(1) (a) A person may not release or transplant a live terrestrial or aquatic wildlife into the wild: (i) without a certificate of registration issued by the division authorizing the release; or (ii) except as provided in this title and rules and regulations established by the Wildlife Board in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act. (b) The division may only authorize the transplanting of big game, turkeys, wolves, threatened or endangered species, or sensitive species as provided in Section 23-14-21.

(a) A person may not release or transplant a live terrestrial or aquatic wildlife into the wild: (i) without a certificate of registration issued by the division authorizing the release; or (ii) except as provided in this title and rules and regulations established by the Wildlife Board in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.

(i) without a certificate of registration issued by the division authorizing the release; or

(ii) except as provided in this title and rules and regulations established by the Wildlife Board in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.

(b) The division may only authorize the transplanting of big game, turkeys, wolves, threatened or endangered species, or sensitive species as provided in Section 23-14-21.

(2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person who violates Subsection (1) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

(3) A person who knowingly and without lawful authority imports, transports, or releases a live species of wildlife that the person knows is listed as threatened or endangered, or is a candidate to be listed under the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq., with the intent to establish the presence of that species in an area of the state not currently known to be occupied by a reproducing population of that species is guilty of a third degree felony.