Migratory Bird Depredation Permit Process
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues Federal Migratory Bird Depredation Permits to individuals and entities for lethal take of migratory birds when conditions warrant. This take can include any migratory birds except for eagles and threatened and endangered species.
These permits:
- Designate the species, methods, and number of birds that may be taken.
- Are only valid for the individuals, locations, and dates named on the permits.
How To Apply
Applicants for Migratory Bird Depredation Permits must apply to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office. The application process involves the following steps:
- Step 1. Contact USDA Wildlife Services for technical assistance.
- Step 2. If a permit is justified, a USDA biologist will issue a WS Form 37 to the requestor.
- Step 3. The requestor must submit a permit application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including the Form 37 and a permit application fee.
WS Form 37 and USDA’s Role in the Permit Process
Although USDA Wildlife Services is not a regulatory program, we have a role in some regulatory processes.
Our biologists conduct damage evaluations to provide information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State wildlife agency as part of their permit processes. We provide technical assistance to callers with migratory bird conflicts. In some cases, lethal take may be required to resolve these issues or reinforce the effectiveness of nonlethal dispersal. In such cases, our biologists complete an evaluation form (Form 37) that describes the incident and documents our recommendations for management options.
When USDA recommends lethal take, the applicant forwards those forms with the application and application fee to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Federal Migratory Bird Depredation Permit.
Questions?
Wildlife Damage Assistance
Find your State office in the dropdown menu or call 866-4USDA-WS to be automatically routed to a State office based on the area code you are calling from.