Scientific Permits

Scientific Permits

Procedure
Under the authority of The Wildlife Act, 1998, the Ministry of Environment issues provincial Scientific Research Permits to study and work with wildlife in Saskatchewan. The Fish and Wildlife Branch in Regina is responsible for processing and issuing these permits. Once an application has been filled out, the applicant should send it to the Licensing Specialist for consideration.

Please allow three weeks for processing.

Application
Any activities that may directly affect protected wildlife or wild species at risk in Saskatchewan require ministry approval. Activities related to scientific investigation including the collection of specimens or capture and release of wildlife must be approved in the form of a Scientific Research permit. Proposed projects are reviewed and if legitimate, the director may issue a permit to:

1. pursue, trap, capture, handle or attempt to do any of those things, whether or not the wildlife is then or subsequently captured, wounded or killed; or

2. take a specified number of any wildlife or wild species at risk; or

3. take a specified number or amount of parts, tissues, genetic material, eggs, sperm, embryos or other forms of developmental life of any wildlife or wild species at risk;

4. release captive wildlife.

Exemptions
If proposed activities are to occur outside of game preserves, road corridor game preserves, wildlife refuges, wildlife management units, regional parks, provincial parks, wilderness parks, heritage parks/sites, recreational areas, or protected areas a provincial permit is not required to capture or hold in captivity the following wildlife:

1. snakes and turtles other than rattlesnakes, bullsnakes, hognosed snakes, smooth green snakes, eastern yellow-bellied racers, northern red-bellied snakes, short-horned lizards, and snapping turtles;

2. frogs and salamanders; other than northern leopard frogs, great plains toads;

3. rabbits;

4. shrews, mice and rats other than red squirrels, muskrats, and black-tailed prairie dogs;

5. skunks and raccoons; or

6. crows, magpies, cowbirds, blackbirds, grackles, starlings, English (House) sparrows and pigeons (rock doves).

If your project is to occur on any of the above-mentioned lands, you will need a permit to conduct research on any affected flora and fauna on those lands.

Species at Risk
A permit is required to conduct activities that may affect species listed as a "wild species at risk" in Saskatchewan. In addition to the regulated duties listed above, activities that may significantly disturb wild species at risk (e.g. call play-back surveys, nest/den site disturbances) also require provincial permits.

Table 1: Wild Species at Risk listed under The Wildlife Act, 1998                       

Permit Requirements

Conditions of each issued permit will depend upon the applicant's proposed activities, but at a minimum will include the following:

1. Permit must be carried at all times while working with wildlife.

2. All persons that will be actively involved in the work must be identified on the permit.

3. Annual reporting is required upon project completion and will include occurrence location reporting for rare and at-risk species as well as a summary of research activities.

4. Permits are valid for one year.

5. Provincial permits may only be valid in conjunction with necessary federal permits. The applicant is responsible to determine whether other permits are required.

6. Does not allow access to private or protected lands without permission of landowner or appropriate management.

7. Any changes to proposed activities must be made in writing to the Licensing Specialist prior to commencement.

8. Research activities involvingwildlifeshould have an approved animal care protocol in accordance with the Guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) http://www.ccac.ca/(Contact the University of Saskatchewan http://www.usask.ca/research/ethics_review/animalcare/index.php or University of Regina for more information.)

9. Failure to be permitted can result in fines under The Wildlife Act, 1998.

Within reasonable notice, and unless an emergency exists, the director may at any time amend, suspend or cancel a permit and provide the holder an opportunity to respond.

Additional Information for Bird Banders in Saskatchewan

A provincial Scientific Research Permit is required to lawfully capture and hold certain birds with the intent to band in Saskatchewan. This requirement applies to the following bird groups only: raptors, gallinaceous birds, corvids, pelicans, cormorants, icterids and kingfishers. In addition, Piping Plover and Whooping Crane are listed as "at-risk" in Saskatchewan and require a provincial permit to be lawfully captured, handled or disturbed.

If you are planning to capture and band other migratory birds regulated under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 you do not require a provincial permit.

Application Submission

Applicants must download and complete the application form and email, fax or mail to: 

Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment
Licensing Specialist
Fish and Wildlife Branch
3211 Albert Street
Regina, SK S4S 5W6
Fax: (306)787-1349

For more information contact the Fish and Wildlife Branch in Regina at: (306) 787-2314.