50 CFR § 17.80-17.85 - Experimental Populations.

This Subpart H provides for designating as an experimental population a population of endangered or threatened species that will be released into habitats capable of supporting the experimental population outside the species’ current range, in accordance with the provisions of the related Act, in order to ensure the conservation of the species. Before authorising the release as an experimental population of any population of endangered or threatened species, the Regulations require the Secretary to use the best scientific and commercial data to consider: any possible adverse effects on extant populations of a species; the effects that the establishment of an experimental population will have on the recovery of the species; any possible adverse effects to the ecosystem where the experimental population is established.
The Subpart concerns: applicable prohibitions for each population; interagency cooperation; specific rules applicable to vertebrates and invertebrates, for scientific purposes, the enhancement of propagation or survival of the species, zoological exhibitions, including: insects, molluscs, various species of birds, squawfish and woundfin and other marine fishes, wolves, black-footed ferret, grizzly bear, wood bison. Matters covered by this Subpart include: land use activity causing disturbance to certain animals; use of Federal land; feral dogs; tribal trust land; management actions on private land; hunting. The Subpart specifies the protected and conservation areas for each experimental population.