federal, or Indian Tribal government who, as part of his/her official duties, normally handles grizzly bears.
Young grizzly bear means a cub, yearling, or 2-year-old grizzly bear.
View or download PDF (c) Primates. (1) Except as noted in paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this section, all provisions of §17.31 shall apply to the lesser slow loris, Nycticebus pygmaeus ; Philippine tarsier, Tarsius syrichta ; white-footed tamarin, Saguinus leucopus ; black howler monkey, Alouatta pigra ; stump-tailed macaque, Macaca arctoides ; gelada baboon, Theropithecus gelada ; Formosan rock macaque, Macaca cyclopis ; Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata ; Toque macaque, Macaca sinica ; long-tailed langur, Presbytis potenziani ; purple-faced langur, Presbytis senex ; Tonkin snub-nosed langur, Pygathrix (Rhinopithecus) avunculus ; and, in captivity only, chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes.
(2) The prohibitions referred to above do not apply to any live member of such species held in captivity in the United States on the effective date of the final rulemaking, or to the progeny of such animals, or to the progeny of animals legally imported into the United States after the effective date of the final rulemaking, Provided, That the person wishing to engage in any activity which would otherwise be prohibited must be able to show satisfactory documentary or other evidence as to the captive status of the particular member of the species on the effective date of this rulemaking or that the particular member of the species was born in captivity in the United States after the effective date of this rulemaking. Identification of the particular member to a record in the International Species Inventory System (ISIS), or to a Federal, State or local government permit, shall be deemed to be satisfactory evidence. Records in the form of studbooks or inventories, kept in the normal course of business, shall be acceptable as evidence, provided that a notarized statement is inserted in such record to the effect that:
(i) The records were kept in the normal course of business prior to November 18, 1976, and accurately identify (by use of markers, tags, or other acceptable marking devices) individual animals; or
(ii) That the individual animal identified by the records was born in captivity on ____(Date).
The notarized statement in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, shall be acceptable only if the notarization is dated on or before January 3, 1977. The notarized statement in paragraph (c)(2)(ii), of this section, shall be acceptable only if the notarization is dated within 15 days of the date of birth of the animal.
(3) The provisions of §§17.21, 17.22, and 17.23 shall apply to any individual chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ) within the historic range of the species, regardless of whether in the wild or captivity, and also shall apply to any individual chimpanzee not within this range, but which has originated within this range after the effective date of these regulations, and also shall apply to the progeny of any such chimpanzee, other than to the progeny of animals legally imported into the United States after the effective date of these regulations. For the purposes of this paragraph, the historic range of the chimpanzee shall consist of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zaire.
(d) Gray wolf ( Canis lupus ) in Minnesota. (1) Zones. For purposes of these regulations, the State of Minnesota is divided into the following five zones:
(i) Zone 1—4,488 square miles. Beginning at the point of intersection of United States and Canadian boundaries in Section 22, Township 71 North, Range 22 West, in Rainy Lake, then proceeding along the west side of Sections 22, 27, and 34 in said Township and Sections 3, 10, 15, 22, 27 and 34 in Township 70 North, Range 22 West and Sections 3 and 10 in Township 69 North, Range 22 West; then east along the south boundaries of Sections 10, 11, and 12 in said Township; then south along the Koochiching and St. Louis county lines to Highway 53; thence southeasterly along State Highway 53 to the junction with County Route 765; thence easterly along County Route 765 to the junction with Kabetogama Lake in Ash River Bay; thence along the south boundary of Section 33 in Township 69 North, Range 19 West, to the junction with the Moose River; thence southeasterly along the Moose River to Moose Lake; thence along the western shore of Moose Lake to the river between Moose Lake and Long Lake; thence along the said river to Long Lake; thence along the east shore of Long Lake to the drainage on the southeast side of Long Lake in NE1/4 , Section 18, Township 67 North, Range 18 West; thence along the said drainage southeasterly and subsequently northeasterly to Marion Lake, the drainage being in Sections 17 and 18, Township 67 North, Range 18 West; thence along the west shoreline of Marion Lake proceeding southeasterly to the Moose Creek; thence along Moose Creek to Flap Creek; thence southeasterly along Flap Creek to the Vermilion River; thence southerly along the Vermilion River to Vermilion Lake; thence along the Superior National Forest boundary in a southeasterly direction through Vermilion Lake passing these points: Oak Narrows, Muskrat Channel, South of Pine Island, to Hoodo Point and the junction with County Route 697; thence southeasterly on County Route 697 to the junction with State Highway 169; thence easterly along State Highway 169 to the junction with State Highway 1; thence easterly along State Highway 1 to the junction with the Erie Railroad tracks at Murphy City; thence easterly along the Erie Railroad tracks to the junction with Lake Superior at Taconite Harbor; thence northeasterly along the North Shore of Lake Superior to the Canadian Border; thence westerly along the Canadian Border to the point of beginning in Rainy Lake.
(ii) Zone 2—1,856 square miles. Beginning at the intersection of the Erie Mining Co. Railroad and State Highway 1 (Murphy City); thence southeasterly on State Highway 1 to the junction with County Road 4; thence southwesterly on County Road 4 to the State Snowmobile Trail (formerly the Alger-Smith Railroad); thence southwesterly to the intersection of the Old Railroad Grade and Reserve Mining Co. Railroad in Section 33 of Township 56 North, Range 9 West; thence northwesterly along the Railroad to Forest Road 107; thence westerly along Forest Road 107 to Forest Road 203; thence westerly along Forest Road 203 to the junction with County Route 2; thence in a northerly direction on County Route 2 to the junction with Forest Road 122; thence in a westerly direction along Forest Road 122 to the junction with the Duluth, Missable and Iron Range Railroad; thence in a southwesterly direction along the said railroad tracks to the junction with County Route 14; thence in a northwesterly direction along County Route 14 to the junction with County Route 55; thence in a westerly direction along County Route 55 to the junction with County Route 44; thence in a southerly direction along County Route 44 to the junction with County Route 266; thence in a southeasterly direction along County Route 266 and subsequently in a westerly direction to the junction with County Road 44; thence in a northerly direction on County Road 44 to the junction with Township Road 2815; thence westerly along Township Road 2815 to Alden Lake; thence northwesterly across Alden Lake to the inlet of the Cloquet River; thence northerly along the Cloquet River to the junction with Carrol Trail-State Forestry Road; thence west along the Carrol Trail to the junction with County Route 4 and County Route 49; thence west along County Route 49 to the junction with the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railroad; thence in a northerly direction along said Railroad to the junction with the Whiteface River; thence in a northeasterly direction along the Whiteface River to the Whiteface Reservoir; thence along the western shore of the Whiteface Reservoir to the junction with County Route 340; thence north along County Route 340 to the junction with County Route 16; thence east along County Route 16 to the junction with County Route 346; thence in a northerly direction along County Route 346 to the junction with County Route 569; thence along County Route 569 to the junction with County Route 565; thence in a westerly direction along County Route 565 to the junction with County Route 110; thence in a westerly direction along County Route 110 to the junction with County Route 100; thence in a north and subsequent west direction along County Route 100 to the junction with State Highway 135; thence in a northerly direction along State Highway 135 to the junction with State Highway 169 at Tower; thence in an easterly direction along the southern boundary of Zone 1 to the point of beginning of Zone 2 at the junction of the Erie Railroad Tracks and State Highway 1.
(iii) Zone 3—3,501 square miles. Beginning at the junction of State Highway 11 and State Highway 65; thence southeasterly along State Highway 65 to the junction with State Highway 1; thence westerly along State Highway 1 to the junction with State Highway 72; thence north along State Highway 72 to the junction with an un-numbered township road beginning in the northeast corner of Section 25, Township 155 North, Range 31 West; thence westerly along the said road for approximately seven (7) miles to the junction with SFR 95: thence westerly along SFR 95 and continuing west through the southern boundary of Sections 36 through 31, Township 155 North, Range 33 West, through Sections 36 through 31, Township 155 North, Range 34 West, through Sections 36 through 31, Township 155 North, Range 35 West, through Sections 36 and 35, Township 155 North, Range 36 West to the junction with State Highway 89, thence northwesterly along State Highway 89 to the junction with County Route 44; thence northerly along County Route 44 to the junction with County Route 704; thence northerly along County 704 to the junction with SFR 49; thence northerly along SFR 49 to the junction with SFR 57; thence easterly along SFR 57 to the junction with SFR 63; thence south along SFR 63 to the junction with SFR 70; thence easterly along SFR 70 to the junction with County Route 87; thence easterly along County Route 87 to the junction with County Route 1; thence south along County Route 1 to the junction with County Route 16; thence easterly along County Route 16 to the junction with State Highway 72; thence south on State Highway 72 to the junction with a gravel road (un-numbered County District Road) on the north side of Section 31, Township 158 North, Range 30 West; thence east on said District Road to the junction with SFR 62; thence easterly on SFR 62 to the junction with SFR 175; thence south on SFR 175 to the junction with County Route 101; thence easterly on County Route 101 to the junction with County Route 11; thence easterly on County Route 11 to the junction with State Highway 11; thence easterly on State Highway 11 to the junction with State Highway 65, the point of beginning.
(iv) Zone 4–20,883 square miles. Excluding Zones 1, 2 and 3, all that part of Minnesota north and east of a line beginning on State Trunk Highway 48 at the eastern boundary of the state; thence westerly along Highway 48 to Interstate Highway 35; thence northerly on I–35 to State Highway 23, thence west one-half mile on Highway 23 to State Trunk Highway 18; thence westerly along Highway 18 to State Trunk Highway 65, thence northerly on Highway 65 to State Trunk Highway 210; thence westerly along Highway 210 to State Trunk Highway 6; thence northerly on State Trunk Highway 6 to Emily; thence westerly along County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 1, Crow Wing County, to CSAH 2, Cass County; thence westerly along CSAH 2 to Pine River; thence northwesterly along State Trunk Highway 371 to Backus; thence westerly along State Trunk Highway 87 to U.S. Highway 71; thence northerly along U.S. 71 to State Trunk Highway 200; thence northwesterly along Highway 200, to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2, Clearwater County; thence northerly along CSAH 2 to Shevlin; thence along U.S. Highway 2 to Bagley; thence northerly along State Trunk Highway 92 to Gully; thence northerly along CSAH 2, Polk County, to CSAH 27, Pennington County; thence along CSAH 27 to State Trunk Highway 1; thence easterly on Highway 1 to CSAH 28, Pennington County; thence northerly along CSAH 28 to CSAH 54, Marshall County, thence northerly along CSAH 54 to Grygla; thence west and northerly along Highway 89 to Roseau; thence northerly along State Truck Highway 310 to the Canadian border.
(v) Zone 5—54,603 square miles. All that part of Minnesota south and west of the line described as the south and west border of Zone 4.
(vi) Map of regulatory zones follows:
View or download PDF (2) Prohibitions . The following prohibitions apply to the gray wolf in Minnesota.
(i) Taking . Except as provided in this paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section, no person may take a gray wolf in Minnesota.
(A) Any person may take a gray wolf in Minnesota in defense of his own life or the lives of others.
(B) Any employee or agent of the Service, any other Federal land management agency, or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who is designated by his/her agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of his or her official duties, take a gray wolf in Minnesota without a permit if such action is necessary to:
( 1 ) Aid a sick, injured or orphaned specimen; or
( 2 ) Dispose of a dead specimen; or
( 3 ) Salvage a dead specimen which may be useful for scientific study.
( 4 ) Designated employees or agents of the Service or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources may take a gray wolf without a permit in Minnesota, in zones 2, 3, 4, and 5, as delineated in paragraph (d)(l) of this section, in response to depredations by a gray wolf on lawfully present domestic animals: Provided, that such taking must occur within one-half mile of the place where such depredation occurred and must be performed in a humane manner: And provided further, that any young of the year taken on or before August 1 of that year must be released.
(C) Any employee or agent of the Service or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, when operating under a Cooperative Agreement with the Service signed in accordance with section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, who is designated by the Service or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of his or her official duties, take a gray wolf in Minnesota to carry out scientific research or conservation programs.
(ii) Export and commercial transactions . Except as may be authorized by a permit issued under §17.32, no person may sell or offer for sale in interstate commerce, import or export, or in the course of a commercial activity transport, ship, carry, deliver, or receive any Minnesota gray wolf.
(iii) Unlawfully taken wolves . No person may possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship, by any means whatsoever, a gray wolf taken unlawfully in Minnesota, except that an employee or agent of the Service, or any other Federal land management agency, or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who is designated by his/her agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of his official duties, possess, deliver, carry, transport, or ship a gray wolf taken unlawfully in Minnesota.
(3) Permits . All permits available under §17.32 (General Permits—Threatened Wildlife) are available with regard to the gray wolf in Minnesota. All the terms and provisions of §17.32 apply to such permits issued under the authority of this paragraph (d)(3).
(e) African elephant ( Loxodonta africana )—(1) Definitions. For the purposes of this paragraph (e):
(i) African elephant shall mean any member of the species Loxodonta africana, whether live or dead, and any part or product thereof.
(ii) Raw ivory means any African elephant tusk, and any piece thereof, the surface of which, polished or unpolished, is unaltered or minimally carved.
(iii) Worked ivory means any African elephant tusk, and any piece thereof, which is not raw ivory.
(iv) Lip mark area means that area of a whole African elephant tusk where the tusk emerges from the skull and which is usually denoted by a prominent ring of staining on the tusk in its natural state.
(2) Prohibitions. Except as provided in the exceptions in paragraph (e)(3) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to:
(i) Import or export any African elephant,
(ii) Possess, sell or offer for sale, receive, deliver, transport ship, or export any African elephant which was illegally imported into the United States,
(iii) Sell or offer for sale any sport-hunted trophy imported into the United States in violation of permit conditions.
(3) Exceptions. (i) African elephants, other than sport-hunted trophies and raw and worked ivory, may be imported or exported provided all permit requirements of 50 CFR parts 13 and 23 have been complied with.
(ii) Ivory. (A) Raw or worked ivory (other than sport-hunted trophies) may be imported only if:
( 1 ) It is a bona fide antique of greater than 100 years of age on the day of import, or
( 2 ) It was exported from the United States after being registered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
(B) Worked ivory may be exported in accordance with the permit requirements of 50 CFR parts 13 and 23.
(C) Raw ivory may not be exported from the United States for commercial purposes under any circumstances.
(iii) Sport-hunted trophies may be imported into the United States provided:
(A) The trophy originates in a country for which the Service has received notice of that country's African elephant ivory quota for the year of export;
(B) All of the permit requirements of 50 CFR parts 13 and 23 have been complied with;
(C) A determination is made that the killing of the animal whose trophy is intended for import would enhance survival of the species; and
(D) The trophy is legibly marked by means of punch-dies, under a marking and registration system established by the country of origin, that includes the following information: Country of origin represented by the two-letter code established by the International Organization for Standardization (see appendix A to chapter I) followed by the registration number assigned to the last two digits of the year of registration and the weight of raw ivory to the nearest kilogram. Any mark must be placed on the lip mark area and indicated by a flash of color which serves as a background for such mark.
(f) Leopard. (1) Except as noted in paragraph (f)(2) of this section, all prohibitions of §17.31 of this part and exemptions of §17.32 of this part shall apply to the leopard populations occurring in southern Africa to the south of a line running along the borders of the following countries: Gabon/Rio Muni; Gabon/Cameroon; Congo/Cameroon; Congo/Central African Republic; Zaire/Central African Republic; Zaire/Sudan; Uganda/Sudan; Kenya/Sudan; Kenya/Ethiopia; Kenya/Somalia.
(2) A sport-hunted leopard trophy legally taken after the effective date of this rulemaking, from the area south of the line delineated above, may be imported into the United States without a Threatened Species permit pursuant to §17.32 of this part, provided that the applicable provisions of 50 CFR part 23 have been met.
(g) Utah prairie dog ( Cynomys parvidens ). (1) Except as noted in paragraph (g)(2) of this section, all prohibitions of 50 CFR 17.31 (a) and (b), and exemptions of 50 CFR 17.32 shall apply to the Utah prairie dog.
(2) A Utah prairie dog may be taken on private land throughout its range under a permit issued by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah, provided that such taking does not exceed 6,000 animals annually and that such taking is confined to the period from June 1 to December 31. Records on permitted take maintained by the State shall be made available to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on request.
(3) If the Service receives substantive evidence that takings pursuant to paragraph (g)(2) of this section are having an effect that is inconsistent with the conservation of the Utah prairie dog, the Service may immediately prohibit or restrict such taking as appropriate for the conservation of the species.
(h) Mountain lion ( Felis concolor ). (1) Except as allowed in paragraphs (h)(2), (h)(3), and (h)(4) of this section, no person shall take any free-living mountain lion ( Felis concolor ) in Florida.
(2) A mountain lion ( Felis concolor ) may be taken in this area under a valid threatened species permit issued pursuant to 50 CFR 17.52.
(3) A mountain lion ( Felis concolor ) may be taken in Florida by an employee or designated agent of the Service or the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission for taxonomic identification or other reasons consistent with the conservation of the endangered Florida panther ( Felis concolor coryi ). When it has been established by the Service, in consultation with the State, that an animal in question is not a Florida panther ( Felis concolor coryi ) or an eastern cougar ( Felis concolor couguar ), such animals may be removed from the wild. The disposition of animals so taken shall be at the discretion of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, with the concurrence of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
(4) Take for reasons of human safety is allowed as specified under 50 CFR 17.21(c)(2) and 17.21(c)(3)(iv).
(5) Any take pursuant to paragraph (h)(4) of this section must be reported in writing to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Law Enforcement, P.O. Box 3247, Arlington, Virginia 22203, within 5 days. The specimen may only be retained, disposed of, or salvaged in accordance with directions from the Service.
(i) Louisiana black bear ( Ursus americanus luteolus ). (1) Except as noted in paragraph (i)(2) of this section, all prohibitions of §17.31 and exemptions of §17.32 shall apply to any black bear within the historic range of the Louisiana black bear (Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi).
(2) Subsection 17.40(i)(1) and §17.31 shall not prohibit effects incidental to normal forest management activities within the historic range of the Louisiana black bear except for activities causing damage to or loss of den trees, den tree sites or candidate den trees. For purposes of this exemption, normal forest management activities are defined as those activities that support a sustained yield of timber products and wildlife habitats, thereby maintaining forestland conditions in occupied habitat. For purposes of this special rule, candidate den trees are considered to be bald cypress and tupelo gum with visible cavities, having a minimum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 36 inches, and occurring in or along rivers, lakes, streams, bayous, sloughs, or other water bodies.
(3) This express exemption for normal forest management activities provided by this special rule is subject to modification or withdrawal if the Service determines that this provision fails to further the conservation of the Louisiana black bear.
(j) Argali ( Ovis ammon ) in Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan. (1) Except as noted in paragraph (j)(2) of this section, all prohibitions of §17.31 of this part and exemptions of §17.32 of this part shall apply to this species in Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan
(Note. In all other parts of its range the argali is classified as endangered and covered by §17.21).
(2) Upon receiving from the governments of Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan properly documented and verifiable certification that (i) argali populations in those countries are sufficiently large to sustain sport hunting, (ii) regulating authorities have the capacity to obtain sound data on these populations, (iii) regulating authorities recognize these populations as a valuable resource and have the legal and practical capacity to manage them as such, (iv) the habitat of these populations is secure, (v) regulating authorities can ensure that the involved trophies have in fact been legally taken from the specified populations, and (vi) funds derived from the involved sport hunting are applied primarily to argali conservation, the Director may, consistent with the purposes of the Act, authorize by publication of a notice in theFederal Registerthe importation of personal sport-hunted argali trophies, taken legally in Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan after the date of such notice, without a Threatened Species permit pursuant to §17.32 of this part, provided that the applicable provisions of 50 CFR part 23 have been met.
(k) Canada lynx ( Lynx canadensis ). (1) What lynx does this special rule apply to? The regulations in this paragraph (k) apply to all wild and captive lynx in the contiguous United States.
(2) What activities are prohibited for wild lynx? All prohibitions and provisions of 50 CFR 17.31 and 17.32 apply to wild lynx found in the contiguous United States.
(3) What is considered a captive lynx? (i) For purposes of this paragraph (k), captive lynx means lynx, whether alive or dead, and any part or product, if the specimen was in captivity at the time of the listing, born in captivity, or lawfully imported or transported into the contiguous United States.
(ii) Lynx that were either born or held in captivity and then released into the wild are considered wild.
(4) What activities are allowed for captive lynx? (i) Take. You may take lawfully obtained captive lynx without a permit.
(ii) Import and export. You may export captive live lynx, parts or products of captive lynx provided the specimens are tagged with Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) export tags and/or accompanied by a valid CITES export permit. You may import lawfully obtained lynx that originated outside the United States when you follow the requirements of CITES.
(iii) Interstate commerce. You may deliver, receive, carry, transport, ship, sell, offer to sell, purchase, or offer to purchase in interstate commerce captive lynx and captive lynx parts and products in accordance with State or tribal laws and regulations. In addition, lynx pelts that are properly tagged with valid CITES export tags also qualify for this exemption on interstate commerce.
(5) Are any activities not allowed or restricted for captive lynx? You must comply with all applicable State and tribal laws and regulations. Violation of State or tribal law will also be a violation of the Act.
(l) Preble's meadow jumping mouse ( Zapus hudsonius preblei ). (1) What is the definition of take? To harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, trap, kill, or collect; or attempt to engage in any such conduct. Incidental take is that which occurs when it is incidental to and not the purpose of an otherwise lawful activity. Any take that is not authorized by permit provided through section 7 or section 10 of the Act or that is not covered by the exemptions described below is considered illegal take.
(2) When is take of Preble's meadow jumping mice allowed? Take of Preble's meadow jumping mice resulting from the following legally conducted activities, in certain circumstances as described below, is allowed:
(i) Take under permits. Any person with a valid permit issued by the Service under §17.32 may take Preble's meadow jumping mice pursuant to the terms of the permit.
(ii) Rodent control. Preble's meadow jumping mice may be taken incidental to rodent control undertaken within 10 feet of or inside any structure. “Rodent control” includes control of mice and rats by trapping, capturing, or otherwise physically capturing or killing, or poisoning by any substance registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136) and applied consistent with its labeling. “Structure” includes but is not limited to any building, stable, grain silo, corral, barn, shed, water or sewage treatment equipment or facility, enclosed parking structure, shelter, gazebo, bandshell, or restroom complex.
(iii) Established, ongoing agricultural activities. Preble's meadow jumping mice may be taken incidental to agricultural activities, including grazing, plowing, seeding, cultivating, minor drainage, burning, mowing, and harvesting, as long as these activities are established, ongoing activities and do not increase impacts to or further encroach upon the Preble's meadow jumping mouse or its habitat. New agricultural activities or those that expand the footprint or intensity of the activity are not considered to be established, ongoing activities.
(iv) Maintenance and replacement of existing landscaping. Preble's meadow jumping mice may be taken incidental to the maintenance and replacement of any landscaping and related structures and improvements, as long as they are currently in place and no increase in impervious surfaces would result from their maintenance and improvement. Construction of new structures or improvements or expansion of the landscaping in a manner that increases impervious surfaces would not be considered maintenance and replacement of existing landscaping.
(v) Existing uses of water. Preble's meadow jumping mice may be taken incidentally as a result of existing uses of water associated with the exercise of perfected water rights pursuant to State law and interstate compacts and decrees. (A “perfected water right” is a right that has been put to beneficial use and has been permitted, decreed, or adjudicated pursuant to State law.) Increasing the use or altering the location of use of an existing water right would not be considered an existing use of water.
(vi) Noxious weed control. Preble's meadow jumping mice may be taken incidental to noxious weed control that is conducted in accordance with:
(A) Federal law, including Environmental Protection Agency label restrictions;
(B) Applicable State laws for noxious weed control;
(C) Applicable county bulletins;
(D) Herbicide application guidelines as prescribed by herbicide manufacturers; and
(E) Any future revisions to the authorities listed in paragraphs (l)(2)(vi)(A) through (D) of this section that apply to the herbicides proposed for use within the species' range as specified in the fourth column of the table in §17.11(h).
(vii) Ditch maintenance activities. Preble's meadow jumping mice may be taken incidental to normal and customary ditch maintenance activities only if the activities:
(A) Result in the annual loss of no more than1/4mile of riparian shrub habitat per linear mile of ditch, including burning of ditches that results in the annual loss of no more than1/4mile of riparian shrub habitat per linear mile of ditch.
(B) Are performed within the historic footprint of the surface disturbance associated with ditches and related infrastructure, and
(C) Follow the Best Management Practices described in paragraphs (l)(2)(vii)(C)( 1 ) through ( 3 ) of this section.
( 1 ) Persons engaged in ditch maintenance activities shall avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, impacts to shrub vegetation. For example, if accessing the ditch for maintenance or repair activities from an area containing no shrubs is possible, then damage to adjacent shrub vegetation shall be avoided.
( 2 ) Persons engaged in placement or sidecasting of silt and debris removed during ditch cleaning, vegetation or mulch from mowing or cutting, and other material from ditch maintenance shall, to the maximum extent practicable, avoid shrub habitat and at no time disturb more than1/4mile of riparian shrub habitat per linear mile of ditch within any calendar year.
( 3 ) To the maximum extent practicable, all ditch maintenance activities should be carried out during the Preble's hibernation season, November through April.
(D) All ditch maintenance activities carried out during the Preble's active season, May through October, should be conducted during daylight hours only.
(E) Ditch maintenance activities that would result in permanent or long-term loss of potential habitat that would not be considered normal or customary include replacement of existing infrastructure with components of substantially different materials and design, such as replacement of open ditches with pipeline or concrete-lined ditches, replacement of an existing gravel access road with a permanently paved road, or replacement of an earthen diversion structure with a rip-rap and concrete structure, and construction of new infrastructure or the movement of existing infrastructure to new locations, such as realignment of a ditch, building a new access road, or installation of new diversion works where none previously existed.
(3) When is take of Preble's not allowed? (i) Any manner of take not described under paragraph (l)(2) of this section.
(ii) No person may import or export, ship in interstate commerce in the course of commercial activity, or sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any Preble's meadow jumping mice.
(iii) No person, except for an authorized person, may possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship any Preble's meadow jumping mice that have been taken illegally.
(4) Where does this rule apply? The take exemptions provided by this rule are applicable within the significant portion of the range of the Preble's meadow jumping mouse as specified in the fourth column of the table in §17.11(h).
(m) Vicuña. This paragraph (m) applies to the threatened vicuña ( Vicugna vicugna).
(1) What activities involving vicuña are prohibited by this rule? (i) Appendix I populations. All provisions of §17.31 (a) and (b) and §17.32 apply to vicuña and vicuña parts and products originating from populations currently listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
(ii) Import, export, and re-export. Except as provided in paragraph (m)(2) of this section, you must not import, export, or re-export, or present for export or re-export without valid CITES permits vicuña or vicuña parts and products originating from populations listed in Appendix II of CITES.
(iii) Commercial activity. Except as provided in paragraph (m)(2) of this section, you must not sell or offer for sale, deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce in the course of a commercial activity vicuña or vicuña parts and products from populations listed in Appendix II of CITES.
(iv) It is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to commit, attempt to commit, solicit to commit, or cause to be committed any acts described in paragraphs (m)(1)(ii)-(iii) of this section.
(2) What activities involving vicuña are allowed by this rule? You may import, export, or re-export, or place in interstate or foreign commerce, vicuña products, consisting of either raw fiber or items and cloth made, or partially made, from vicuña fiber, without a threatened species permit issued according to §17.32 only when the provisions in parts 13, 14, and 23 of this chapter and the requirements of the applicable subparagraphs of this paragraph (m)(2) have been met:
(i) Import, export, or re-export. You may import, export, or re-export into or from the United States vicuña products, consisting of either raw fiber or items and cloth made, or partially made, from vicuña fiber originating in a country authorized under paragraph (m)(4) of this section, provided the following conditions are met:
(A) The vicuña product must comply with all CITES product annotations as given in the CITES Secretariat's official list of the CITES Appendices, and all imports, exports, and re-exports of vicuña products (including raw fiber re-exported from, or products manufactured in, intermediary countries) must be identified as follows:
( 1 ) Cloth, cloth products, and other finished products (including luxury handicrafts and knitted articles not produced in the country of origin): The reverse side of cloth, cloth products, and other finished products (including luxury handicrafts and knitted articles not produced in the country of origin), and samples of any of these items, must bear the logo adopted by countries signatory to the “Convenio para la Conservación y Manejo de la Vicuña” and the words “VICUÑA—(Country of Origin),” where country of origin is the name of the country where the vicuña fiber in the products originated, either Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, or Peru. The logo and words may be woven into the item, or may be on a label sewn into the item.
( 2 ) Luxury handicrafts and knitted articles produced in the country of origin: The luxury handicraft or knitted article must bear the logo adopted by countries signatory to the “Convenio para la Conservación y Manejo de la Vicuña” and the words “VICUÑA—(Country of Origin)—ARTESANIA,” where country of origin is the name of the country where the vicuña fiber in the products, and the products themselves, originated, either Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, or Peru. The logo and words may be woven into the item, or may be on a label sewn into the item.
( 3 ) Bulk shipments of raw fiber: The bulk shipment of raw fiber must be sealed with a tamper-proof seal and have the following:
( i ) An identification tag with a code identifying the country of origin of the vicuña fiber and the CITES export permit number; and
( ii ) The logo adopted by countries signatory to the “Convenio para la Conservación y Manejo de la Vicuña” and the words “VICUÑA—(Country of Origin),” where country of origin is the name of the original exporting country where the vicuña fiber in the products originated, either Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, or Peru.
(B) The shipment must be accompanied by a CITES permit or certificate that contains the following information:
( 1 ) The country of origin, its export permit number, and date of issuance.
( 2 ) If re-export, the country of re-export, its certificate number, and date of issuance.
( 3 ) If applicable, the country of last re-export, its certificate number, and date of issuance.
(C) At the time of import, for each shipment covered by this exception, the country of origin and each country of re-export involved in the trade of a particular shipment must have designated both a CITES Management Authority and Scientific Authority, and have not been identified by the CITES Conference of the Parties, the CITES Standing Committee, or in a Notification from the CITES Secretariat as a country from which Parties should not accept permits. A listing of all countries that have not designated both a Management Authority and Scientific Authority, or that have been identified as a country from which Parties should not accept permits is available by writing: The Division of Management Authority, ARLSQ Room 700, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, VA 22203. The list is also on our website ( http://international.fws.gov ).
(ii) Noncommercial accompanying baggage. The conditions described in paragraph (m)(2)(i) of this section also apply to noncommercial personal effects in accompanying baggage or household effects from Appendix II populations. Such items are treated the same as Appendix II commercial shipments, and must comply with the same documentary requirements. All other noncommercial personal effects in accompanying baggage or household effects require both a CITES Appendix I permit and a permit as described in §17.32.
(iii) Embryos, gametes, blood, other tissue samples, and live animals. This special rule does not apply to embryos, gametes, blood, or other tissue samples of vicuña, or to live vicuña. Import of such specimens requires an import permit as described in §17.32 in addition to CITES Appendix I import and export permits, and will be issued only for bona fide scientific research contributing to conservation of the species in the wild.
(3) When and how will the Service inform the public of additional restrictions in trade of vicuña? Except in rare cases involving extenuating circumstances that do not adversely affect the conservation of the species, we will issue an information notice that identifies a restriction on trade in specimens of vicuña addressed in this paragraph (m) if any of the following criteria are met:
(i) The country is listed in a Notification to the Parties by the CITES Secretariat as lacking a designated Management or Scientific Authority that issues CITES documents or their equivalent.
(ii) The country is identified in any action adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, the Convention's Standing Committee, or in a Notification issued by the CITES Secretariat, whereby Parties are asked not to accept shipments of specimens of any CITES-listed species from the country in question.
(iii) The Service's Division of Scientific Authority administratively determines that the conservation or management status of threatened vicuña populations in a range country has changed, such that continued recovery of the vicuña population in that country may be compromised, as a result of one or more of the following factors:
(A) A change in range country laws or regulations that lessens protection for vicuña;
(B) A change in range country management programs that lessens protection for vicuña;
(C) A documented decline in wild vicuña population numbers;
(D) A documented increase in poaching of vicuña;
(E) A documented decline in vicuña habitat quality or quantity; or
(F) Other natural or man-made factors affecting the species' recovery.
(iv) A listing of all countries that have not designated both a Management Authority and Scientific Authority, or that have been identified as a country from which Parties should not accept permits is available by writing: The Division of Management Authority, ARLSQ Room 700, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, VA 22203. The list is also on our website ( http://international.fws.gov ).
(4) What must vicuña range countries do in order to be authorized under the special rule to export to the United States? —(i) Annual Report. Range country governments (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru) wishing to export specimens of vicuña to the United States will need to provide an annual report containing the most recent information available on the status of the species, following the information guidelines specified below. The first submission of a status report will be required as of July 1, 2003, and every year thereafter on the anniversary of that date. For each range country, the following information should be provided in the annual report:
(A) A description of any revisions to the management program, especially any changes in management approaches or emphasis;
(B) New information obtained in the last year on vicuña distribution, population status, or population trends, for the country as a whole or for specific protected areas, and a detailed description of the methodology used to obtain such information;
(C) Results of any research projects concluded in the last year on the biology of vicuña in the wild, particularly its population biology, habitat use, and genetics, and a description of any new research projects undertaken on the biology of vicuña in the wild, particularly its population biology, habitat use, and genetics;
(D) A description of any changes to national and/or provincial laws and programs relating to vicuña conservation, in particular those laws and regulations related to harvest and use of the vicuña, and export of vicuña parts and products;
(E) A description of any changes in the number or size of natural reserves or national parks that provide protected habitat for the vicuña;
(F) A summary of law enforcement activities undertaken in the last year, and a description of any changes in programs to prevent poaching, smuggling, and illegal commercialization of the vicuña;
(G) A description of the current management and harvest (or “sustainable use”) programs for wild populations of the vicuña, including: any changes in the location and population size of wild populations being managed for sustainable use; any changes in the harvest management practices being used for each population; any changes in current harvest quotas for wild populations, if any; any changes in protocols for translocations undertaken as part of the use program; a summary of the specific financial costs of and revenues generated by the sustainable use program over the last year; and a summary of documented conservation benefits resulting from the sustainable use program over the last year;
(H) A description of current management and harvest (or “sustainable use”) programs for captive and so-called “semi-captive” populations of the vicuña, including: any changes in the number and location of all captive and “semi-captive” populations; any changes in the size (ha) of each captive enclosure and the number of vicuña maintained therein; any changes in protocols for translocations undertaken as part of the use program; a summary of the financial costs of and revenues generated by the sustainable use program over the last year; and documented conservation benefits resulting from the sustainable use program over the last year (information on captive and “semi-captive” populations must be separate from that provided for wild populations); and
(I) Export data for the last year.
(ii) The Service's Division of Scientific Authority will conduct a review every 2 years, using information in the annual reports, to determine whether range country management programs are effectively achieving conservation benefits for the vicuña. Failure to submit an annual report could result in a restriction on trade in specimens of vicuña as addressed in paragraph (m)(3) of this section. Based on information contained in the annual reports and any other pertinent information it has available, the Service may restrict trade from a range country, as addressed in paragraph (m)(3) of this section, if it determines that the conservation or management status of threatened vicuña populations in a range country has changed, such that continued recovery of the vicuña population in that country may be compromised. Trade restrictions may result from one or more of the following factors:
(A) A change in range country laws or regulations that lessens protection for vicuña;
(B) A change in range country management programs that lessens protection for vicuña;
(C) A documented decline in wild vicuña population numbers;
(D) A documented increase in poaching of vicuña;
(E) A documented decline in vicuña habitat quality or quantity; or
(F) Other natural or man-made factors affecting the species' recovery.
(n)–(o) [Reserved]
(p) Northern sea otter ( Enhydra lutris kenyoni ).
(1) To what population of sea otter does this special rule apply? The regulations in paragraph (p) of this section apply to the southwest Alaska distinct population segment (DPS) of the northern sea otter as set forth at §17.11(h) of this part.
(2) What provisions apply to this DPS? Except as noted in paragraph (p)(3) of this section, all prohibitions and provisions of §§17.31 and 17.32 of this part apply to the southwest Alaska DPS of the northern sea otter.
(3) What additional activities are allowed for this DPS? In addition to the activities authorized under paragraph (p)(2) of this section, you may conduct any activity authorized or exempted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. ) with a part or product of a southwest Alaska DPS northern sea otter, provided that:
(i) The product qualifies as an authentic native article of handicrafts or clothing as defined in §17.3 of this part; and
(A) It was created by an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo who is an Alaskan
Native, and
(B) It is not being exported or imported for commercial purposes; or
(ii) The part or product is owned by an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo who is an Alaskan Native and resides in Alaska, or by a Native inhabitant of Russia, Canada, or Greenland, and is part of a cultural exchange; or
(iii) The product is owned by a Native inhabitant of Russia, Canada, or Greenland, and is in conjunction with travel for noncommercial purposes; or
(iv) The part or product has been received or acquired by a person registered as an agent or tannery under §18.23 of this subchapter.
(4) What other wildlife regulations may apply? All applicable provisions of 50 CFR parts 14, 18, and 23 must be met.
(q) Polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ).
(1) Except as noted in paragraphs (q)(2) and (q)(4) of this section, all prohibitions and provisions of §§17.31 and 17.32 of this part apply to the polar bear.
(2) None of the prohibitions in §17.31 of this part apply to any activity that is authorized or exempted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), or both, provided that the person carrying out the activity has complied with all terms and conditions that apply to that activity under the provisions of the MMPA and CITES and their implementing regulations.
(3) All applicable provisions of 50 CFR parts 14, 18, and 23 must be met.
(4) None of the prohibitions in §17.31 of this part apply to any taking of polar bears that is incidental to, but not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity within the United States, except for any incidental taking caused by activities in areas subject to the jurisdiction or sovereign rights of the United States within the current range of the polar bear.
[40 FR 44415, Sept. 26, 1975]
Editorial Note:
ForFederal Registercitations affecting §17.40, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and on GPO Access.
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