States and Tribes must use nonlethal methods, and independently determine that those methods are insufficient to resolve conflicts before lethally taking double-crested cormorants. Lethal management should be considered as part of an integrated approach to managing cormorant conflicts and used only when other methods are insufficient to resolve conflicts.
A Federal Special Double-crested Cormorant Permit can be issued to a State or Tribal fish and wildlife agency to authorize take of double-crested cormorants on lands or in waters managed by the agency for the following purposes:
- Depredation of fish at aquaculture facilities, including hatcheries, owned or operated by the agency;
- Human health and safety on lands or in waters managed by a State or Tribal fish and wildlife agency (e.g., collisions of airplanes with birds, fecal contamination of urban waters);
- Threats to the recovery of protected wildlife. This includes impacts to threatened and endangered species (as listed under the ESA and listed species identified in State- or Tribal-specific legislation as threatened or endangered) or those listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in State Wildlife Action Plans. Take activities to prevent depredation on aquatic Species of Greatest Conservation Need, may only occur only in natural or public waters;
- Damage to agency property and assets; and/or
- Depredation of wild and publicly stocked fish managed by the agency. The wild and publicly stocked fish must be a species managed by the State fish and wildlife agency or federally recognized Tribe and accessible to the public or all Tribal members.
Habitat management is most often a primary component of wildlife damage management strategies. The most effective approach is to minimize or eliminate the attractiveness of your site to cormorants by altering habitat structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure or reducing the availability or access to food. Examples include but are not limited to removing roost or nesting trees (provided no active nests are present), placing physical barriers such as nets over ponds, managing water levels, and adjusting seasonal timing of fish stocking. The agency is responsible for obtaining appropriate landowner permission for any activities occurring on property not owned by the agency.
The Service encourages permittees to coordinate with USDA-Wildlife Services for expertise in habitat management to reduce conflicts associated with double-crested cormorants.
Who Needs It
This permit is available to fish and wildlife agencies of States or federally-recognized Tribes geographically located within the conterminous (i.e., contiguous 48) United States.
You can actively harass or scare any migratory bird without a federal permit (except bald eagles, golden eagles, and federally listed threatened or endangered species). Active hazing methods scare, deter, or repel birds, including lasers, propane exploders, pyrotechnics, distress calls and sound-producing devices, scarecrows, mylar tape, and eyespot balloons.
Birds may also be passively dissuaded from using an area, such as the use of netting or nest exclusion devices. A federal permit is not required to passively deter birds. The Service recommends monitoring the devices regularly, maintaining, and repairing them to ensure they remain effective and to prevent entrapment.
The Service encourages permittees to coordinate with the USDA-Wildlife Services for expertise in effective use of nonlethal management of conflicts associated with cormorants.
What is covered by this permit?
Your permit will list the number of double-crested cormorants authorized to be taken. Your authorization may be restricted due to population status, nesting season, and other criteria. You may not exceed the amount of take authorized on your permit. If you are approaching your take authorization, you may request an increase in your authorization by submitting an amendment request to your permit office. Amendment requests are not guaranteed to be authorized. Once you reach your take authorization, you must wait until you receive your amended permit to resume take activities.
A permit is required to destroy an active bird nest (one with eggs or chicks present). A permit is not required to destroy inactive bird nests, provided the nest is destroyed and not kept. An inactive bird nest is one without eggs or chicks present.
Who is not covered by this permit?
If you are not a State or Tribal agency, do not use this form. Instead, please see information about our Federal Depredation Permit.
Process
Submit an Application
To submit an application online or through the mail, follow the instructions on our ePermits site.
Need to submit your annual report?
- Download form 3-202-56 to mail in.
Application Fee
- $0