Legal guide
Italian wildlife law
What you can do, what is prohibited, and what the law says if you find an animal in distress.
Emergency numbers
✓What you can legally do
- ✓Collect an injured wild animal to take it to the nearest CRAS — this is not only allowed but encouraged
- ✓Keep it temporarily (24–48 hours) in a safe container while waiting to hand it over to an authorized center
- ✓Report the find to the Forest Carabinieri (1515) — especially for protected species or large predators
- ✓Contact any CRAS directly — they are required to accept animals brought to them
- ✓Photograph and document the location of the find to help the CRAS understand the cause
✗What is prohibited (criminal offences)
- ✗Keeping a wild animal as a pet — even if injured and "rescued" — without regional authorization
- ✗Killing, capturing, harassing, or intentionally disturbing protected species
- ✗Destroying or damaging nests, eggs, or breeding sites of protected species
- ✗Removing bats from buildings without authorization — bat colonies are protected even in private lofts
- ✗Trading wild animals without CITES certification
- ✗Releasing invasive alien species into the wild (e.g. red-eared slider turtle, grey squirrel)
Key legislation
Law 157/1992
Protection of warm-blooded wildlife and hunting regulations
Italy's framework law on wildlife. Establishes that all wild birds and many wild mammals are state property and cannot be privately owned. Prohibits capture, detention, and killing. CRAS operate under regional exemptions.
Birds Directive (2009/147/EC)
Conservation of wild birds — implemented in Italy by D.Lgs. 227/2001
Protects all wild bird species present in the EU. Annex I includes species with enhanced protection (peregrine falcon, white stork, purple heron...). Absolutely prohibits capture, sale, and disturbance.
Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)
Conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna
Annexes II and IV list animal species of strict European conservation interest. These include: all Italian bats, wolf, bear, otter, Hermann's tortoise, European pond turtle.
D.Lgs. 227/2001 + Law 221/2015
Protection of bats (Chiroptera)
All 34 bat species found in Italy are strictly protected. Disturbing breeding or wintering colonies (even in private buildings) is a criminal offence. Forest Carabinieri must be notified before any building work that could disturb bats.
CITES (Washington Convention)
International trade in threatened species — in Italy: Law 150/1992
Regulates trade in protected species internationally. In Italy, keeping specimens listed in Appendix A (the most protected) requires F10 certification. Mainly relevant for exotic reptiles, parrots, and raptors.
⚠ Note: This page is an informational summary, not legal advice. Regional regulations may add additional protections. For specific cases or legal questions, contact the Forest Carabinieri (1515) or an organization like LIPU or WWF Italy.