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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64715</law_id><section_number>29.1-508.1</section_number><catch_line>Use of drugs on vertebrate wildlife</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6525</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Wildlife and Fish Laws</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Without written authorization from the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> or his designee, it is unlawful to administer any <span class="dictionary">drug</span> to any vertebrate <span class="dictionary">wildlife</span>, except in accordance with a permit issued under the provisions of this title or <span class="dictionary">regulations</span> adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. This prohibition shall include, but not be limited to, <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">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, <span class="dictionary">wildlife</span> management, or <span class="dictionary">wildlife</span> removal. For the purposes of this section, the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">drug</span>&#x201D; means any chemical substance, other than food, that affects the structure or biological function of <span class="dictionary">wildlife</span> species. <a id="paragraph-235545" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-508.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> may take <span class="dictionary">possession</span> and dispose of any vertebrate <span class="dictionary">wildlife</span> if it believes that <span class="dictionary">drugs</span> have been administered to such <span class="dictionary">wildlife</span> in violation of this section. <a id="paragraph-235546" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-508.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any person violating this section is guilty of a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-235547" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-508.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2004, c. 171.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
