15A NCAC 10H .1104 minimum Standards for Caging and Care
(a) General Cage Requirements.
(1) Cages shall be constructed of non-toxic, corrosion-resistant materials sufficient to retain animals without tethers or chains;
(2) Cages shall contain a den area large enough for all the animals in that cage to turn around and lie down;
(3) Cages shall be housed in an area that provides protection from direct sunlight, precipitation, wind, and other weather conditions;
(5) Cages shall be ventilated to sufficiently provide fresh air circulation;
(6) Cages shall be securely anchored and elevated two feet above ground or floor level to facilitate cleaning;
(7) Cages shall be arranged in rows to allow for visual and physical inspection and to allow space for cleaning; and
(8) Cages shall be surrounded by a four foot perimeter fence with a one foot below ground dig barrier designed to prevent ingress and egress by domestic and wild animals. The fence shall have a top electrified wire three feet above the ground and a bottom electrified wire one foot above the ground. The fence shall be free from structures or vegetation.
(b) A pair of animals held for breeding or a female and her litter from the time the litter is born until weaning shall be held in a breeder cage.
(c) A single animal or two mink may be held in a pelter cage.
(d) Mink.
(1) cages shall have a height of 12 inches.
(2) breeder cages shall be 4,300 cubic inches.
(3) pelter cages shall be 2,500 cubic inches for one mink, and 3,800 cubic inches for two mink.
(4) shall be acquired from a furbearer propagation license holder, a captivity license holder, or a licensed non-resident producer of ranch-raised breeding stock that is free from Aleutian Disease, and shall be tested and vaccinated for Aleutian Disease.
(e) Fox.
(1) cages shall have a height of 24 inches.
(2) breeder cages shall be 13 cubic feet.
(3) pelter cages shall be 16 cubic feet.
(f) The following cage dimension requirements in depth (d), width (w), and height (h), measured in feet, shall apply:
SPECIES BREEDER CAGE PELTER CAGE
(d x w x h) (d x w x h)
Beaver 3 x 6 x 2.5 3 x 4 x 2.5
Bobcat 3 x 6 x 2.5 3 x 4 x 2.5
Nutria 3 x 3 x 2.0 3 x 2 x 2.0
Opossum 3 x 3 x 2.0 3 x 2 x 2.0
Otter 3 x 5 x 1.5 3 x 3 x 1.5
Raccoon 3 x 4 x 2.0 3 x 2 x 2.0
Skunk 3 x 3 x 1.5 3 x 2 x 1.5
Weasel 2 x 2 x 1.5 1 x 2 x 1.5
(g) General Sanitation and Food Requirements.
(1) Clean drinking water shall be provided daily. All pools, tanks, water areas, and water containers provided for swimming, wading, or drinking shall be clean. Enclosures shall provide drainage for surface water and runoff;
(2) Water and waste shall be disposed of in accordance with applicable local, State, and federal laws;
(3) Food shall be of a type and quantity that is appropriate for the particular species and in an unspoiled and uncontaminated condition. Food shall be stored to prevent vermin infestation and spoilage;
(4) Fecal and food waste shall be removed daily from inside, under, and around enclosures and disposed of in a manner that prevents seepage into groundwater, noxious odors, or pests;
(5) Effective measures shall be implemented to control ectoparasites, insects, and vermin. These measures shall be documented and provided, upon request, by a representative of the Commission. EPA-approved insecticides may be used. Biological pest control methods may be used;
(6) Acquired or purchased animals shall be quarantined for 30 days. The quarantine area shall have dedicated coveralls, boots, gloves, and footbath; and
(7) Carcasses shall be disposed of in an incinerator, landfill, or buried 3 feet below ground and 300 feet from a waterbody. Carcasses shall be temporarily stored in a sealed container prior to final disposal.
(h) License holders who are authorized to propagate furbearing animals that are rabies species, as defined in Rule .1401(d)(19) of this Subchapter and red foxes, shall:
(1) certify 12 hours of rabies or rabies species-specific training, or a combination thereof, for their initial application;
(2) certify up-to-date rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis in accordance with current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.CDC.gov for themselves and staff members who may contact rabies species;
(3) provide the name and contact information of a North Carolina licensed veterinarian with whom the licensee has consulted and who agrees to provide necessary medical treatment to the rabies species;
(4) certify notification to the appropriate animal control authority and local health department prior to making application to the Commission, to inform them of their anticipated activities and location, and to coordinate future rabies testing activities;
(5) post the following information at the license holder's facility and be provided, upon request, by an authorized representative of the Commission:
(A) proof of immunization or titer checks for individuals who have contact with rabies species;
(B) contact information for the veterinarian who agrees to provide medical treatment to the rabies species;
(C) contact information for the local animal control authority and local health department; and
(D) a written protocol for euthanasia and rabies testing.
(6) consider rabies species to be potentially infected with the rabies virus. If a human or domestic animal has been scratched, bitten, or exposed to saliva, the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, or brain or spinal cord material from a rabies species, the license holder shall contact the local health department immediately to report the incident. License holders shall abide by requests from public health department personnel, animal control, and Commission personnel regarding disposition of the animal. Rabies species that have scratched or bitten a human or domestic animal or die in captivity shall not be released or disposed of until the local health department investigates the situation to determine if testing is necessary. Positive rabies test results shall be reported to the Commission within five business days of receipt from the health department.
(i) Biosecurity Standards. Prior to entering the perimeter fence, all individuals shall:
(1) wear coveralls and boots;
(2) wash their hands with a disinfecting soap or use a waterless hand disinfectant; and
(3) use a footbath of phenolic, chlorhexidine, or quaternary ammonium disinfectants.
Except for license holders, all individuals shall sign an entrance log prior to entering the perimeter fence.
History Note: Authority G.S. 113‑134; 113‑273;
Eff. April 1, 1986;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. December 6, 2016;
Amended Eff. February 1, 2026; November 1, 2019.