4107 - DISPOSITION OF FISH, BIRDS AND MAMMALS COLLECTED FOR SCIENTIFIC AND MANAGEMENT PURPOSES
Issued June 10, 1982

Commission Policy No. 4107 Dated:  October 14, 1977

DISPOSITION OF FISH, BIRDS AND MAMMALS COLLECTED FOR SCIENTIFIC AND MANAGEMENT PURPOSES

The Game Law, Act 286, Public Acts of 1929, and the Sport Fishing Law, Act 165, Public Acts of 1929, provide that fish, birds, and mammals can only be collected for scientific and management purposes under the authority of a permit issued by the Department.  Scientific Fish Collection Permits and Scientific Wildlife Collectors Permits may prescribe conditions of collection and disposal.  Despite efforts to minimize losses during collection activities, some specimens are killed during routine sampling, some are purposely sacrificed for scientific purposes, and some simply die when captured.

Live fish collected for scientific or management purposes shall be returned to the water whenever possible.  Live birds and mammals which are held in captivity for one month or longer shall be released or disposed of as designated by the Director.  Animals which are diseased or present a threat to humans, domestic or wild animals, agricultural crops, or the environment shall be destroyed and disposed of as designated by the Director.  Dead specimens of fish, birds and mammals shall be disposed of in a way that will best serve and protect, the public interest; providing edible specimens to public institutions, offering, fish to the general public when public institutions are not interested in or unwilling to accept such specimens, burying inedible specimens in licensed sanitary landfills, incineration, destroying through laboratory techniques, or depositing suitable specimens in collections of educational and research institutions.  Endangered or threatened species, alive or dead, appearing on state or federal lists, shall be disposed of according to instructions from the Department applying to each separate case.

Department employees shall not make any disposition of such specimens unless it is in full accord with this policy and procedure.

Supported by Commission Action June 10, 1982.

Procedure No. 4107.7.