Capture and release wildlife permits
Most native animal species are protected by state laws. This means that generally it is an offence to capture, trap, release or relocate a protected animal or eggs without a permit.
If you would like to apply to capture and release wildlife, first learn about living with wildlife and consider other ways you can manage or reduce wildlife impacts without the need for intervention.
This page provides information on:
- types of permits
- what a permit allows you to do
- the requirements for obtaining a permit
- how to apply for a permit.
Protected animals may need to be managed with a permit in circumstances where they are, or are likely to:
- cause a safety risk or hazard to people or industry
- damage property or infrastructure
- be impacted by development or habitat disturbance.
Protected animals that are trapped or captured under a permit should only be released or relocated short distances, within the individual animals home range. Relocating protected animals outside of their home range can be considered harmful and inhumane. For more information see moving native animals.
For information about capturing and releasing protected animals as a part of a research project, see scientific research permits.
Permit types
The type of permit you need depends on the nature of the wildlife issue and your role in managing the property.
Select your purpose for more information:
- Capture and release wildlife on your property or a property you manage (e.g. trap and release possums inside a roof-space)
- Provide capture and release wildlife services to others, whether commercially, voluntarily or as part of your employment(e.g. snake catching, possum control, spotter/catcher services)
Trap or catch and release wildlife on your property
You need a Trap and Release Protected Animals Permit to trap or catch and release any protected wildlife on your property. All native animals are protected unless they are listed as unprotected.
This permit is commonly required for possums causing impacts by occupying a residential or business roof space, where alternative methods to solve the problem have not succeeded.
If you would like to trap and release species other than possums, please email the Wildlife Management Unit for an application form.
Permit to trap and release possums
Before you apply for a permit to trap and release possums, read our information on living with possums.
- Read the guidelines for trapping and releasing possums.
- Permits are available for common brushtail possums or common ringtail possums.
- This permit is for once-off activities and does not allow ongoing trapping.
- Any person undertaking trap and release under a permit must be listed on the application and permit.
- Additions or changes cannot be made to a permit once it has been granted, a new application must be submitted for a new permit to be issued.
No fee applies to this permit.
Permit applications are assessed against the following criteria:
- wildlife is causing, or likely to cause, impacts or damage while occupying a residential or business structure (e.g. roof space)
- extent of damage being caused, or likely to be caused, by wildlife
- use or effectiveness of non-lethal management methods
- proposed trap and release activities are humane and in line with relevant specifications and guidelines, including animal welfare laws
- applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a permit.
It is an offence not to comply with the conditions of a Trap and Release Protected Animals Permit.
Limitations, restrictions and conditions to trap and release possums on a permit may include:
- species and quantity of animals that may be trapped and released
- location(s) where trap and release may take place
- persons additional to the permit holder who may undertake trap and release activities
- specification of the trap that may be used, including activation method and trap dimensions
- methods of trap and release comply with the guidelines for trapping possums and animal welfare laws
- restriction on releasing animals that are sick or unlikely to survive in the wild
- a report specifying the species and number trapped and released must be returned within 14 days of permit completion (i.e. when the permitted number of animals is reached) or within 14 days of permit expiry
- any additional conditions placed on the permit by the department.
Download and follow the instructions:
Trap and Release Protected Animals Permit (possums) application form
Application processing time: allow up to 4 weeks. Processing times are a guide and may take longer for complex or incomplete applications or during peak demand periods.
To discuss trap and release of wildlife, contact your local regional office.
Provide capture and release wildlife services
To capture and release wildlife in an ongoing capacity you need a Wildlife Management (Controller) Permit. This includes if you would like to capture and release wildlife as a commercial service provider, as a part of your job or as a volunteer.
Wildlife Management (Controller) Permits are commonly required where animals are causing damage, affecting human safety, or are at risk of being harmed due to development or habitat disturbance. Wildlife services may be required on residential or commercial properties, or on development project sites.
This permit does not allow service providers to destroy impact causing wildlife on an ongoing basis, such as kangaroos. Please refer to information on permits to destroy wildlife, where property owners may apply and list service providers on their application.
- Permits are issued to individuals (not businesses or multiple people).
- Permits are available for possum control, snake catching or other capture and release services (e.g. spotter-catchers).
- Permits allow relocation of wildlife within the animals’ home range, or the humane destruction of some protected animals (e.g. bird eggs and chicks).
- Permits are available from the approval/issue date to 30 June.
A fee applies to this permit. For current Wildlife Management (Controller) Permit fees, see wildlife permit fees.
Permit applications may be assessed against the following criteria:
- the extent of impacts/damage being caused, or likely to be caused, by the animals or to their habitat
- applicant training, experience and relevant certifications
- the species, or groups of species, of protected animals likely to be managed or controlled
- proposed management and control methods and equipment
- proposed relocation and release methods
- certificate of currency for public liability insurance for applied activities (issued within one month)
- a national police certificate (issued within 12 months and valid for 5 years)
- a current first aid certification (valid for 3 years), emergency response plans and vaccinations (where required for species)
- applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a permit.
You need to supply a national police certificate (NPC) when applying for a Wildlife Management (Controller) Permit. The NPC must be no older than 12 months when you submit the application.
When re-applying for a permit, an NPC will be considered current for a period of 5 years from the date of issue.
Re-applications must be submitted within 3 months of the expiry of the previous permit. If you do not meet this deadline, a new application and NPC (no older than 12 months) will be required.
Where you only intend to provide services on a specific property or properties (e.g. owned by an employer), whether commercially or on a voluntary basis, evidence of landholder permission along with property details may be provided for consideration with the application instead of an NPC.
Applicants for a Wildlife Management (Controller) Permit are required to supply a certificate of currency showing they are in possession of current public liability insurance that covers them for the activities they will be undertaking under the permit. The date if issue of the certificate must be no older than one month when you submit the application.
To acquire a reissued certificate of currency, contact your insurance provider.
Venomous snakes have the potential to be a serious risk to human health if a person is bitten.
All applicants intending to capture and relocate snakes must supply the following with their application:
- evidence of training in capturing and handling venomous snakes
- evidence of appropriate equipment for the capture and transportation of venomous snakes
- a current first aid certificate
- an emergency response plan, outlining response procedures to incidents of snake bite and snake escape.
Applicants who are intending to capture and relocate snakes as a service to members of the public (e.g. commercial snake catcher) must (additional to the above requirements):
- hold or have held a Specialist Keep and Sell Permit endorsed for level 2 or 3 venomous snake species, or
- show evidence (e.g. logbook) of 10 snake catching call outs performed under the direct supervision of a person holding a Wildlife Management (Controller) Permit.
Bats may carry diseases and can be a serious risk to human health if a person is bitten or scratched.
If you intend to capture and relocate bats (e.g. microbats from tree hollows), you must show evidence of rabies vaccinations or titre tests results showing your immunity that are no older than 2 years from the date of application.
It is an offence not to comply with the conditions of a Wildlife Management (Controller) Permit.
Limitations, restrictions and conditions to manage and control protected animals on a permit may include:
- species or species groups of animals that may be managed or controlled
- location(s) where management and control may take place
- methods and equipment are appropriate, humane and comply with relevant animal welfare guidelines
- methods and equipment are in accordance with those approved in the applicant’s wildlife management and control plan
- transport and release requirements and restrictions
- management and control requirements for eggs or dependent young
- notification of unanticipated threatened species managed and controlled
- notification of unanticipated injury or mortality to animals during management and control activities
- notification of bites or scratches to permit holder or other persons as a result of management and control activities (where relevant for the species)
- a report specifying the species, quantity and location of capture and release, or outcome of animals not released, must be returned within 14 days of permit expiry
- maintenance of current, appropriate and sufficient public liability insurance
- disclosure of any instances where fit and proper person status to operate services to the public may be affected
- any additional conditions placed on the permit by DEW.
Application processing time: allow up to 8 weeks. Processing times are a guide and may take longer for complex or incomplete applications or during peak demand periods.
The method of application differs depending on the service type you wish to provide, see the below options:
| Service type | Application method |
|---|---|
| Snake catching services (e.g. capture and release of snakes impacting safety) | Apply online |
| Possum control services (e.g. trap and release of possums causing damage or impacting safety) | Apply online |
| Wildlife control services for animals likely to be impacted by development or habitat disturbance (e.g. fauna spotter-catcher services for infrastructure development/tree removal) | Request application form by email |
| Wildlife control services to capture and release impact causing species other than possums or snakes (e.g. birds trapped in a building) | Request application form by email |
If you have questions about Wildlife Management (Controller) Permits, please contact the Fauna Permits Unit.
