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Wildlife in the Classroom

There are Virginia regulatory requirements for teachers regarding the collection and display of wildlife species in classrooms. This attempts to reviews those regulations and attempts to put you on the correct path of action. It is the educator’s responsibility to make sure they are abiding by all school, local, state, and federal regulations regarding housing animals in their classrooms.

The information on this webpage does NOT exempt elementary and secondary school teachers from LOCAL ordinances regarding keeping certain wildlife or other animal species in captivity or in classroom environments. ALWAYS check with your county/city and your school system regarding any ordinances that may affect keeping certain wildlife or other animal species in captivity.

This webpage does NOT exempt teachers from best management practices when considering displaying wildlife in the classroom. Caring for wildlife means until the end of its lifespan or until it can be rehomed. Wildlife (native, naturalized, or nonnative) shall never be released into the wild, UNLESS provided written authorization from the VDWR (4VAC15-30-10) or falls under the exceptions (4VAC15-360-10, section A. 6.).

Things to Consider Before Bringing Wildlife in the Classroom

Before displaying wildlife, please consider the following:

  • What are the local (city/county and also school, and school division), state, and federal laws and regulations pertaining to species possessed and displayed?
  • Animals in the classroom should be limited to educational purposes
    • How does this organism tie to the curriculum and SOL?
    • Does having this animal in my classroom enhance the curriculum learning goals and objectives of my classroom?
    • Does having this organism in the classroom provide a meaningful educational experience for my students?
  • Am I knowledgeable enough acquire the animal from a reputable source and to properly care for the animal so that both the students and the animal stay safe and healthy during all activities?
    • What is the animal’s habitat, unique care requirements, habits, potential to carry zoonotic diseases and life span?
    • Animals should be acquired from reputable suppliers/pet store and be examined by a veterinarian prior to being introduced to the classroom
    • Ensure enclosures protect students and animals. Any captive wildlife is to be confined under sanitary and humane conditions that are appropriate for the given species. All cages and enclosures shall be locked at all times, when wildlife is not under immediate control or direct supervision of the handler to prevent escape or unauthorized contact with other individuals. (4VAC15-290-60)
      • Shelter animals as needed when classrooms are being cleaned or potentially harmful chemicals are being used.
      • Store all animal food to prevent access by pests
    • Stay alert to changes in an animal’s behavior or eating habits and seek help from your vet as needed
    • VDWR SHALL be notified within 24 hours of an instance of a wildlife sickness or disease. This only applies to the native/naturalized species you report to DWR (4VAC15-290-60)
  • What is the plan for the long-term future of the animal as well as during weekends, school breaks, summer vacations and sudden leaves of absence?
  • How will you inform parents/guardians of the presence of animals in the classroom as well as the benefits and potential risks associated and get their input?
    • Determine considerations for students who are immunocompromised, have allergies, or asthma and/or students who fear the animal.
  • How will you keep students safe from any disease the species may carry?
    • Designate special areas for animal contact and disinfect after each use, do not allow food or drink in the designated contact area
    • Students should always wash their hands before and after feeding, handling, or cleaning animals
      • Involve students in the care and maintenance of animals in accordance with the safety of and developmental level of students.
      • Educate students about harmful germs that can spread between animals and humans and demonstrate proper handwashing technique
      • Supervise all human animal-contact and use proper protection equipment when applicable
    • Reports bites and scratches immediately to the school nurse and have a qualified person clean and disinfect injuries.  Please follow your school’s policy for reporting incidents.
    • Anytime a person is bitten by a mammalian wildlife species, the injury must be reported to the local health department, under the Virginia Department of Health. The offending animal must be segregated from other animals and humans until the health department is notified.

Laws and Regulations for Virginia Wildlife in the Classroom

Please visit the Laws and Regulations for Virginia Wildlife in the Classroom page for more details on species that require permits, obtaining wildlife, special considerations for reptiles and amphibians, and regulations regarding tadpoles.

Display and Collection Scenarios

If you are planning on displaying/raising or collecting a wildlife species in or for the classroom you will need to know the common and preferably the scientific name of the species before proceeding.

Display

Read the statements below and determine which one best applies to your situation:

  1. If the wildlife species you would like to display in your classroom is a live reptile, amphibian, or fish on the native or naturalized species list and is not on the threatened or endangered list and is not a predatory or undesirable animal. Please proceed to the “Report Your Display of Native or Naturalized Wildlife Species” section
  2. If the wildlife species you would like to display in your classroom is a non-threatened/non-endangered terrestrial insect such as annelid worms, planarians/flatworms, centipedes, millipedes, arachnids, pillbugs, isopods, amphipods, then you do not need to report your species. Be sure you are following all local regulations (city, county, school system) regarding terrestrial insects. You do not need to proceed any further.
  3. If the species you would like to display in your classroom is considered a domestic animal, as defined by 4VAC15-20-50, then you do not need to report your species to DWR. DWR does not regulate domestic animals, please contact the Department of Agriculture and follow your local regulations (city, county, school system) regarding domestic animals.
  4. If the wildlife species you would like to display in your classroom is a non-native/exotic animal that was purchased at a pet store and it is NOT listed in 4 VAC 15-30-40, Subsection A, 4VAC15-290-60,1-571, 4VAC15-20-210, 4VAC15-30-40, or 4VAC15-20-160 then you do NOT need to report your species to DWR and you do not need any additional permits. You do not need to proceed any further.
  5. If the species you would like to display is a non-native/exotic species animal that is listed in 4 VAC 15-30-40, Subsection A, 4VAC15-290-60,1-571, 4VAC15-20-210, 4VAC15-30-40, or 4VAC15-20-160 you MUST apply for a Exhibitor Permit Application, pay the associated application fee, and submit an annual report for the species on exhibit.
  6. If the species you would like to display is a fur-bearing wildlife species (§ 29.1-521), a migratory bird (16USC §§ 703-711 and 4VAC15-290-60), or a federal or state threatened or endangered wildlife species (4VAC15-20-130) DWR permits, USFWS, and at times, USDA, permits are required. Review and submit the appropriate DWR permits and contact USFWS and USDA for additional permits.

Collection

  • If you are interested in actively surveying for and/or collecting any specimens (live, dead, or parts/terrestrial or aquatic) of native or naturalized wildlife species (except for terrestrial insects, annelid worms, planarians/flatworms, centipedes, millipedes, arachnids) from the wild, then either a Scientific/Educational Collection Permits or Salvage Permits must be obtained.
    • A Scientific Collections Permit is required for all sampling activities that permanently remove any individuals (or parts of) from the natural environment that are not otherwise allowed in regulation.
      • You do not need a collections permit for macroinvertebrate collection as long as the macroinvertebrates will immediately be returned to the stream and they are not being moved to a different location than the sample site.
    • A Salvage permit is required for all taking of species found dead. This includes bones and turtle shells

*If the species, you would like to display does not match any of these categories under the “Display” section above or if you are unsure about your display or collection needs please reach out to the DWR Permitting Department at collectionpermits@dwr.virginia.gov

Report Your Display of Native or Naturalized Wildlife Species

If your reptile, amphibian, or fish species appears on this native and naturalized species list (and it not Threatened/Endangered and not a predatory or undesirable animal ), then you have to report the wildlife you are displaying to VDWR within 48 hours of displaying. You can report your native or naturalized wildlife to VDWR by:

Completing the Wildlife In the Classroom Reporting Form

As of July 1, 2013, VDWR regulation 4 VAC 15-290-60 exempts elementary and secondary teachers from having to 1) submit a completed Exhibitor’s Permit Application and 2) pay the associated application fee, ONLY if they are exhibiting live native or naturalized wildlife species (only certain reptiles, amphibians, and fish) in the classroom for educational purposes. This regulation only applies to teaching personnel within the school. Teachers are required to update VDWR annually on the animals in your classrooms and any time that additional wildlife is added to the school/display by fill out the Wildlife in the Classroom Reporting form.