Texas Rabies Quarantine & Animal Handling

Animal Handling

The Texas Film Commission encourages productions to employ best animal handling practices when working with animals on their project. The following resources may be helpful: 

• CSATF Animal Handling Rules for the Motion Picture Industry
  Safety bulletins via the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund, A non-profit organization that administers a variety of programs for the benefit of the motion picture and television industry.

• Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media
  Information from the American Humane Association.

Texas Wild Animal Transport Restrictions / Rabies Quarantine

Texas is under a statewide rabies quarantine (Title 25, Section 169.34 of the Texas Administrative Code). Therefore, it is illegal to transport the following species from, to, or within the State of Texas:

• foxes,
• coyotes,
• skunks,
• or raccoons indigenous to North America.

However, film companies wishing to transport animals subject to the Texas statewide rabies quarantine from, into, or within Texas may do so if the responsibility for transportation is assumed by a legally exempt group:

• peace officers;
• individuals hired or contracted by state or federal agencies or local governments;
• employees of a zoo or other institution accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums;
• Visit the Texas Department of State Health Services for a comprehensive list of exempt groups.

Statewide Fur-bearing Animal Proclamation

According to the Statewide Fur-bearing Animal Proclamation (Title 31, Section 65.378 of the Texas Administrative Code), fur-bearing animals cannot be imported into Texas unless accompanied by a

• permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Customs Service;
• a health certificate signed by a veterinarian accredited in the state of origin;
• and, if the animal is a fox, raccoon, or skunk, a signed letter of authorization from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

The DSHS is willing to work on a case-by-case basis pertaining to movement of skunks. Given that movement of foxes indigenous to North America and raccoons is prohibited as described in the first paragraph, a letter from DSHS authorizing movement will only be issued to an entity exempted from the statewide rabies quarantine.

Additional Online Resources

• Texas Department of State Health Services Website - “Statewide Wild Animal Transport Restrictions”
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Website - “Fur-bearing Animals”
• Texas Administrative Code - Statewide Rabies Quarantine
• Texas Administrative Code - Statewide Fur-bearing Animal Proclamation

Further Information
For more information, please contact:

Department of State Health Services
Zoonosis Control Division
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756
512-776-7255
www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/

Texas Parks and Wildlife
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
512-389-4800 | 800-792-1112
www.tpwd.texas.gov