Damage or Danger Permit

A Damage or Danger permit issued by Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) under the Migratory Bird Regulations, 2022 (MBR) authorizes permit holders to scare migratory birds, destroy eggs or nests, relocate birds or their nests, or kill birds in instances where the birds, nests, or eggs are causing damage to property or threaten public health and safety.

Application and report forms

• Instruction sheet
• Permit application form
• Damage or Danger permit reporting form
• Annex to conduct activities on a private property: Letter of authorization from the landowner or lessee

The service standard for Damage or Danger permits is that 90% of decisions are made within 35 calendar days.

Damage or Danger permits are free of charge. They are valid until the expiry date indicated on the permit or December 31 of the year in which it was issued if no expiry date is listed on the permit.

Submit applications to the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) office in the region where the activities will be conducted. contact information for regional CWS offices is found below.

Types of damage or danger permits

Federal Scaring Permits

A permit holder, subject to the conditions of the permit, is permitted to scare migratory birds with an aircraft or firearm within a defined area and specified time if the birds are causing or are likely to cause danger to human health or public safety or damage to agricultural, environmental or other interests. Under the authority of a damage or danger permit, it is prohibited to have in your possession or use any lead shot; only non-toxic shots can be used.

Federal Killing Permits

A permit holder and their nominees, subject to the conditions of the permit, are permitted to kill migratory birds within a defined area and specified time if the birds are causing or are likely to cause danger to human health or public safety or damage to agricultural, environmental or other interests. Permit holders are permitted to gift the taken birds to a person for the purpose of consumption (including for charitable purposes – in which birds must be preserved), taxidermy or training dogs as retrievers.

Permit to Destroy Eggs and Nests

A permit holder and the nominees named in the permit are permitted, subject to the conditions of the permit, to take and destroy the eggs of the migratory bird species specified in the permit and/or to remove and destroy the nests of those species in an area described in the permit. The permit also allows its holder, subject to the conditions of that permits, to dispose of the eggs and nests in the manner indicated in the permit.

Relocation Permits for Migratory Birds, Eggs and Nests

A permit holder and their nominees are permitted undertake activities for the purpose of relocating migratory birds, eggs and nests described in the permit in a manner set out in the permit including:

• The capture of migratory birds, the taking of eggs and the removal of nests in an area described in the permit
• The transport of those migratory birds, eggs and nests to the other area described in the permit
• The release of those migratory birds, and the placement of those eggs and nests, in that other area.

Who can apply

Federal Scaring Permits

Federal scaring permits may only be issued to the individual who owns, leases or manages the parcel of land, or holds an easement, servitude, right-of-way, licence of occupation, or holds rights under provincial laws to use land for public utilities or infrastructure on which the migratory bird is causing damage or danger. Federal scaring permit holders may only list residents of the province in which the damage or danger is occurring as nominees on the permit.

Federal Killing Permits

Federal killing permits may only be issued to the individual who owns, leases or manages the parcel of land, or holds an easement, servitude, right-of-way, licence of occupation, or holds rights under provincial laws to use land for public utilities or infrastructure on which the migratory bird is causing damage or danger. Federal killing permit holders may only list residents of the province in which the damage or danger is occurring as nominees on the permit.

Permit to Destroy Eggs and Nests

Permits to destroy eggs and nests may only be issued to the individual who owns, leases or manages the parcel of land, or holds an easement, servitude, right-of-way, licence of occupation, or holds rights under provincial laws to use land for public utilities or infrastructure on which the damage or danger is occurring.​ Nominees may be listed on this permit​.

Relocation Permits for Migratory Birds, Eggs and Nests

Relocation permits may only be issued to the individual who owns, leases or manages the parcel of land, or holds an easement, servitude, right-of-way, licence of occupation, or holds rights under provincial laws to use land for public utilities or infrastructure  from which the birds are captured, the eggs are taken or the nests are removed​. The landowner of the release site must approve the release of the migratory birds on their property. ​ Nominees may be listed on this permit​.

Activities for which no permit is required

Scaring Birds Without Firearms of Aircraft

Scaring migratory birds without the use of a firearm or aircraft is not prohibited by the MBR. Thus, no permit is required to undertake this activity. Examples of methods to scare migratory birds that do not require a permit include the use of pyrotechnics or noisemakers.

Nests not Protected by Schedule I of the MBR

Nests of migratory bird species not listed on schedule I of the MBR may be damaged, destroyed, removed or disturbed without a permit if they do not contain a live bird or viable egg.

Reporting requirements

It is the responsibility of a Damage or Danger Permit holder to report on all activities listed on the permit, unless the permit only authorizes scaring activities. Report due dates are indicated on the issued permit.

Contact information for Canadian Wildlife Service offices (by region)

Atlantic region New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island
17 Waterfowl Lane
P.O. Box 6227
Sackville NB  E4L 1G6

Telephone: 506-364-5068
Fax: 506-364-5062
Email: Permi.Atl@ec.gc.ca

Quebec region
801-1550 Avenue d'Estimauville
Quebec QC  G1J 0C3

Telephone: 418-649-6129
Fax: 418-648-4871
Email: PermisSCFQuebec-CWSQuebecPermit@ec.gc.ca

Ontario region
335 River Road
Ottawa ON  K1V 1C7

Telephone: 613-990-8355
Fax: 613-990-8400
Email: wildlifeontario@ec.gc.ca

Prairie region
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
115 Perimeter Road
Saskatoon SK  S7N 0X4

Telephone: 306-975-6794
Fax: 306-975-4089
Email: prpermisscf-cwspermitpr@ec.gc.ca

Pacific region
British Columbia
60 Front Street L3
Nanaimo BC  V9R 5H7

Telephone: 250-327-4101
Email: scfpacpermitscwspacpermits@ec.gc.ca

Northern region
Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon
PO Box 1870
Suite 301, 933 Mivvik St.
Iqaluit NU  X0A 0H0

Telephone: 867-975-4636
Fax: 867-975-4645
Email: CWSPermitNorth-PermisNordSCF@ec.gc.ca

Related links

• Note to all applicants: Service standards for migratory bird permits can be found online. Please note that when incomplete applications are received, Environment and Climate Change Canada will notify the applicant and the time limit will be “paused” or “suspended” until all the missing information is received
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the appropriate provincial/territorial wildlife agency and municipal office for information about possible additional permits required for the planned activity
• When applying for a damage or danger permit for the purpose of goose management, please refer to the information and best practice guidelines before undertaking the application process