Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025

The Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 would require the Secretary of the Interior, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to establish a voluntary Wildlife Confiscations Network. The goal is to assist federal wildlife law enforcement with the placement and care of confiscated live wildlife (including CITES-listed species and threatened or endangered species) by connecting law enforcement at ports and crossings with a nationwide pool of qualified care facilities (such as zoos, aquariums, wildlife sanctuaries, rescue groups, universities, and NGOs). The network would maintain a database of suitable facilities, develop care and welfare protocols, and serve as a single point of contact for placement and care from seizure to disposition (placement or repatriation). The act would authorize annual funding of $5 million for 2026–2030 to carry out these activities and would create a committee to approve members and oversee network operations. In short, the bill aims to formalize and expand a private-sector–driven network to handle the care, documentation, and placement of seized wildlife, thereby easing burdens at ports of entry and ensuring proper treatment and handling of confiscated animals while maintaining legal chain of custody.