HR3538-119

What This Bill Does

The Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 responds to wildlife trafficking and live-animal seizures at U.S. ports and borders, citing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data from 2015 to 2019 involving 834 live-wildlife interdiction cases and 48,793 individual animals. It defines confiscated animals as CITES, threatened, or endangered species seized at or en route to or from a U.S. port or border and placed at a qualified animal care facility. Qualified facilities can include zoological facilities, aquarium facilities, wildlife sanctuaries, animal rescue organizations, animal rehabilitation organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and universities reviewed by the Network committee that already care for CITES or threatened or endangered species or have relevant expertise and recent confiscated-animal care experience. The Interior Secretary, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director, must establish a voluntary cooperative Wildlife Confiscations Network in partnership with a professional accrediting zoological association with existing capacity and expertise. The Network must create care and welfare response protocols, maintain a database of qualified animal care facilities for triage and long-term care, establish a committee to review and approve or reject applications, and act as the single point of contact for federal wildlife law enforcement agencies needing placement and care. The committee includes representatives from FWS, the accrediting zoological association partner, and participating facility categories. The bill authorizes $5 million for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030.

Who Benefits and How

Federal wildlife law enforcement agencies benefit from a single point of contact for placing seized live wildlife. Confiscated CITES animals benefit from triage, quarantine, long-term housing, and care protocols. Qualified zoos and aquariums benefit from formal network participation and potential support for confiscated-animal care. Wildlife sanctuaries and rescue organizations benefit from a recognized role in federal placement decisions. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officers benefit from added capacity beyond port holding facilities.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must establish the network, participate in the committee, and coordinate placements. Professional zoological association staff must administer the partnership and help assess facility capacity. Applicant facilities must document permits, licenses, credentials, and responsible care capability. Federal taxpayers bear the authorized $5 million per year cost from fiscal 2026 through 2030.

Key Provisions

• Establishes a voluntary cooperative Wildlife Confiscations Network through FWS and a professional zoological association.
• Creates response protocols for care and welfare of confiscated animals.
• Requires a database of qualified facilities for immediate triage and long-term housing.
• Creates a committee to approve or reject applications from sanctuaries, aquariums, zoos, rescue organizations, rehabilitation organizations, universities, and NGOs.
• Makes the Network the single point of contact for federal wildlife law enforcement placement and care assistance.
• Authorizes $5 million per year for fiscal 2026 through 2030.