AL HB476

Establishes the Alabama Good Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation Act, allowing individuals to provide care to injured, orphaned, or debilitated wild birds and animals without a state permit, provided the species is not federally protected or endangered

Limits care duration to six months for most wildlife, with an exception allowing up to three years for beavers

Requires raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats to be vaccinated for rabies before release if a veterinary facility treating such animals is within five miles

Rehabilitated animals must be returned to the wild in the general area where they were collected and cannot be kept as pets

Effective date: October 1, 2026