Endangered Species Permit

An Endangered Species Permit is required in order to take or possess any State or Federally listed endangered, threatened, or special concern species for scientific, educational, exhibition, or other purposes.

Permit Rules, Restrictions and Conditions

There is no open season for taking any State or Federally species listed as endangered, threatened, or special concern as outlined in 15A NCAC 10I .0103-.0105.

A permit may be issued to an individual or institution, with experience and training in handling and caring for wildlife, conducting a scientific study for scientific investigation relevant to perpetuation or restoration of said species, or as a part of a scientifically valid study or restoration effort.

Applicants seeking to conduct bat surveys that include requests to enter hibernacula will need to submit hibernacula requests in writing as part of their application. All hibernacula surveys will require coordination with the agency's bat projects manager. Surveyors and researchers are not authorized to enter hibernacula without authorization on their license.

Applicants seeking to obtain an Endangered Species Permit for Research/Survey projects must submit a completed Endangered Species Permit Application along with a research proposal. Research proposals must include evidence to support why the proposed collection activities will NOT negatively impact the requested species population.

Applicants must submit a separate Endangered Species Permit application, research proposal, and license fee for each research/survey project.

Endangered Species Permit Holders conducting Research/Survey related projects will be required to submit an updated Endangered Species Permit Application and research proposal every year as part of the annual renewal process.

A permit may be issued to a public or private educator or exhibitor who has demonstrated lawfully obtained the specimen or specimens and abides by the caging requirements for the species described in 15A NCAC 10H .1404.

An applicant must provide documentation of experience working with species in the application, and in the case of any endangered, threatened, or special concern reptiles, must understand the regulations described in GS 14 Article 55.

A permit may be issued to a person who lawfully possessed any endangered, threatened, or special concern species for more than 90 days immediately before the date that such species were listed and who abides by the caging requirements for the species described in 15A NCAC 10H .1404, provided that no permit issued more than 90 days after the effective date of the initial listing for that species.

Permits are issued to a single individual at least 18 years of age or older.

Unless indicated differently on the license form, Endangered Species Permits will expire on December 31 of each year.

Download the current Wildlife Collection Rules from the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings and North Carolina General Statutes:

• 15A NCAC 10H .1404
• 15A NCAC 10I .0101-.0105
• G.S. 14 Article 55

How to Obtain a Permit

Complete an online application at Go Outdoors North Carolina. Once your online application has been submitted, the appropriate staff will review the application. If your application is approved, you will receive an approval email with a link to purchase the permit. You must purchase the approved permit within 30 days of approval. This license has a $10 permit fee plus a $12.00 transaction fee payable by a Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit card. All permit fees are non-refundable.

Individuals collecting wildlife in North Carolina for research purposes must submit a research proposal and IACUC (if applicable) with this application at least three months prior to the start date of collection.

Other Permit Information

• ES reporting uploads can occur through GO OUTDOORS during renewal applications.

Contact Information