[Nhcoll-l] USFWS closing migratory bird salvage permits

[Ally Coconis]

Hi Katrina.

We just dealt with this. We reached out to the USFWS Migratory Bird Permit Office for the Pacific Southwest Region with the following email:

Good morning.

I am the Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History located in Santa Barbara, CA. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit public museum that contains biological collections for use in education and research. As such, salvage of dead animals is an important source of specimens in our collection that document biodiversity patterns over space and through time. I am writing to inquire about a new exception to obtaining a USFWS permit for the salvage of migratory birds that is outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR Part 21.12(b)<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ecfr.gov%2fcurrent%2ftitle-50%2fchapter-I%2fsubchapter-B%2fpart-21&c=E,1,QnsZHDLPJo5avoljizVyN2ueW4p6suYOiiIw6js3ZeGfHneuIUgcrlvgCm-7yqEKcp2MTfeJfORSPWK-dFc6TZ5gKB16klE92ng5EnZEsNP69o0,&typo=1>). We are currently applying for a state salvage permit through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and need to confirm that we do not need a federal permit for migratory birds at this time. Historically, we have obtained USFWS migratory bird permits for salvaging, which have since expired. I would be happy to share these with you if that would be helpful. Will you please clarify the new regulations in regards to salvaging for our institution so that we may proceed accordingly?

And their response was as follows:

Thank you for reaching out.  I know changes to our regulations aren't always clear.  However, you are correct in thinking that your institution does not need a MBTA permit going forward.  This includes salvaging dead birds, receiving birds others have salvaged (if they give it to you within 7 days), and posessing these birds for educational purposes.  Under the regulatory exemption, this includes their parts, feathers, nonviable eggs, and inactive nests.  Our fact sheet can be found here: https://www.fws.gov/media/regulatory-authorization-salvage-migratory-birds<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.fws.gov%2fmedia%2fregulatory-authorization-salvage-migratory-birds&c=E,1,UaHLvfGO52QlTCCvflEGXMusD-_3_8uBKcNc2_9_rbIGEFk1QuUnN4iduPFw6ZZqNVm-apM79XyfHnI8PmRzX1OhbmgNqlQ_dsNBIH22SNeKznAUkw,,&typo=1>.

Please reach out if there's anything else I can help you with.
Cheers
Emily Hockman

Migratory Bird Permits Specialist
Permits and Operations Unit
Migratory Birds Program

We forwarded this to California Department of Fish and Wildlife for our salvage permits and have since received the permits. However, of note, we are not actively collecting birds for research at our institution. We are only interested in salvage. I would recommend writing your USFWS regional office and perhaps referencing this response from the Pacific Southwest Region.

Hope this helps!

Ally


Ally Coconis, Ph.D. | Curator of Mammalogy
805-682-4711 ext. 153 | sbnature.org<https://www.sbnature.org/>

SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Museum
2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
805-682-4711 | Fax 805-569-3170
Sea Center
211 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-962-2526 | Fax 805-962-3483





From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Derieg, Katrina
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 12:57 PM
To: NHCOLL-new <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] USFWS closing migratory bird salvage permits


CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Hi all,
Apologies if this has already been discussed, I only recently got re-subscribed to this listserv.

I'm sure many of you got the email from USFWS stating that they've done away with the bird salvage permit, but that a scientific collecting permit is "required to salvage birds for research, including to collect samples from salvaged birds".

I'm wondering how other folks are handling this. We receive salvage birds from the public (who, based on the new regs, don't need a permit), but it seems incredibly onerous for us to apply for a collecting permit because it requires you to list all species since it is really geared towards targeted collecting (vouchers & non-lethal samples). It seems they've made it easier for random people to pick up birds but much harder for museums... Interested in people's thoughts on this.

Here is the email from USFWS for reference:

Dear Permittee,
We are writing to let you know that all Migratory Bird Salvage permits will be closed. We have revised our regulations and most salvage activities no longer require a permit (see "Who Needs a Permit to Salvage" below).

New Regulations: On December 31, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule titled: Regulatory Authorizations for Migratory Bird and Eagle Possession by the General Public, Educators, and Government Agencies. <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.govinfo.gov%2fcontent%2fpkg%2fFR-2024-12-31%2fpdf%2f2024-31015.pdf&c=E,1,A-ITShuf1pymI_vvp_MEabszZadr8lSezk3IBN8DlfncynC4O4Li9vutA6otWAj_sZ_sCox7VLpQdJasmqHnTce8y5UtEdFxRaGpx8q7uWhHp4Qp&typo=1> This rule includes a new regulatory authorization for most salvage activities, replacing the current permit requirement. As of December 31, 2024, the general public may salvage migratory birds found dead in accordance with the regulatory authorization located at 50 CFR 21.16<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ecfr.gov%2fcurrent%2ftitle-50%2fsection-21.16&c=E,1,cT4ce-lq_8nLLoatMRdhdlSV_oiJ6fyHxB6hOGixaSdJot9xHauj-vq8n4Es7hMO3SbLSQOKuro9UDKxWQYcnNS-YwjiGgVnIibLoUXsbapXewLW3uscyErNsA,,&typo=1>. A migratory bird salvage permit is no longer required for these activities. Please review (50 CFR 21.16<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ecfr.gov%2fcurrent%2ftitle-50%2fsection-21.16&c=E,1,txp1pgXsyf2qN7rHVOWBsSgxZmMu5d3szAT-h8sUlYEQI6Qy01A3xxG21ahEWiIRVSVVxpv3wzNmpMTUb8wBOzicRgF8oY85Y39iR9D27fidxc18v6E,&typo=1>) to ensure you are familiar with the regulatory authorization conditions and record keeping requirements.

Who Needs a Permit to Salvage: A permit is still required to salvage birds for research purposes, utility purposes, or other purpose with a migratory bird permit. For research, including to collect samples from salvaged birds, please apply for a scientific collecting permit<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2ffwsepermits.servicenowservices.com%2ffws%3fid%3dfws_kb_view%26sys_id%3d95d5d2fa1ba210102de120eae54bcb1f&c=E,1,wKE9J1QOHZnCgEL7w-X608e4QCv0I4HPR_z-obAURFYvUM0u2MlcgZQXhMxdBn_GuiNisaFO-c7T9G6VXKjisAs2uKgwQpIoMmzCuycmCMQ,&typo=1>. For utilities, a special purpose utility permit<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2ffwsepermits.servicenowservices.com%2ffws%3fid%3dfws_kb_view%26sys_id%3d85c091791b1f50101f45dbdbe54bcb45&c=E,1,ZsolU_Knw7Z7RdHizQPcRt-MGY9fRC9OYxYLEjIrvRbhMas5En2K0P1AH-D9ULaBjPxhIHwvNdvRqpqnWiJqrkhQ_PJ7k8ZUf28CYgKyd9_JhHACqLPdvQ,,&typo=1> allows salvage of migratory birds found dead on or near utility property, infrastructure, or rights-of-way. If your activities still require a permit (e.g. research or utilities), you will need submit the appropriate permit application for that activity.

Annual Report: The last Annual Report that was required for this permit was for calendar year 2024 since the Rule went into effect on December 31, 2024. You do not need to submit an Annual Report for 2025.

Additional information about the new regulatory authorizations can be found here:
Authorized Activities - No Permit Required | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.fws.gov%2fprogram%2fmigratory-bird-permits%2fauthorized-activities-no-permit-required&c=E,1,huyVIxIJhh6WZaglzqHSVSE-HpOmebMt6aaxdMB8WoyU4vNR4OSGMk_Xz7ENhQLM4XYTt-L1dYEqvTqjl72ERkDwk_8U7q5Y3cuODVorFA0,&typo=1>

This email is your receipt of the notification of closure and no further action is required from you regarding your Migratory Bird Salvage permit.



KATRINA DERIEG (she/her)

Curator | Museum Collections and Outreach Coordinator

Phillip L. Wright Zoological Museum (UMZM)

Health Science 104  |   32 Campus Drive   |   406-243-4743

katrina.derieg at umontana.edu<mailto:katrina.derieg at umontana.edu> | umzm at mso.umt.edu<mailto:umzm at mso.umt.edu>

University of Montana

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