Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia SB344: An Act to amend and reenact § 29.1-417 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Wildlife Resources; premature separation and hybridization of mammalian wildlife prohibited; exceptions.

Status: Chaptered, April 22, 2026

Department of Wildlife Resources; premature separation and hybridization of mammalian wildlife prohibited; exceptions. Makes it unlawful to separate any mammalian wildlife offspring born in captivity from the mother prior to the offspring turning four months of age or such other species-specific age as may be prescribed by regulation of the Board of Wildlife Resources, except that wildlife offspring may be prematurely separated if a medical necessity exists pursuant to a written order from a veterinarian who is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth and has received training or experience in the care and management of the species being attended. The bill excludes the following from its provisions: (i) agricultural animals; (ii) noncommercial transfers or trades between accredited zoological facilities; (iii) an accredited zoological facility, as defined in the bill, that retains the mammalian wildlife offspring separated by such zoological facility; (iv) the Department of Wildlife Resources, a person operating under a wildlife rehabilitator, scientific collection, or endangered and threatened species permit approved by the Department, or a person operating under a species recovery plan approved by the Department; (v) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; or (vi) any person rendering emergency neonatal aide, including the temporary separation of up to 72 hours until a licensed veterinarian can be engaged for assessment and treatment. The bill also makes it unlawful to intentionally and for commercial purposes propagate mammalian wildlife of different species, also known as hybridization. This bill is identical to HB 112.