As much of my work involves the extinct, I don't always have to deal with this issue. However, it does sometimes come up. For a recent project, I needed to obtain a sample of polar bear hair. As I needed only hair and not skin, shed hair was acceptable. So I contacted a zoo that keeps polar bears and asked about getting a sample. They agreed to provide one, but only on the condition that I furnished documentation of the proper permits, as polar bears are protected by both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
After a lot of phone calls, I eventually reached someone at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife headquarters in Washington, D.C. She was kind enough to explain what documents I would need and how to get them. I followed her recommendations to the letter, and it still took a few months to get my documents, so if time is of the essence, start early!
Sometimes, it is possible to piggyback on the permits others already have if the specimen comes from a museum collection. This happens when specimens are loaned (sometimes as "permanent" loans) to other institutions or researchers. In such cases, any authorities can be referred back to the loaning institution for documentation (although it is definitely good to have a copy of the loan agreement from their registrar).
In many cases, permits are not necessary IF you can provide documentation of the age of the specimen. If it was collected prior to the enactment of the legislation that protects it (1972 for the Endangered Species Act, I think...) then no permit is needed. Many specimens both in museum collections and held privately are old enough to meet this criteria, and if the age of the specimen doesn't matter, this can save a lot of trouble.
It's also worth looking into salvage permits, which specifically allow collection of only deceased specimens. (For example, this would allow you to legally collect the skeletal remains of a Tanager or other migratory bird.) However, as different species are protected by different laws and agencies (some state, some federal) there isn't a single "one size fits all" salvage permit.
It's a complicated web of rules and process, but with increasing scrutiny due to the volume of smuggling and trafficking, it's worth making sure that you have your papers in order.
Michael
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Michael Holland
Principal/Owner
Michael Holland Productions
Bozeman MT
Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2016 07:19 AM
From: Michael Oropallo
Subject: Wildlife Permits
I have assisted various institutions in obtaining wildlife specimens for exhibits. With today's scrutiny on such exhibits and permits, I am looking for input and experiences on success in obtaining both state and federal permits. Thank you.
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Michael Oropallo JD
Attorney
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