Vertebrate Animal Field Studies

IACUC Policy: 020-04, Effective Date: 10/2002, Last Revision: 08/19/2022

Overview/Purpose

Federal regulations and guidelines require IACUC oversight for all live vertebrate animal activities including field studies that may impact the behavior of the animal. Studies that do not impact animal behavior in the field are exempt from IACUC oversight. This policy describes requirements that are unique to field studies conducted with free living animals.

Definitions

• Field study: any study conducted on free living animals in the wild
• Field safety plan: a plan that identifies the risks associated with field study activities or the physical environment and appropriate measures to mitigate the risks.

Requirements

• Investigators conducting field studies which may impact the animal’s behavior must submit an IACUC protocol for review/approval prior to initiating the study.
• Permits required by other agencies, if applicable, must be stated in the protocol and obtained prior to conducting the study. Electronic copies of the permits should be made available upon request of the IACUC.
• Evidence of permission to conduct the study at the identified location must be provided. A Memorandum of Understanding may be required if the proposed location is currently USDA registered and/or has an OLAW assurance. These documents can be uploaded to the protocol through the “Animal Sources” section (selecting “Wild Caught” or “Free range/Not to be captured” as an animal source will enable uploading of collection permit documents).
• It is the responsibility of the investigator to ensure that a field safety plan is in place before conducting the work in the field. Contact Environmental Health & Safety for assistance. The IACUC may require the plan to be included as part of the protocol on a case-by-case basis.
• All personnel including students or volunteers who will participate in the field research must be listed in the protocol and be familiar with the protocol content.
• It is the responsibility of the Investigator to manually document the number of animals used on the protocol in the e-IACUC system on at least an annual basis.
• The PI must report to the IACUC any unexpected animal injuries or deaths due to activities associated with the research project.
• The IACUC may require additional information regarding the location throughout the approval period of the work including the submission of reports or pictures.

Applicable Regulations

• Animal Welfare Act (AWA, Public Law 89-544, 7 U.S.C.)
• Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWAR, 9 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter A)
• Health Research Extension Act of 1985 and Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• National Research Council Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Eighth Edition. National Academy of Sciences, 2011
• AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals

Additional Information/Guidance 

• Field Research Safety Information from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety
• Guidelines for use of Fishes in Research
• Guidelines for Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field and Laboratory research
• Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research
• Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the use of wild mammals in research and education, Journal of Mammalogy, 97(3):663-688, 2016 ( )