D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 19, r. 19-1567
A wildlife rehabilitator must care for wildlife in an animal facility that is licensed with the Department of Health.
A wildlife rehabilitator may capture, receive, possess, transport, and transfer a wild animal only to rehabilitate it for ultimate release in the wild.
A wildlife rehabilitator may only temporarily house an animal in order to provide the necessary treatment required to prepare an animal for release.
Rehabilitated animals may not be transported across state lines to be released or for any other purpose without the permission of the Department and written permission from the receiving jurisdiction.
Animals that cannot be rehabilitated in the District may be transported across state lines for rehabilitation purposes with the permission of the District and the written permission from the receiving jurisdiction.
No wildlife shall be released without written permission from the landowner of the property on to which the wildlife is released.
When possible, all wildlife shall be returned to the area from where they were taken or captured.
A wildlife rehabilitator may provide rehabilitation for a rabies vector only if he or she has current pre-exposure immunization against the rabies virus.
A wildlife rehabilitator caring for a rabies vector species shall ensure that non-immunized persons are not exposed to rabies vector species and that rabies vector species are kept separate from non-rabies vector species.
A rabies vector that bites a human or domestic animal shall be quarantined and not released until it is determined by the Department of Health whether testing is necessary.
Any wildlife in the care of a wildlife rehabilitator that is suspected of being infected with a zoonotic disease shall be quarantined and receive treatment based upon the advice of a licensed veterinarian.
When wildlife rehabilitation is not possible, a wildlife rehabilitator shall euthanize wildlife using methods that conform to the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 (AVMA Report).
Wildlife that dies while in the care of a wildlife rehabilitator must be disposed of in accordance with the conditions of the Animal Facility License and shall be buried, incinerated, rendered, or turned over to an individual or institution that holds a valid scientific collection permit, or in the case of a migratory bird, a federal salvage permit.
Wildlife, whether live or dead, or any parts of the wildlife may not be sold, bartered, or given away except as prescribed in § 1567.13.
A wildlife rehabilitator or apprentice who is not a licensed veterinarian shall not charge a fee for service, including fees for the pick-up or delivery of sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 19, r. 19-1567