Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68A-6.018 - Injuries, Bites, and Escapes

(1) Any person in possession of captive wildlife which requires a license or permit issued under Sections 379.3761, 379.3762, or 379.372, F.S., or those facilities exempt from licensure pursuant to Section 379.3761(4), F.S., shall report any injury from such wildlife which results in:

(a) Treatment beyond basic first aid, except if occurring to the licensee, an employee authorized as a Corporate Authorized Individual on the license in accordance with Rule 68A-6.004(2)(e) or 68A-6.017(2)(e) 4., F.A.C, or an individual with required experience documentation on file for such wildlife in accordance with Rule 68A-6.004(2)(c), 68A-6.004(2)(d), 68A-6.004(4)(b), or 68A-6.017(2)(e), F.A.C. Such injury shall be reported immediately, or as soon as practicable, to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement.

(b) Serious bodily injury to the licensee, an employee authorized as a Corporate Authorized Individual on the license in accordance with Rule 68A-6.004(2)(e) or 68A-6.017(2)(e) 4., F.A.C, or an individual with required experience documentation on file for such wildlife in accordance with Rule 68A-6.004(2)(c), 68A-6.004(2)(d), 68A-6.004(4)(b), or 68A-6.017(2)(e), F.A.C. Such injury shall be reported immediately, or as soon as practicable, to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement.

(2) Escapes

Any person in possession of wildlife which requires a license or permit issued under Sections 379.3761, 379.3762, or 379.372, F.S., or those facilities exempt from licensure pursuant to Section 379.3761(4), F.S., shall make reasonable efforts to ensure recapture and return of the escaped wildlife to containment. Such person shall contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement as required below:

(a) Any person in possession of Class I wildlife, Class II wildlife, or capuchin, spider, or woolly monkeys, shall report any escapes of such wildlife immediately upon discovery. For the purposes of this paragraph, "escape" shall mean escape from the primary enclosure or escape from transport enclosure, leash, other constraint, or rigid supervision and control while outside of the primary enclosure.

(b) Any person in possession of venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern shall report any escapes of such wildlife immediately upon discovery. For the purposes of this paragraph, "escape" shall mean escape from primary containment when its whereabouts are unknown, or any escape from secondary containment.

(c) Any person in possession of Class III wildlife, except capuchin, spider, or woolly monkeys, shall report any escapes of such wildlife as soon as practicable, but no later than 12 hours after discovery of the escape. For the purposes of this paragraph, "escape" shall include any of the following:

1. Escape from the primary enclosure when the whereabouts of the wildlife is unknown;

2. Escape from the primary enclosure when the whereabouts of the wildlife is known, but wildlife cannot be captured prior to the end of the required reporting period;

3. Escape from the approved facility location;

4. Escape from transport enclosure, leash, other constraint, or rigid supervision and control while outside the approved facility location.

(3) Any person authorized to possess Class I wildlife or venomous reptiles shall maintain a list of the current contiguous landowners or neighbors included with the information required in subsections 68A-6.004(7) and 68A-6.017(4), F.A.C. Such list shall include the name and address for contiguous landowners or neighbors. For the purposes of this paragraph, a "contiguous landowner or neighbor" shall mean the current resident, if known, or landowner for all properties sharing a common boundary with the facility location. If the contiguous landowner or neighbor is a business complex or multi-unit dwelling, or if the facility is located in a business complex or multi-unit dwelling, the name and address of the building manager or property manager shall be maintained, if one exists. The entire width of a roadway shall be considered sharing a common boundary in instances of a roadway between neighboring properties.

(4) Failure to report any injury as specified in subsection (1) above, shall be considered a violation of this rule.

(5) Failure to report any escapes of wildlife as specified in subsection (2) above, shall be considered a violation of this rule.

(6) Any person who maintains captive wildlife in a manner which results in injury as specified in subsection (1) above due to such person maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe condition or in a manner which results in threats to public safety commits a violation of paragraph 68A-6.009(1)(e), F.A.C.

(7) Any person who maintains captive wildlife in a manner which results in escape of wildlife as specified in subsection (2) above due to such person maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe condition or in a manner which results in a threat to public safety commits a violation of paragraph 68A-6.009(1)(f), F.A.C.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68A-6.018

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

Adopted by Florida Register Volume 45, Number 181, September 17, 2019 effective 9/30/2019, Amended by Florida Register Volume 48, Number 249, December 27, 2022 effective 1/11/2023.

New 9-30-19, Amended 1-11-23.