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Title 301 | Chapter 004 | Regulation 120REG

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TOURISM, ARTS AND HERITAGE CABINET
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
(Amended at ARRS Committee)

301 KAR 4:120.Wildlife disease reporting.

RELATES TO:

KRS 150. 015, 150.105, 150.720,150.722, 150.740

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 150.015, 150.025

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT:

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, pursuant to statutory authority to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the provisions of KRS Chapter 150 as established in KRS 150.025 and as an independent department of state government within the meaning of KRS Chapter 12 as established in KRS 150.021(1), promulgated by the Commissioner with approval of the Commission in accordance with KRS 150.010(1), does hereby certify this administrative regulation is promulgated in compliance with Section 8 of 2025 RS HB6.

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

KRS 150.015 requires the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources with the duty to protect, preserve, and conserve the fish and wildlife resources of the Commonwealth. KRS 150.025 (1)(i)(h) authorizes the Department to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of KRS Chapter 150. Because of the impact of certain diseases found in livestock and poultry to the native fish and wildlife populations, the Department believes it is necessary to establish a listing of all reportable diseases which can be transmitted to fish and wildlife and set out the conditions under which the diseases shall be reported. This administrative regulation establishes a comprehensive list of reportable diseases and the conditions under which the diseases shall be reported.

Section 1.

Definitions.

(1)

"CWD Surveillance Zone" means an area designated as being subject to special deer hunting regulations due to a CWD positive cervid detection.

(2)

"Euthanasia" means the act of putting an animal to death in a humane manner using a lethal injection adhering to American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.

(3)

"Exotic wildlife" means wildlife species that have never naturally existed in the wild in Kentucky, including species introduced by man that have become naturalized.

(4)

"Fish" means all wild and propagated finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other forms of aquatic animals, excluding aquatic mammals and birds,. including any part, spawn, or ovum of those animals.

(5)

"Native wildlife" means wildlife species that have historically existed, currently exist, or have naturally expanded their range:

(a)

In the wild into Kentucky;

(b)

Without introduction by humans; and

(c)

Regardless of:

1.

Origin or location of an individual animal; and

2.

Being captive-bred or taken from the wild.

(6)

"Rabies vector species" means a:

(a)

BatBats of any species (order Chiroptera);

(b)

Coyote (Canis latrans);

(c)

Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus);

(d)

Raccoon (Procyon lotor);

(e)

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes);

(f)

Spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius);

(g)

Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis); or

(h)

Any Hybrid of paragraphs (a) through (f) of this subsection.

(7)

"Veterinarian" is defined by KRS 321.181(69)(67).

Section 2.

Duty to Notify. Every veterinarian, veterinary practice and personnel; veterinary diagnostic laboratory and personnel; laboratory providing diagnostics for native or exotic wildlife and fish for Kentucky; holder of captive wildlife; persons associated with any wildlife or fish sales or event establishment and personnel; transportation provider; commercial wildlife services, facility and personnel; or any other person or entity having knowledge of the existence of any reportable disease, as established in Section (3) of this administrative regulation, shall report the disease or condition to the KDFWR Wildlife Veterinarian.

Section 3.

Diseases to be Reported.

(1)

The following diseases and conditions shall be reported to the KDFWR Wildlife Veterinarian:

(a)

Algal toxicosis;

(b)

Anaplasmosis;

(c)

Anthrax;

(d)

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Chytridiomycosis);

(e)

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Chytridiomycosis);

(f)

Bluetongue;

(g)

Botulism;

(h)

Brucellosis;

(i)

Canine Distemper Virus;

(j)

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD);

(k)

Clostridium piliforme (Tyzzer's Disease);

(l)

Duck virus enteritis (Duck Plague);

(m)

Echinococcus spp. (Echinococcosis);

(n)

Epizootic HemorrhagicHemorhagic Disease;

(o)

Hantaviruses;

(p)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza;

(q)

Histomoniasis (Blackhead disease);

(r)

Lead Toxicosis;

(s)

Leptospira interogans ssp. (Leptospirosis);

(t)

Mycoplasma gallisepticum;

(u)

Mycoplasma agassizii;

(v)

Mycotoxicosis (aflatoxins and fusariotoxins);

(w)

Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Snake fungal disease);

(x)

Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease);

(y)

Plague (Yersinia pestis);

(z)

Pseudogymnoascus destructans (White-nose Syndrome);

(aa)

Pseudorabies;

(bb)

Rabies;

(cc)

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus;

(dd)

Ranavirus;

(ee)

Salmonellosis (Salmonella enterica, all serovars);

(ff)

SARS-CoV-2;

(gg)

Sarcoptes scabiei (Sarcoptic Mange);

(hh)

Theileriosis;

(ii)

Trichinellosis;

(jj)

Tuberculosis;

(kk)

Tularemia;

(ll)

Virulent Newcastle Disease;

(mm)

Vesicular Stomatitis;

(nn)

West Nile Virus (WNV);

(oo)

Any additional diseases or conditions listed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Listed Diseases including the Terrestrial Animal and Aquatic Animal disease list; and

(pp)

Any disease or condition listed in the United Stated Department of Agriculture National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD).,

(2)

Conditions of any etiology that meet any of the following criteria shall be reported immediately:

(a)

Chemical poisoning in wildlife and fish involving anticoagulant rodenticides, heavy metals, and pesticides;.

(b)

Encephalitis or other central nervous system disease;

(c)

Unusual morbidity or mortality event in free-ranging wildlife, captive wildlife, and fish; or

(d)

Highly infectious conditions of any etiology, known or unknown.

Section 4.

Notification Requirements for Reportable Diseases.

(1)

The notification shall be given to the Wildlife Veterinarian, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601; telephone 502-892-4584 or wildlifehealth@ky.gov within forty-eight (48) hours of confirmation of a reportable disease defined in Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

(2)

The person reporting shall submit:

(a)

Name, address, and telephone number of the submitter of wildlife or fish;

(b)

The wildlife or fish species, age, sex, number of animals affected, and clinical signs;

(c)

A location address or GPS coordinates for wildlife and fish tested or affected;

(d)

The name, address, and telephone number of the veterinarian submitting the case; and

(e)

If different from submitter, name, address, and telephone number of the person reporting or holder of captive wildlife.

(3)

A report submitted to the KDFWR Wildlife Veterinarian by a diagnostic laboratory of a condition suspected or diagnosed by a test result or other laboratory procedure shall constitute notification on behalf of the laboratory and the submitting veterinarian or holder.

Section 5.

Euthanasia of Wildlife for Reportable Diseases.

(1)

Individuals with the following qualifications may euthanize wildlife presented to them suspected of having a reportable disease as identified in Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

(a)

KDFWR staff or representative of the department who is engaged in wildlife activities in an official capacity; or

(b)

Licensed Veterinarian authorized to practice veterinary medicine in Kentucky under KRS Chapter 321.

(2)

Public Health Officials, acting in their official capacity, whose duties include euthanasia for reportable disease testing, may euthanize wild mammal species that bites a person, or wild mammal species that shows symptoms of a rabies infection, as established in 902 KAR 2:070, Section 5 and KRS 258.085(1)(c) except bats found in non-living spaces with no known contact with humans shallmay not be euthanized.

(3)

Animal control officers that hold a valid Animal Euthanasia Specialist (AES) certification, pursuant to KRS 321.207(4) and 201 KAR 16:560, and who have completed an approved Wildlife Chemical Immobilization training may be authorized to euthanize rabies vector species, excluding bats, that are presented to them at a permitted facility and are suspected of having a reportable disease.

(a)

To qualify for this authorization, the certified AES shall submit to the Department:

1.

Proof they possess a valid Animal Euthanasia Specialist Certificate; and

2.

Proof they completed and passed a San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Academy (SDZWAA) Safe Capture Training course in Chemical Immobilization of Wildlife.

(b)

Wildlife euthanized by certified Animal Euthanasia Specialist for reportable disease conditions shallmust be presented to authorized personnel at permitted facilities and shall notcannot be trapped or taken from the environment without a valid Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator permit pursuant toper 301 KAR 3:120 or with a valid trapping license during a legal trapping season for that species pursuant to KRS 150.175 and 301 KAR 2:2512.251.

(c)

Reporting Requirements for certified Animal Euthanasia Specialists:

1.

In addition to the standard wildlife disease reporting requirements found in Section 4 of this administrative regulation, certified Animal Euthanasia Specialists shall submit an annual report of total number euthanized wildlife (species, county, date, disease) submitted within thirty (30) days of December 31st each year in which wildlife were euthanized.

2.

A wildlife carcass not submitted for testing shall be:

a.

Retained in cold storage; and

b.

Reported to the Department Veterinarian within forty-eight (48) hours for proper disposition (phone 502-892-4584 or email at wildlifehealth@ky.gov).

Section 6.

Approved Euthanasia Methods for Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialist. Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialists euthanizing wildlife at an animal control facility certified pursuant to KRS 321.207 and 201 KAR 16:550 and 552 shall comply with approved methods for euthanasia as established in 201 KAR 16:562.

Section 7.

Carcass Disposal.

(1)

Any cervids euthanized for reportable disease conditions shall be disposed of in accordance with 301 KAR 4:090 as established for taxidermists and shall not be transported outside of CWD surveillance zones for disposal in accordance with 301 KAR 2:172.

(2)

Certified Animal Euthanasia SpecialistsSpecialist shall dispose of carcasses in a way to prevent accidental exposure to other wildlife. Acceptable means of disposal include the following, if in accordance with 201 KAR 16:562, KRS 257.160 and local county and municipality waste disposal laws:

(a)

Burying the carcass or parts in an opening in the earth at least four (4) feet deep and covered with at least three (3) feet of earth; or

(b)

Depositing the carcass or parts in a contained landfill, as established in KRS Chapter 224 and meeting liner requirements pursuant toper 401 KAR 48:080.

Section 8.

Incorporation by Reference.

(1)

The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a)

"American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals", 2020 Edition;.

(b)

"Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialist Annual Wildlife Euthanasia Report", 2025 Edition;

(c)

"The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Listed Diseases and Non-Listed Affecting Wildlife", 2023 Edition; and.

(d)

"United Stated Department of Agriculture National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD)", 2023 Edition.

(2)

This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or online at:

(a)

https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Guidelines-on-Euthanasia-2020.pdf for the "American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals";

(b)

https://fw.ky.gov/Wildlife/Documents/CertAnimalEuthanasiaSpecialistAnnualReport.pdf for the "Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialist Annual Wildlife Euthanasia Report"; and

(c)

https://fw.ky.gov/Wildlife/Pages/reportablewildlifedisease.aspx for the "The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Listed Diseases and Non-Listed Affecting Wildlife,"; and https://fw.ky.gov/Wildlife/Pages/reportablewildlifedisease.aspx for the "United Stated Department of Agriculture National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD),".
FILED WITH LRC: August 12, 2025
CONTACT PERSON: Jenny Gilbert, Legislative Liaison, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman’s Lane, (502) 564-3400, fax: (502) 564-0506, email: fwpubliccomments@ky.gov.

7-Year Expiration: 5/5/2032

Last Updated: 8/22/2025

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