You asked why state regulations require that captive-bred raptors used in hunting must be sterilized.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the final draft of regulations approved February 24, 2004 incorrectly requires that captive-bred raptors be born and raised in captivity for a period of more than 14 days and be sterile and unable to breed with native raptors (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 26-67e-1(a)(1)).

DEP’s Ed Parker said the department intended to define a captive-bred bird as a raptor that (1) has been born and raised in captivity for a period of more than 14 days or (2) is sterile and unable to breed with native raptors. He said the word “or” was mistakenly changed to “and” in the final version of regulations.

The purpose of requiring that a bird be born and raised in captivity for at least 14 days is to imprint the bird on humans. Such imprinting usually inhibits a bird’s ability to breed, Parker said. Alternatively, a captive bred could be sterilized, but Parker said DEP did not intend to require both imprinting and sterilization.

The new regulations also require that hybrid raptors used for falconry in the state be sterile or unable to breed with wild native raptors (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 26-67e-13(a)(3)). A hybrid is the offspring of birds that

are genetically dissimilar. Parker says these requirements are intended to prevent interbreeding between captive-bred or hybrid raptors with wild native birds.

To correct the erroneous language in the regulation, DEP must go through the hearing process and the Regulations Review Committee. Parker gave several reasons why this is unlikely to happen immediately. First, DEP can issue no falconry permits until the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service approves the regulations. He said federal approval probably will not occur until this summer or fall.

Second, Parker said DEP will wait to see if there are other problems with the regulations.

Finally, he said, the erroneous regulations should have only a minor immediate impact on falconry in the state because most people seeking a falconry permit must go through a two-year apprenticeship, during which time the regulations limit them to possession of one bird, which must be a Red-tailed Hawk, trapped in the wild from another state (Conn. Agencies Regs § 26-67e-6(b)(3)). Parker said there are only two people he knows of who would qualify for a permit under the regulations, and therefore eligible to possess a captive-bred bird.

PF: nf