{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/29.1-508.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/29.1-508.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/29.1-508.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/29.1-508.1.html"}],"law_id":64715,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64715,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-508.1","catch_line":"Use of drugs on vertebrate wildlife","history":"2004, c. 171.","full_text":"A\n\nWithout written authorization from the Director or his designee, it is unlawful to administer any drug to any vertebrate wildlife, except in accordance with a permit issued under the provisions of this title or regulations adopted by the Board. This prohibition shall include, but not be limited to, drugs used for fertility control, disease prevention or treatment, immobilization, or growth stimulation. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the treatment of sick or injured wild animals by licensed veterinarians or permitted wildlife rehabilitators. This section shall not limit employees of agencies of the Commonwealth, the United States, or local animal control officers in the performance of their official duties related to public health, wildlife management, or wildlife removal. For the purposes of this section, the term “drug” means any chemical substance, other than food, that affects the structure or biological function of wildlife species.B\n\nThe Department may take possession and dispose of any vertebrate wildlife if it believes that drugs have been administered to such wildlife in violation of this section.C\n\nAny person violating this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":235545,"text":"Without written authorization from the Director or his designee, it is unlawful to administer any drug to any vertebrate wildlife, except in accordance with a permit issued under the provisions of this title or regulations adopted by the Board. This prohibition shall include, but not be limited to, drugs used for fertility control, disease prevention or treatment, immobilization, or growth stimulation. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the treatment of sick or injured wild animals by licensed veterinarians or permitted wildlife rehabilitators. This section shall not limit employees of agencies of the Commonwealth, the United States, or local animal control officers in the performance of their official duties related to public health, wildlife management, or wildlife removal. For the purposes of this section, the term “drug” means any chemical substance, other than food, that affects the structure or biological function of wildlife species.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":235546,"text":"The Department may take possession and dispose of any vertebrate wildlife if it believes that drugs have been administered to such wildlife in violation of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":235547,"text":"Any person violating this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14648,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13513,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:08","permalink":{"id":192969,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14648,"identifier":"1","token":"29.1\/5\/1","url":"\/29.1\/5\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13513,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife and Fish Laws","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12934,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","permalink":{"id":192967,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13513,"identifier":"5","token":"29.1\/5","url":"\/29.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12934,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","identifier":"29.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192277,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12934,"identifier":"29.1","token":"29.1","url":"\/29.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":78660,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-500","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/29.1-500\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-500","metadata":false},{"id":70865,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-501","catch_line":"Promulgation of regulations; publication of proposed regulations or change therein; validation; evidentiary nature of publication","url":"\/29.1-501\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-501","metadata":false},{"id":68807,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-502","catch_line":"Adoption of regulations","url":"\/29.1-502\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-502","metadata":false},{"id":56224,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-503","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/29.1-503\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-503","metadata":false},{"id":85921,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-504","catch_line":"Annual publication of laws and regulations","url":"\/29.1-504\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-504","metadata":false},{"id":75708,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-505","catch_line":"Penalty for violation of regulations","url":"\/29.1-505\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-505","metadata":false},{"id":65994,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-505.1","catch_line":"Conspiracy; penalty","url":"\/29.1-505.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-505.1","metadata":false},{"id":85046,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-506","catch_line":"Prescribing seasons and bag limits for taking fish and game","url":"\/29.1-506\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-506","metadata":false},{"id":60297,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-507","catch_line":"Closing or shortening open season","url":"\/29.1-507\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-507","metadata":false},{"id":71223,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-508","catch_line":"Board to prescribe seasons, bag limits and methods of taking and killing fish and game on lands and waters owned or controlled by Board","url":"\/29.1-508\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-508","metadata":false},{"id":64715,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-508.1","catch_line":"Use of drugs on vertebrate wildlife","url":"\/29.1-508.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-508.1","metadata":false},{"id":83463,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-509","catch_line":"Duty of care and liability for damages of landowners to hunters, fishermen, sightseers, etc","url":"\/29.1-509\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-509","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":71223,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-508","catch_line":"Board to prescribe seasons, bag limits and methods of taking and killing fish and game on lands and waters owned or controlled by Board","url":"\/29.1-508\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-508","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":83463,"structure_id":14648,"section_number":"29.1-509","catch_line":"Duty of care and liability for damages of landowners to hunters, fishermen, sightseers, etc","url":"\/29.1-509\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-509","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/29.1-508.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2004. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 171<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58238,"section_number":"3.2-6525","catch_line":"Regulations to prevent spread of rabies","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6525\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":193011,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64715,"identifier":"29.1-508.1","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-508.1","url":"\/29.1-508.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/29.1-508.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/1\/29.1-508.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Use of drugs on vertebrate wildlife","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 29.1-508.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Without written authorization from the Director<\/span> or his designee, it is unlawful to administer any drug<\/span> to any vertebrate wildlife<\/span>, except in accordance with a permit issued under the provisions of this title or regulations<\/span> adopted by the Board<\/span>. This prohibition shall include, but not be limited to, drugs<\/span> used for fertility control, disease prevention or treatment, immobilization, or growth stimulation. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the treatment of sick or injured wild animals by licensed veterinarians or permitted wildlife<\/span> rehabilitators. This section shall not limit employees of agencies of the Commonwealth, the United States, or local animal control officers in the performance of their official duties related to public health, wildlife<\/span> management, or wildlife<\/span> removal. For the purposes of this section, the term “drug<\/span>” means any chemical substance, other than food, that affects the structure or biological function of wildlife<\/span> species. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Department<\/span> may take possession<\/span> and dispose of any vertebrate wildlife<\/span> if it believes that drugs<\/span> have been administered to such wildlife<\/span> in violation of this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any person violating this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUSE OF DRUGS ON VERTEBRATE WILDLIFE (\u00a7 29.1-508.1)\n\nA. Without written authorization from the Director or his designee, it is\nunlawful to administer any drug to any vertebrate wildlife, except in accordance\nwith a permit issued under the provisions of this title or regulations adopted\nby the Board. This prohibition shall include, but not be limited to, drugs used\nfor fertility control, disease prevention or treatment, immobilization, or\ngrowth stimulation. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the treatment of sick\nor injured wild animals by licensed veterinarians or permitted wildlife\nrehabilitators. This section shall not limit employees of agencies of the\nCommonwealth, the United States, or local animal control officers in the\nperformance of their official duties related to public health, wildlife\nmanagement, or wildlife removal. For the purposes of this section, the term\n“drug” means any chemical substance, other than food, that affects\nthe structure or biological function of wildlife species.\n\nB. The Department may take possession and dispose of any vertebrate wildlife if\nit believes that drugs have been administered to such wildlife in violation of\nthis section.\n\nC. Any person violating this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 2004, c. 171.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}