The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be hosting two additional public meetings to encourage input on captive wildlife regulations in Florida regarding permits to operate a native wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Meeting dates and locations

• Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hyatt House Tampa Airport / Westshore, 5308 Avion Park Drive, Tampa

• Thursday, Oct. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville, 1714 SW 34th St., Gainesville

These meetings are designed to give the public an opportunity to interact directly with FWC Captive Wildlife Section staff and will not include a presentation. The primary purpose of these workshops is for stakeholders to engage with staff and make recommendations regarding draft rule language for native wildlife rehabilitation permitting.

A new draft version of 68A-9.006, F.A.C., is attached and available for review. The new draft version is underlined and struck through to help illustrate the differences between the new draft and the previous draft. Underlined sections are additions from the 9-22 draft version and struck-through sections are removals from the 9-22 draft version. The underlined and struck-through sections show differences between the 9-22 draft version and the 10-4 draft version, not between the draft language and the current effective rule.

If you cannot attend one of the meetings but would still like to submit comments, you may do so using the form online at https://myfwc.com/license/captive-wildlife/public-comments/. All comments already submitted regarding the 9-22 draft version have been received and reviewed and do not need to be resubmitted.