WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Provides relative to Wildlife Rehabilitation Program rules

This bill updates the rules for Louisiana's Wildlife Rehabilitation Program by clarifying definitions and modifying regulations regarding who can care for injured or orphaned animals. It introduces specific provisions for "wildlife rescuers," allowing individuals to temporarily care for certain small mammals like squirrels and rabbits for up to ninety days without a full permit, while requiring notification for raccoons and skunks. The legislation also establishes a pathway for these individuals to obtain a special permit to keep animals longer if a veterinarian determines the animal cannot be released to the wild. Additionally, the bill mandates that animals kept beyond the initial period must be spayed or neutered and that rabies vector species must be microchipped, while explicitly stating that veterinarians are not liable for their medical assessments unless gross negligence is involved.