New Jersey

Last updated July 2020

Link to state website for game and non-game species

Contacts

Game

Krista Laws
Assistant Biologist
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
1 Eldridge Rd.
Robbinsville, NJ 08691
609-223-6056

Non-game

Katherine Szostak
Assistant Biologist
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
PO Box 420, Mail Code 501-03
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-984-6213

Is a state permit needed for banding?

Yes. The regulation does not define the term “scientific collecting” but the State of New Jersey does, in fact, require NJ scientific collecting permits for bird banding/marking.

Permit application forms

Game

Wildlife included (but not limited to) under Scientific Collecting or Salvage Permits for Game:
Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus)
Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Nongame

State lands

Indicate on application form.

Prior notice

Yes. The permit application states: “It is your responsibility to obtain prior written permission from the land owner/owners or managing governmental agencies; to notify them of your intended activities and obtain permission from the property owner(s)/manager(s) to be on-site.”

You want to be aware of the hunting seasons, and, of course want to be sure that your activities will not interfere with the activities of that park, wildlife management area, or other state land unit, and that your activities will not adversely affect public use of the land or with the activities of private landowners.

Policies

New Jersey Administrative Code Title 7. Environmental Protection.
Chapter 25 Division of Fish and Wildlife Rules.

7:25-4.2 Permit required
(a) Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall possess any
nongame species or exotic species of any mammal, bird, reptile or
amphibian unless such person has first received both the
appropriate permit from the Department as listed in N.J.A.C. 7:25-
4.6(a) as well as any other state, municipal, or Federal permits or
licenses which may be required to possess such species. Any
permit issued to an applicant by the Department for the possession
of any animal shall not exempt that applicant from compliance
with any other law of the State of New Jersey or any municipal or
federal law. An application to the Department for a permit shall be
made using the form prescribed by the Department. Any false
representation by the applicant or a permittee who knows or
reasonably should know that the representation to induce the
Department to issue a permit or take any other action, shall subject
the applicant or permittee to all penalties available under State law,
including revocation of any permit obtained based upon false
information. All permits issued by the Department under this
chapter are valid only when used by the permittee in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the permit and the regulations
governing that permit. The Department shall, upon written notice
to the permittee, revoke any permit listed in N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.6(a)
issued to any person who ceases to consistently meet the eligibility
criteria for that particular permit and may, in its discretion, seek an
order from the Director or a court of competent jurisdiction
allowing immediate removal of any animal possessed under that
permit. Written notices of violation against a permittee shall set
forth the terms of the permit or the regulation which the
Department alleges the permittee has violated and the penalty
sought. Notices of violation shall be brought and if not settled,
contested, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, N.J.S.A.
52:14-1 et seq., or the rules of the court with jurisdiction over the
claim of violation. The Department may settle all claims for
penalties pursuant to N.J.S.A. 23:2A-10. Revocation of all
Department-issued permits for repeated violations shall occur as
set forth in (c), below.

7:25-4.6 Categories of permits, expiration, fees, sales receipts
required, records and reports required.
(a) The Division may issue, but shall not be limited to, the
following categories of permits.

2. Scientific holding-issued to qualified persons holding
exotic mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians, or nongame species
for scientific observation, captive breeding attempts and other
scientific or educational study.
8. Scientific Collecting-issued to persons to collect nongame
species or escaped exotic mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians
for scientific studies or other approved purposes, when such
activity is shown to have a beneficial effect on the conservation of
the species, the public welfare or the environment.
9. Special Purpose Salvage-issued to persons or institutions
to salvage dead migratory birds or parts thereof, for scientific or
education purposes.
10. Special Wildlife Salvage-issued to persons or institutions
to salvage dead nongame species, or parts thereof, other than
migratory birds, for scientific or education purposes.
11. Endangered Species-issued to persons or institutions for
the possession of endangered species for conservation or research
purposes.
(b) All possession permits shall expire on December 31 of the
year of issue.

New Jersey state endangered species law

The New Jersey state endangered species law (N.J. Statutes Title 23 Fish and Game, Wild Birds and Animals) does not mention permits but it delegates regulatory authority to the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection; that regulation (above) authorizes permits for scientific collection of endangered species for research purposes.

BIRDS
Endangered Threatened
Bittern, American BR Botaurus lentiginosos BR Bobolink BR Dolichonyx oryzivorus BR
Eagle, bald BR Haliaeetus leucocephalus BR Eagle, bald NB Haliaeetus leucocephalus NB
Falcon, peregrine BR Falco peregrinus BR Egret, cattle BR Bubulcus ibis BR
Goshawk, northern BR Accipiter gentilis BR Kestrel, American Falco sparverius
Grebe, pied-billed BR Podilymbus podiceps BR Lark, horned BR Eremophila alpestris BR
Harrier, northern BR Circus cyaneus BR Night-heron, black-crowned BR Nycticorax nycticorax BR
Hawk, red-shouldered BR Buteo lineatus BR Night-heron, yellow-crowned Nyctanassa violacea
Knot, red NB Calidris canutus NB Osprey BR Pandion haliaetus BR
Owl, short-eared BR Asio flammeus BR Owl, barred Strix varia
Plover, piping** Charadrius melodus** Owl, long-eared Asio otus
Rail, black BR Laterallus jamaicensis BR Rail, black NB Laterallus jamaicensis NB
Sandpiper, upland Batramia longicauda Sparrow, grasshopper BR Ammodramus savannarum BR
Shrike, loggerhead NB Lanius ludovicianus NB Sparrow, Savannah BR Passerculus sandwichensis BR
Skimmer, black Rynchops niger Woodpecker, red-headed Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Sparrow, Henslow’s Ammodramus henslowii
Sparrow, vesper BR Pooecetes gramineus BR
Tern, least Sternula antillarum
Tern, roseate** Sterna dougallii**
Warbler, golden-winged BR Vermivora chrysoptera BR
Wren, sedge Cistothorus platensis
**Federally endangered or threatened
BR – Breeding population only; NB – non-breeding population only