There are at least a couple of companies that sell owl pellets for
educational purposes. A quick search showed one in CA and one here in
Bellingham.
I bought a box from the Bellingham operation at least a dozen years ago,
for the kids to dissect them as entertainment at my kid's 5th birthday
party. (4th? 6th? I forget) They were a big hit. At the time, they
offered special pellets (at a higher price) that contained bird or mole
parts, presumably sorted by having recognizable bits showing on the
surface. That no longer seems to be the case, so they may have been warned
that this could have some legal consequences. I'm too lazy to search for
any news that anyone was ever actually charged in such a case.
On Tue, Dec 1, 2020 at 1:06 PM <
mcallisters4 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
There's state law which has a prohibition against possessing wildlife
>
found dead (below). Wildlife, though, has an exclusion for the family
>
Muridae, Old World rats and mice, which might apply to the parts likely to
>
be found in an urban owl pellet. Last I knew, the family Muridae included
>
much more than the old world rodents that have been naturalized here. I
>
included many of ournative rodents. If that's still the case, I'm not sure
>
if the modifier, "Old World rats and mice," provides an adequate
>
distinction between the introduced species that are exempted here and the
>
native species.
>
>
Kelly McAllister
>
>
72) "Wildlife" means all species of the animal kingdom whose members exist
>
in Washington in a wild state. This includes but is not limited to mammals,
>
birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. The term "wildlife"
>
does not include feral domestic mammals, old world rats and mice of the
>
family Muridae of the order Rodentia, or those fish, shellfish, and marine
>
invertebrates classified as food fish or shellfish by the director. The
>
term "wildlife" includes all stages of development and the bodily parts of
>
wildlife members.
>
>
WAC 220-400-040 Possession of dead wildlife. (1) Except as authorized by
>
permit of the director or as otherwise provided by this
>
section, it is unlawful to possess wildlife found dead. This rule does
>
not prohibit the possession of naturally shed antlers of deer, elk, or
>
moose.
>
(2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, an individual
>
may remove and dispose of wildlife found dead on his or her
>
property or an adjoining public roadway. Before removing the wildlife,
>
the individual shall, by telephone, notify the department or the
>
Washington state patrol communications office, and shall provide his or
>
her name, address, telephone number, and the description and location
>
of the wildlife. The individual may remove the wildlife for disposal
>
only, and may not retain the wildlife for personal use or consumption.
>
Other laws and rules may apply to the disposal, including rules of the
>
department of health (WAC 246-203-121). Wildlife removed under this
>
subsection remain the property of the state.
>
(3) Possession of wildlife in violation of subsections (1) and
>
(2) is punishable under RCW 77.15.130, 77.15.400, 77.15.410, and
>
77.15.430 depending on the species involved in the violation.
>
(4) It is permissible to salvage and transport a deer or elk that
>
is accidentally killed by a motor vehicle collision except for any
>
deer killed by a motor vehicle collision in Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum
>
counties.
>
(a) Big game licenses and tags cannot be used for the purpose of
>
salvaging motor vehicle-killed deer or elk.
>
(b) A salvage permit must be obtained from the department within
>
24 hours of taking possession of the animal. Permits may be obtained
>
on the department's web site or at department regional offices.
>
(c) The entire carcass, including entrails, of the animal must be
>
removed from the road right of way.
>
(d) Any meat an individual deems unfit for human consumption or
>
unusable animal parts must be disposed of pursuant to WAC 246-203-121.
>
Individuals salvaging and consuming this meat do so at their own risk.
>
The department makes no guarantee as to the fitness for consumption of
>
deer or elk collected under a salvage permit.
>
(e) An individual may not kill an injured or wounded animal that
>
they encounter for the purpose of salvage. Only a law enforcement officer
>
or individuals or entities authorized by the department may euthanize an
>
animal injured in a motor vehicle collision and that deer
>
or elk may be taken for salvage.
>
(5) Possession of wildlife in violation of subsection (4) of this
>
section is punishable under RCW 77.15.750.
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20201201/d84e04c7/attachment.html>