NWHC’s Involvement in Legal Wildlife Issues

Federal Law Enforcement Cases:

• Mortality events where U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Special Agents suspect unlawful human involvement in the death of animal(s) are typically referred to the USFWS Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory.
• On a case-by-case basis, NWHC accepts law enforcement cases from USFWS Special Agents under chain of custody and with a federal investigation case number (INV#). This may occur if a cause of death determination is needed and the National Forensics Laboratory is unable to accept animal(s) or make this determination, or if the Special Agent specifically requests NWHC assistance with the investigation.

State Law Enforcement Cases:

NWHC does not typically accept law enforcement cases from state natural resource agencies. State officers are referred to their state wildlife agency (health program/veterinarian if applicable). Legal cases involving federally protected species can be reported to USFWS Special Agents who can submit animals to National Forensics Laboratory or NWHC in accordance with the above criteria.