East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue Permits (2026)

City-Parish Code § 14:300(e) defines a "wildlife rehabilitator" as any person who has possessed a valid state or federal permit for the capture and possession of injured, infirm, or orphaned wild or exotic animals for treatment or sanctuary, provided the animals are not used primarily for public display, are not kept as pets, and are not harbored in a recognized subdivision. Section 14:301(a) puts the Animal Control and Rescue Center director in charge of enforcing Title 14 and issuing or denying wild/exotic animal permits, and § 14:301(b) authorizes random, unannounced inspections of any facility holding animals under a Title 14 permit.

carves out an exemption for "a person possessing or having temporary custody of a sick, orphaned or injured wild animal solely for the purpose of temporarily keeping or transporting the animal to a licensed veterinarian or permitted wildlife rehabilitator or animal shelter," along with an accredited AAZP&A organization or a government official authorized to handle the animal. That exemption lets a state- or federally-permitted rehabilitator receive and hold injured wildlife without also obtaining the separate parish wild/exotic animal permit, but it does not exempt anyone keeping wildlife for display, exhibition, or as a pet, which remains barred under § 14:302(a)-(b) regardless of rehabilitator status.