Get a wildlife research permit

Do I need a permit?

You need a wildlife research permit to conduct wildlife research in the Yukon.

Wildlife research includes, but is not limited to:

• habitat inventories;
• population inventories and distributions;
• genetic testing; and
• research that includes the capture or harvest of wildlife.

Apply for a wildlife research permit

You may experience unforeseen delays. Begin the application process as soon as possible ahead of the planned research.

1. Make sure you have the following information:
   • project information;
   • personnel;
   • objectives and methods;
   • timelines; and
   • locations of study in the Yukon.
2. Complete the wildlife research permit application form.
3. Review your application and make sure you filled all the necessary sections. We will not review incomplete applications.
4. Submit your application.
   Email: [email protected]
   In person: 10 Burns Road in Whitehorse. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
   Mail:
   Government of Yukon
   Conservation Officer Services (V-18)
   Box 2703
   Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
5. Allow 30 days for us to process your application.

Additional application for handling wildlife

To get approval to handle wildlife that is not fish, you need to complete the application to handle wildlife form.

1. Make sure you have the following information:
   • animal selection, capture, and marking protocols;
   • animal handling activities (including how you will protect species from possible COVID-19 transmission);
   • fate of animals;
   • project justification; and
   • funding source(s).
2. Complete the application to handle wildlife form. 
3. Submit your completed application. Submit both applications at the same time to expedite the process.
   Email: [email protected]
   In person: 10 Burns Road in Whitehorse. We are open from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
   Mail:
   Government of Yukon
   Animal Health Unit (V-7)
   Box 2703
   Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

Additional permits or applications

You may also need the following permits and licences:

• A Scientists and Explorers Act licence for researchers who reside outside the Yukon.
• A park permit for research in a territorial park.
• A research and collection permit for research in a national park.
• An environmental impact screening committee process under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement for research at Herschel Island and on the Yukon North Slope. 
• Written confirmation of consultation with First Nation(s) and consent for research on First Nations Settlement Land.
• An access permit for access and work within highway right-of-ways.
• A land use permit for land use access.
• A Dempster Highway development permit for using motorized vehicles off-road on the Dempster Highway corridor.
• A Yukon archeological sites regulation permit for paleontological or archeological activities.
• A camping permit for use of Yukon campgrounds.
• A wilderness tourism licence for taking clients into the wilderness.
• Migratory bird permits for research involving migratory birds.

It's your responsibility to ensure you have all the permits and applications you need.

Follow up

You have to submit a report of the work to the Department of Environment for:

• wildlife research ; and
• handling wildlife.