OTHER NONNATIVE SPECIES

Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species Permit (CSP) divided into:


~ All categories - Piranha/pirambeba (Serrasalminae) - BANNED ~



~ Research ~

CSP - Research Permit

Collect from FWC Wildlife Management Areas; collect/release


~ Exhibition ~
CSP

Unlisted species taken from FWC managered areas

Excludes: EO 20-17 areas


~ Commercial Use ~
CSP - Commercial Use of Nonnative/Conditional Species Permit

Unlisted reptiles taken from FWC managed areas for commercial use

Excludes: EO 20-17 areas


AND


Regulated under captive wildlife and commercial hunting/fishing laws



~ Personal use/pets ~

Regulated under captive wildlife and hunting/fishing laws




~ Importation (African tortoises) ~

CSP - Importation Of African Tortoises Permit

Certificate of Veterinary Inspection

Import pet African spurred tortoise, leopard tortoise, Bell’s hingeback tortoise

Need: containers disinfected before AND incinerated or exported in 24 hours


~ Importation (Aquatic Nonnative Pets) ~

CSP - Importation Of Aquatic Nonnative Species for Personal Use Permit



Personal use prohibited reptiles before added to prohibited list

PROHIBITED SPECIES

Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species Permit (CSP) divided into:



~ Research (sea snakes) - BANNED ~

~ Research (rest) ~

CSP - Research Permit

Collect nonnative species from FWC Wildlife Management Areas, transport/possess live conditional/prohibited; collect/release nonnative


~ Exhibition (sea snakes) ~
CSP - Public Exhibition of Conditional And/or Prohibited Species Permit

License to Possess or Exhibit Venomous Reptiles and/or Reptiles of Concern (VRC)

Prohibited Reptile Inventory Report Form (reptiles only)


~ Exhibition (rest) ~
CSP - Public Exhibition of Conditional And/or Prohibited Species Permit
Prohibited Reptile Inventory Report Form (reptiles only)


~ Eradication and Control ~
CSP - Eradication And Control of Nonnative Species Permit


~ Commercial Sale - Tegus/Green Iguanas ~
CSP - Commercial Use of Tegus And/or Green Iguanas Permit

Grandfathered Class III ESC holders in 2020 if on 2018/2019 permit - until 6/30/24


~ Commercial Sale (rest) - BANNED ~



~ Personal use/pets (grandfathered) ~

CSP - Grandfathered Prohibited Species for Personal Use Permit

Pets held under captive permit before being added



~ Personal use/pets (rest) - BANNED ~




~ Importation ~

Wildlife Importation Permit - FREE - 45 days



GRANDFATHERING

Other personal use prohibited species owned on the effective date of being listed as prohibited

NEED: permit, PIT tag, Disaster and Critical Incident Plans, records of ID within 90 days

- May be transferred to another permit holder upon death of owner 

Prohibited Species

Exhibit:

  • Aquatic: maintain in indoor facilities in containers or confinement facilities with either no exterior water discharge or a closed system
  • Terrestrial: maintain in indoor facilities in cages or confinement facilities that prevent escape and public contact
  • Critical incident and disaster plan
  • Allow inspection
  • Sea snakes: BANS in coastal county along with any contiguous connection to state waters; must be males; must provide quarterly reports with number and inventory changes; $1 million letter of credit; BANS barter, sale and trade in state; import only by airplane at non-coastal airport; follow venomous reptile laws    
  • BANS exhibition of prohibited species for exhibition on residential properties except for exempted green iguanas and tegus above AND newly listed prohibited Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons, Northern African pythons, Southern African pythons, scrub pythons, amethystine pythons, green anacondas, or Nile monitors for exhibitors that had them on 2019 or 2020 license
  • Allows enclosure and material deviations when square footage is adequate and locomotion not compromised
  • Prohibited reptiles: (Adopted 2/25/21)
    • outdoor mobile exhibitions require locked enclosures with NO free-handling or public contact except indoor ones may be handled. 
    • Rooms/outbuilding need safety entrance with locking device inspected before use.
    • Viewing panels as part of outdoor wall must be 1/4" tempered safety glass. 
    • Outdoor enclosures: need close-meshed wire or equivalent, must NOT be used for breeding, require PIT tag for reptile, 2" thick concrete or masonry block floors with 8" thick and 4' high walls, guarded corners to prevent climbing, landscaping does not allow escape,and shelter - must meet within 180 days after being listed as prohibited.
    • All enclosures need prohibited reptile sign.  
    • Must meet minimum caging. 
    • Need PIT tag for snakes over 1/2" diameter and lizards over 5" SVL (must stay inside before that).
    • BANS breeding except AZA or ZAA or institutions, research, or qualifying commercial use.
    • Prohibited reptile species being free-handled in exhibition indoors are allowed public contact


Research:

  • Issued only for faculty of college or university, affiliation with accredited institution or government agency member
  • Detailed research proposal with objectives, methodology, duration and safeguards
  • List of personnel with access to species AND final disposition arrangements for species
  • Aquatic: Do research only indoors with either no exterior water discharge or closed system
  • Terrestrial: Do research only indoors in cages or confinement facilities
  • Critical incident and disaster plan
  •  All inspections
  • Detailed report of research findings for renewal                 
  • Immediately report escape or release to FWC


Amnesty:

  • Adopters may accept non-native species from unpermitted persons
  • Relinquishers are immune from permit requirement violation
  • Reptiles of concern or conditional snakes and lizards may be accepted from unpermitted persons by those with license to possess or exhibit reptiles who complete Captive Wildlife Inventory-Donated Reptile form within 72 hours
  • State and counties wildlife agencies may accept non-native species:


FLORIDA CONDITIONAL/PROHIBITED/NONNATIVE SPECIES LAWS


Conditional and prohibited species are regulated by the Wildlife Impact Management Section.   


PERMIT (Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species permit) required to transport into the state, introduce, or possess any listed non-native freshwater fish, aquatic invertebrate, marine plant or animal, or wild animal for any purpose that might result in liberation.



CATEGORIES

Conditional Species


Fish/ Crayfish:

  • Outdoor tanks must be 1’ above 100-year flood elevation with barrier system
  • Public visitation must be under supervision 
  • Indoors must be culture system with no discharge, closed system or similar
  • BANS take of conditional aquatic species for fee or hire


Turtles:

  • Outdoor facilities need permanent containment barrier at least 6’ below ground level made of solid metal or weather-resistant and rot-resistant material except mesh
  • Eggs from outdoor facilities must be removed and destroyed daily


Snakes/ Lizards:

  • Caging/Care:
    • Must have secure housing which can include ¼” thick plate glass, break-resistant plastic, concrete with wire/sheet metal/molded fiberglass/plywood/treated interlocking lumber ½” thick
    • Seal all cages and doors and have secure lock with key, combination lock key card or approved locking device OR
    •  Allows unlocked cages kept in rooms or out-buildings with a locking device mentioned if escape-proof, inaccessible to unauthorized personnel, signs with “Danger – Dangerous Reptiles” and inspected by commission
    • Multi-permittee facilities must keep animals separate and identify which they belong to
    • All individuals at facility must be knowledgeable of facility and handling requirements
    • Allows inspections
  • Identification
    • Need PIT tag in rear 1/3 for snakes 1”+ in diameter and in or near rear leg for lizards except those already implanted upon acquisition, grandfathered ones or export for exhibition within 180 days    
    • Record of identification including PIT tag number, species, number, gender and age within 72 hours of acquisition and maintained for life   
  • Transport/Transfer
    • Transport only in closely woven, double-seam sewn, cloth sack within second sack inside a container with “Dangerous Reptiles”
    • At least 24 hours before predicted Category 3 or worse hurricane: must prepare them in same way as for transport AND move all outdoor ones indoors with concrete or other anchored floor AND report critical incident preparation status to county emergency management
    • Transfer only to authorized person if accompanied by signed Captive Wildlife Inventory-Reptile form with common name, scientific name, and quantity and permit number
  • Records/Forms
    • Captive Wildlife Critical Incident/Disaster Plan form
    • Maintain records of inventory changes on Captive Wildlife Inventory-Reptile form including births, deaths, acquisitions, sales and transfers with dates, quantity, species, PIT tag and supplier as applicable
    • Exhibitors and sellers need Captive Wildlife Inventory-Reptile form every 6 months
  • Must report escapes to FWC immediately


Research:

  • Immediately report escapes
  • Detailed research proposal with objectives, methodology, study duration, and safeguards AND annual record of progress
  • Detailed report of research findings upon renewal

CONDITIONAL SPECIES

Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species Permit (CSP) divided into:



~ Research ~

CSP - Research Permit

Collect nonnative species from FWC Wildlife Management Areas, transport/possess live conditional/prohibited; collect/release nonnative


~ Exhibition ~
CSP - Public Exhibition of Conditional And/or Prohibited Species Permit

Reptile Inventory Report Form (snakes/lizards only)


~ Commercial Import/Export ~
CSP - Commercial Use of Nonnative/Conditional Species Permit



~ Personal use/pets (red-eared sliders) ~

CSP - Personal Possession of Red-eared Sliders Permit

Pets held under captive permit before being added



~ Personal use/pets (rest) - BANNED ~




~ Importation ~

Wildlife Importation Permit - FREE - 45 days



REQUIREMENTS

Conditional - Aquaculturist with certificate of registration

Fathead minnow, variable platy, Coturnix quail, ring-necked pheasant

EXEMPTIONS