The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (referred to in this section as the "Secretary"), may issue depredation permits to livestock producers authorizing takings of black vultures or common ravens otherwise prohibited by Federal law to prevent those vultures or common ravens from taking livestock during the calving season or lambing season.
The Secretary may issue permits under subsection (a) only to livestock producers in States and regions in which livestock producers are affected or have been affected in the previous year by black vultures or common ravens, as determined by Secretary.
The Secretary shall require, as a condition of a permit under subsection (a), that the permit holder shall report to the appropriate enforcement agencies the takings of black vultures or common ravens pursuant to the permit.
7 U.S.C. § 8356