Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Colorado requires a Colorado Parks and Wildlife wildlife rehabilitation permit before you possess injured or orphaned native wildlife. Handle migratory birds and you also need a USFWS permit under 50 CFR 21.31. CPW limits new permits by species and inspects your facility first. Plan months for paper, a year or more for experience. Confirm current CPW fees before applying.
Do you need a license for wildlife rehabilitator in Colorado?
Yes. You need a Colorado Parks and Wildlife wildlife rehabilitation permit before you take in injured, sick, or orphaned native wildlife. A local town business license does nothing here. C.R.S. 33-6-114 gives CPW authority to require a special activity license for rehabilitation, and CPW uses Chapter 13 of its regulations, 2 CCR 406-13, to set the actual permit, facility, and recordkeeping rules. [1][2]
Handle migratory birds and the state permit alone is not enough. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues a separate migratory bird rehabilitation permit under 50 CFR 21.31. [3] That federal permit covers songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, and most other native birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Colorado treats unpermitted possession of protected wildlife as a state violation, even when your intent is to help. This is not a gray area. The answer is yes.
How much does wildlife rehabilitator cost in Colorado?
The honest answer has two layers. The CPW permit fee is the cheap part. Colorado's published special activity fee schedule has shown a wildlife rehabilitation permit application fee around $100 in recent cycles, but CPW can change fees. Confirm the number on the current CPW fee schedule before you write a check, because state pages and third-party summaries go stale. [4]
Your real first-year cost runs $500 to $3,000 or more for caging, food, heating, and veterinary supplies, and that range swings hard by species. A small squirrel setup costs less than a waterfowl pool or a raptor flight cage. You may also need a Colorado licensed veterinarian willing to sign off or provide care. If that vet charges full retail, your annual cost climbs fast.
| Cost layer | Typical range | Why it moves |
|---|---|---|
| CPW permit fee | confirm current fee, often under $200 | new vs renewal |
| USFWS bird permit | separate federal fee | permit class and species |
| Enclosures and caging | $500 to $3,000+ | species, size, materials |
| Veterinary relationship | $0 to $1,000+ per year | clinic policy, caseload |
Do not budget zero for rejected animals and euthanasia. Some animals arrive with injuries that need a same-day vet call. If you cannot cover a $300 surprise vet bill, you are not ready to take the animal. [5]
How long does wildlife rehabilitator take in Colorado?
Plan months, not weeks. CPW does not publish a guaranteed processing window, and the process moves on CPW time, not yours. A complete application can take several weeks to a few months because CPW may schedule a facility inspection and review your veterinary references. [4]
Start with no wildlife handling experience and the real answer is longer. Many Colorado rehabbers spend a year or more volunteering under an existing permit holder before CPW takes their application seriously. That logged time matters more than any online course certificate. [5]
Plan for two clocks. The paper and inspection clock is often a few months. The experience clock is often a year or two. If you need a permit by a specific date, call the CPW Special Licensing Unit and ask whether your submitted materials are complete. No article can promise you a date.
What does Colorado law actually require?
Colorado's enabling statute is C.R.S. 33-6-114. It gives the state authority to require a permit for wildlife rehabilitation and to write rules around it. The working rulebook is 2 CCR 406-13, Chapter 13. CPW uses that chapter for permit classes, species restrictions, cage dimensions, quarantine, and records. [1][2]
Here is what the good Samaritan exception does not mean: keep it in your house for six weeks. Colorado law lets a member of the public transport an injured wild animal to a permitted rehabber or veterinarian. It does not allow unpermitted long-term care. Want to do the long-term care? You are applying for the same paper as a facility operator.
The federal side is blunt. 50 CFR 21.31 says, “Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, you must have a valid migratory bird rehabilitation permit to take, possess, or transport any migratory bird for rehabilitation purposes.” [3] That sentence is the cleanest reason a state permit alone does not make you legal for a robin.
What do CPW's permit authorizations look like?
Colorado's Chapter 13 rules do not treat every wildlife rehabilitation permit as unlimited. CPW ties permits to species and facility restrictions. A new applicant may get a permit limited to a narrow list, often small mammals or common birds, and can later ask to expand. Do not build for raptors until CPW has approved you for raptors. [2]
Some people hear Level I or Level II and picture a classroom rank. In practice, a lower-level or provisional permit may require you to work under a sponsoring veterinarian or an approved wildlife rehabilitator. A facility permit may let you operate more independently.
Read the current CPW application and Chapter 13 before you spend money. Class names change. So do species lists. What matters is what your paper says you can accept, not what a social media post claimed. If CPW limits you to squirrels, do not take a raccoon.
What species and situations does a Colorado permit cover?
Native wild species only. No domestic animals, no exotic pets, no game farm species under a rehab permit. Colorado's regulations also treat some species differently for disease or public safety risk. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats may carry rabies or other zoonotic disease. CPW may bar new permittees from taking them or require extra authorization. [2]
Large mammals like deer, elk, bear, and mountain lion bring their own problems. Some Colorado facilities are authorized for large mammal rehabilitation, but a home-based permit usually is not. The state can also restrict intake during disease events, such as chronic wasting disease in deer or highly pathogenic avian influenza in birds. When in doubt, call the local CPW office before accepting an animal. A bad intake can sink your permit.
Migratory birds are federal, regardless of what your Colorado permit says. A robin, a crow, and a Canada goose all fall under 50 CFR 21.31. You need both CPW authorization and the USFWS permit before you hold them for rehabilitation. [3]
What facility and enclosure rules does CPW enforce?
CPW inspects before it approves. The inspector looks at enclosures, quarantine space, waste handling, food storage, escape prevention, and how you separate different species. Chapter 13 sets minimum cage sizes and materials. A solid, cleanable surface matters. Wire floors alone are usually not enough for many species. [2]
You need a real quarantine area if you take multiple animals. That may mean a separate room or separate building, more than a towel over a crate. You need hot and cold water, a place to sanitize dishes and caging, and a plan for dead animals and biohazard waste. CPW will ask how you keep raccoon or skunk intake separate if you are authorized for it.
Want the paper plan without starting from blank sheets? WildlifeRehabPath's $149 one-time State + USFWS Enclosure Kit gives editable diagrams and cage plan templates, but the inspector's reading of Chapter 13 is what counts. The kit does not replace the inspection. It just saves you a weekend of drawing rectangles.
Do you need a federal permit and what does it cost?
Only if you want migratory birds, and most Colorado rehabbers will. The USFWS migratory bird rehabilitation permit is a separate federal application. You apply through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and it is authorized under 50 CFR 21.31. [3][6]
The federal permit has its own form and fee schedule. Do not assume the state fee covers it. In recent years the federal fee has been modest, often under $100, but that number can lag behind schedule changes. Check the current FWS fee schedule on the permit service page before you apply. [6]
The federal permit also carries requirements about release, transfer, euthanasia, and annual reporting. Want to rehabilitate eagles? Some birds have added permit issues under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. CPW cannot issue that federal authority for you.
What experience and training does CPW expect?
CPW's application asks for documented wildlife handling experience. That usually means hours logged under another permit holder or a wildlife veterinarian. Show up with no logged hours and only an online course, and expect the application to stall. [5]
A licensed Colorado veterinarian is a common requirement or strong expectation in the application. CPW wants a veterinary contact who will examine, prescribe, or euthanize your animals. Find that vet before you apply. Ask local rehabbers which clinics in your county work with wildlife. Some will not.
The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council offer entry-level courses, and those help you learn the language. But Colorado's permit decision rests on its own application. Use courses to get better, not as a substitute for CPW's rules.
What is the Colorado application path, step by step?
1. Read 2 CCR 406-13 and the current CPW wildlife rehabilitation application. Do not pay a consultant first.
2. Volunteer under a Colorado permit holder and log your hours. This is the slow step.
3. Secure a Colorado licensed veterinarian willing to support you.
4. Build or plan your facility to the Chapter 13 dimensions for the species you want.
5. Submit the completed application and fee to CPW's Special Licensing Unit.
6. Pass the facility inspection. Fix what the inspector flags.
7. Receive your permit with its species and class limits.
8. If you want birds, file the separate USFWS migratory bird rehabilitation permit.
9. Start taking animals only within your paper's limits, and keep the records Chapter 13 requires. [2]
What wastes money for first-year Colorado rehabbers?
My opinion: the expensive mistakes are not the application fee. They are building too big, buying for the wrong species, and skipping a mentor. A $3,000 raptor flight cage is dead weight if CPW will not authorize raptors for a new applicant. A $400 incubator is overkill when a good digital thermometer and a plastic tote work for squirrels and rabbits.
Paying for a national course then assuming it licenses you is another waste. Courses teach. CPW licenses. Buy a course and pair it with hands-on hours, or you end up with a certificate and no practical reference.
The cheapest thing you can do is volunteer. It is free, it builds the exact logged hours CPW wants, and it shows you whether you actually want to feed babies every two hours at 6 a.m. If you hate that, the permit was never the problem.
How does Colorado compare with other states?
Wildlife rehab licensing is state by state. Colorado's CPW permit does not transfer to Alabama, Alaska, California, Texas, or Tennessee. Moving or comparing setups? Read the state guide for where you live. Alabama runs a different state structure, and Texas goes through TPWD. See how to start as a wildlife rehabilitator in Alabama and wildlife rehabilitator license in Tennessee: what you actually need.
For nearby western programs, compare wildlife rehabilitator license in California and wildlife rehabilitator license in Arizona. The full Colorado startup walkthrough is at how to start wildlife rehabilitator in colorado. Texas has a separate guide at how to start as a wildlife rehabilitator in Texas.
Where should you confirm Colorado's current fees, forms, and timelines?
Colorado's fee schedule and forms are the source, not this article. CPW updates its special activity license fees and application packets, and USFWS does the same with federal permits. Call the CPW Special Licensing Unit or visit the CPW wildlife rehabilitation page before you pay anything. [4]
No article, including this one, can guarantee approval or a date. Wildlife rehabilitation is a permission, not a right. The agency can deny a permit if your facility plan is weak or your records are wrong. The safest first move is to ask CPW for the current packet and apply exactly from it.
Building a home-based first year? Start small. Master the paper and the species before you add more. And know that WildlifeRehabPath's $149 enclosure kit is a time-saving layout pack. It is not a law firm, not a permit service, and not a shortcut around CPW.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for wildlife rehabilitator in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado requires a wildlife rehabilitation permit from Colorado Parks and Wildlife before you possess injured, sick, or orphaned native wildlife. The state permit is separate from any local business license. If you also handle migratory birds, you need a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service migratory bird rehabilitation permit under 50 CFR 21.31. Good intentions do not create an exception.
How much does wildlife rehabilitator cost in Colorado?
The CPW permit fee has been around $100 in recent published schedules, but confirm the current fee on CPW's fee schedule. The real cost is not the fee. Expect $500 to $3,000 or more in first-year caging, food, and supplies. A veterinarian relationship can add yearly costs. Budget for a surprise vet bill before you accept an animal.
How long does wildlife rehabilitator take in Colorado?
Plan months, not weeks. CPW does not publish a guaranteed processing time. A complete application may need several weeks to a few months for review and a facility inspection. Starting with no wildlife experience, add a year or more of volunteering under an existing permit holder before CPW takes the application seriously.
Can I rehabilitate birds with only a Colorado permit?
No. Migratory birds are protected by federal law. You need a separate USFWS migratory bird rehabilitation permit under 50 CFR 21.31 in addition to the Colorado permit. A robin, crow, hawk, or goose all fall under it. State approval alone is not enough for migratory birds. Apply through the USFWS permit system.
What is the difference between a CPW and USFWS wildlife rehab permit?
The Colorado permit comes from CPW and authorizes native wildlife under state law. The USFWS permit comes from the federal government and covers migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Many Colorado rehabbers need both. They have separate applications, fees, and reporting. One does not replace the other.
Do I need a veterinarian to get a Colorado wildlife rehab permit?
CPW expects a licensed veterinarian in your plan. The application generally asks for a Colorado veterinarian who will examine, treat, or euthanize animals. Some permits may require a sponsoring veterinarian. Find one before you apply. Ask local rehabbers which clinics take wildlife, because not every clinic will.
Can I rehabilitate raccoons or skunks with a Colorado permit?
These are rabies vector species. Colorado may restrict or prohibit them for new permittees, or require extra authorization. Do not assume a basic permit covers raccoons, skunks, foxes, or bats. Check current CPW Chapter 13 rules and your specific permit conditions before accepting one. A wrong intake can put your permit at risk.
Can I rehabilitate wildlife from my home in Colorado?
Yes, many Colorado rehabbers work from a home facility, but the home still must pass a CPW inspection. You need proper caging, quarantine, sanitation, food storage, and waste handling. Chapter 13 sets minimum caging and facility standards. A spare bathroom or garage may work for some species. It will not work for all.
What records does CPW require for wildlife rehab in Colorado?
Chapter 13 requires intake, care, release, transfer, and mortality records. You generally need species, date, location, finder information, disposition, and any veterinary treatment. CPW may inspect those records. Keep them current and legible. For migratory birds, the USFWS permit carries its own annual reporting requirements.
Is there an age minimum to get a wildlife rehab permit in Colorado?
CPW wildlife rehabilitation permits generally go to adult applicants. If you are under 18, the better path is volunteering with a licensed Colorado rehabilitator. That builds the exact logged experience CPW will want later. Check the current CPW application for any age and supervision rules before you spend money.
How do I renew a Colorado wildlife rehabilitation permit?
CPW wildlife rehabilitation permits are not permanent. You must renew, and renewal asks whether your records, facilities, and species authorizations remain current. Check your permit expiration and the current CPW renewal form. Do not let it lapse while animals are in your care. USFWS migratory bird permits also have renewal deadlines.
Where do I apply for a Colorado wildlife rehab permit?
You apply through the CPW Special Licensing Unit using the current wildlife rehabilitation application packet. The CPW wildlife rehabilitation page has the form and fee schedule. For birds, file a federal application through the USFWS ePermits system or the migratory bird rehabilitation permit service page. Start with current official forms, not a screenshot.
Sources
- Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 33, Article 6, Section 33-6-114: State law authorizes Colorado Parks and Wildlife to require a wildlife rehabilitation permit.
- Colorado Secretary of State, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 406-13 (Wildlife Rehabilitation): State regulations set permit classes, species restrictions, facility standards, and recordkeeping for wildlife rehabilitation.
- eCFR, Title 50, Part 21, Section 21.31 (Migratory bird rehabilitation permits): Requires a valid migratory bird rehabilitation permit to take, possess, or transport migratory birds for rehabilitation.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Rehabilitation Program: CPW application process, requirements, and current forms for wildlife rehabilitation permits.
- National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, Becoming a Wildlife Rehabilitator: Common steps to becoming a wildlife rehabilitator include training, permitting, mentoring, and facility preparation.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Permits (50 CFR 21): Federal permit application path and separate fee schedule for migratory bird rehabilitation permits.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Special Activity Licenses: Current CPW special activity fee schedule and forms; all fees and processing times should be confirmed from this source.