No person may possess a raptor without first providing adequate facilities and equipment to humanely house and care for the raptor under the following provisions:
(a) All raptors held under a falconry permit shall be kept in humane and healthy conditions. - (i) Raptor facilities shall protect raptors from the environment, excessive disturbance, predators, domestic animals and other raptors. The permittee is responsible for the maintenance and security of raptors in his possession.
- (A) Raptors may be housed together untethered if they are compatible with each other.
- (ii) Raptor facilities shall be inspected and approved by the Department before a permittee may obtain a raptor to use in falconry. The Department shall certify that a permittee's facilities and equipment meet the following standards:
- (A) The facility shall have a suitable perch for each raptor, at least one opening for sunlight, and shall provide a healthy environment for raptors inside.
- (B) Each raptor shall have an area large enough to allow it to fly if it is untethered, or if tethered, to fully extend its wings or bate (attempt to fly while tethered) without damaging its feathers or contacting other raptors.
- (C) Each raptor shall have access to a pan of clean water available unless weather conditions, the perch type or some other factor makes it unsafe for the raptor.
- (D) The facility shall be large enough to allow easy access for the care and feeding of raptors.
- (E) If raptors are not tethered, all walls that are not solid must be covered in such a manner as to protect the bird from striking or injuring itself against them. Suitable materials may include vertical bars spaced narrower than the width of the body of the smallest raptor housed in the enclosure or heavy-duty netting.
- (F) Other innovative housing systems may be acceptable if they provide the enclosed raptors with protection and maintain healthy feathers.
- (iii) A permittee may keep raptors outside in the open if they are under constant watch by a designated individual.
- (iv) A permittee shall inform the Department within five (5) business days after a permanent change in location of their facilities.
(b) A permittee's falconry facilities may be located on property owned by another individual. - (i) A permittee shall submit to the Department a signed and dated statement showing that the property owner agrees that the falconry facilities, equipment, and raptors may be inspected without advance notice by Department personnel during reasonable hours on any day of the week. Permittees shall be present during inspections.
(c) A permittee shall have jesses or the materials and equipment to make them, leash and swivel, bath container, and appropriate scales or balances for weighing raptor(s) possessed.
(d) When transporting the raptor or using it for hunting, the permittee shall ensure that the raptor has a suitable perch and is protected from the environment and excessive disturbance.
(e) Permittees may house raptors, when not transporting or hunting, in temporary facilities for no more than one-hundred twenty (120) consecutive calendar days provided the raptor has a suitable perch and is protected from the environment, excessive disturbance, predators, domestic animals, and each other. Temporary facilities utilized in excess of one-hundred twenty (120) days shall be deemed permanent facilities and shall meet the requirements set forth in Section 6(a).
(f) Another falconry permittee may care for a raptor(s) at the original permittee's facilities or at their own facilities for no more than one-hundred (120) consecutive calendar days. The permittee providing such care must have a signed and dated statement authorizing the temporary possession, plus a copy of Service Form 3-186 A that shows the original permittee is the owner of the raptor(s). The statement must include information about the time period for which he will keep the raptor(s) and what he is allowed to do with the raptor(s). - (i) The raptor(s) will remain on the original permittee's falconry permit and will not be counted against the possession limit of the person caring for the raptor(s).
- (ii) If the person caring for the raptor(s) holds the appropriate class falconry permit, he may fly the raptor(s) in whatever way authorized by the owner.
- (iii) Temporary care of another permittee's raptor(s) may be extended indefinitely in extenuating circumstances such as illness, military service, or for a family emergency. The Department shall consider such instances on a case-by-case basis.
(g) A person who does not have a falconry permit may care for falconry raptor(s) at the permittee's facilities for no more than forty-five (45) consecutive calendar days. - (i) The raptor(s) shall remain on the permittee's falconry permit.
- (ii) The raptor(s) shall remain in the permittee's facilities.
- (iii) Temporary care of raptors may be extended indefinitely in extenuating circumstances, such as illness, military service, or for a family emergency. The Department shall consider such instances on a case-by-case basis.
- (iv) The person(s) caring for the raptor(s) shall not fly them for any reason.
(h) Permittees may keep raptor(s) inside their residence. Facilities shall meet the standards in Section 6(a) except that permittees are not required to modify windows or other openings of the structure. Raptors kept in the home shall be tethered when they are not being moved into or out of the residence.
(i) Raptor(s), facilities, equipment and records may be inspected in the presence of the permittee during reasonable hours on any day of the week by Department Law Enforcement personnel.
040-25 Wyo. Code R. § 25-6