SPECIE-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:  


Bullfrogs:

  • See take section
  • Sportfishing license required except when exempt for private land
  • Wild-caught for any purpose must be counted in daily catch creel or bag – no culling


Common snapping turtle:

  • See take section
  • Sport fishing license required except when exempt for private land
  • Take limited to hand, hook and line or bow and arrow (limited in certain counties)
  • Wild-caught for any purpose must be counted in daily catch creel or bag – no culling


Turtles (except common snapping):

  • BANS commercial turtle farming
  • BANS take of turtles for events where ranavirus present
  • Take by hand only – same limits as other natives


Native Snakes:

  • Non-T/E may be taken by landowners, children, parents, brothers and sisters. 


Endangered/Threatened:

  • PERMIT (Herptile Endangered and Threatened Species Propagation permit) required for take and possession for propagation of those under IL Endangered Species Act or federal ESA
  • PERMIT required to possess, breed or sell federal T/E unless otherwise provided in the Act or rules


Other Native:

  • Residents may possess 4/species and 8 total
  • No closed season except bullfrogs and common snapping turtles
  • Residents with more than limit need Scientific Collection permit or Herpetoculture permit
  • Residents may take wild-caught with sport fishing license and only by hand except bait
  • Nonresidents limited to Herptile Scientific Collection permit or personal consumption with nonresident sport fishing license and may take photos if not used for scientific research and herptiles not removed
  • Sport fishing license needed to take on private land unless exempt under Fish and Aquatic Life Code; public land requires approval of agency that operates it
  • Offspring of pregnant wild-caught herp must be returned to site after birth


Venomous Reptiles: (Medically significant brown tree snake, families Helodermatidae (gila monster and beaded lizard), Elapidae, Hydrophiidae, Viperidae, Crotalinae, Atractaspididae, and the following genera of Colubridae:  Alsophis, Boiga, Conophis, Hydrodynastes, Macropisthodon, Malpolon, Oligodon, Phalotris, Philodryas, Psammophis, Rhabdophis, Rhamphiophis, Thrasops, Tomodon, Waglerophis and Xenodon)  

  • BANS except special use permit for educational program with 6 programs/year and 250 hours of experience with venomous
  • Must allow inspections
  • Allows US native venomous reptiles under permit except Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, Western diamondback rattlesnakes, Mojave rattlesnakes, Southern Pacific rattlesnakes, Eastern and Texas coral snakes, Sonoran coral snakes and timber/canebrake rattlesnakes from the southern portions of their range (OK, southern AR, LA, southeast SC, east GA, North FL) known as "Type A" and containing canebrake toxin
  • Allows possession of listed medically significant Colubridae (except boomslangs, twig snakes, keelbacks, Lichtenstein's green racer and brown tree snake) with special use permit and are exempt from liability and experience but must meet caging and reporting
  • BANS sale and breeding
  • Allows transfers between permit holders as allowed under rule
  • Must be kept in locked, escape-proof, impact resistant enclosures with Venomous sign with owner name and address, species, and antivenom and location
  • Transport must be in escape-proof enclosure labeled venomous that is kept out of public sight at all times
  • Transport to public venue, commercial or retail establishment, or educational institution is limited to educational programs or veterinary care
  • Nonresidents may use in educational programs for 15 days with Limited Entry Permit


Boas, Pythons, Anacondas (Boidae):

  • Exempt from liability insurance and permit if captive maintenance requirements met unless contrary to another law
  • Non-US species must be in strong, impact-resistant, escape-proof enclosures at all times except during educational programs or veterinary care
  • Non-US species in educational programs must be in physical possession of owner or agent if removed from enclosure with enclosure interiors inaccessible to public   
  • Transport requires being kept out of public in escape-proof enclosure
  • Non-US species at shows must be in physical possession of owner or agent if removed from enclosure with enclosure interiors inaccessible to public and those for examination or onlooker display must be behind or at a display table
  • Strictly educational events (no commercialization) sponsored by a school herpetological society, museum, zoo or nature center requires control or physical possession at all times with public contact is supervised
  • Handling at pet stores prior to purchase must be supervised by owner or agent to prevent public injury


Crocodilians/Monitors:

  • BANS except special use permit for educational program with 6 programs/year
  • Allow inspections
  • Get permit additions approved before acquiring
  • Report changes in 1 business day  
  • BANS sale and breeding
  • Allows transfers between permit holders if approved by rule
  • Must be in strong, impact-resistant, escape-proof enclosures at all times except during educational programs or veterinary care
  • For educational programs must be in physical possession of owner or agent if removed from enclosure with enclosure interiors inaccessible to public AND either banded or taped mouth or 10’ from public and out of direct contact
  • Transport requires being kept out of public in escape-proof enclosure
  • Transport to public venue, commercial or retail establishment, or educational institution is limited to educational programs or veterinary care
  • BANS breeding and sale
  • Nonresidents may use in educational programs for 15 days with Limited Entry Permit


Poisonous Amphibians: 

  • BANS medically significant poisonous amphibians except captive-bred poison dart frogs and for educational or research purposes


Intergrade/Hybrid/Morphological Variations:

  • May be enforced the same as other species
  • Intergrade and hybrid have same protections as protected species
  • Hybrids of a wild-caught parent and out-of-state or captive-bred parent may not be sold or commercialized and will be treated as indigenous
  • Morphological varieties of indigenous or endangered or threatened are treated as indigenous



PERMIT REQUIREMENTS:


Scientific Permit:
Application:

  • Age 18+
  • Allows capture, marking, handling, banding or collection of herptiles not protected by state or federal endangered species laws
  • Collection must be for permanent donation to bonafide public or state scientific, educational or zoological institutions
  • Scientific research/salvage requires engagement in scientific research and having public/state scientific or educational institution or zoo that will take collected herptiles
  • Salvage and rehabilitation of crippled requires prior-year salvage permit or reference from vet, zoo curator, conservation officer, IDNR wildlife or fisheries biologist (salvage) and having public/state scientific or educational institution or zoo that will take such herptiles
  • Collecting on Department-owned, -managed and -leased properties may require additional permits


General:

  • Full-time employees of state or federal conservation agencies given free one during employment with annual report of prior year activities
  • Valid only for research or collection on permit
  • Exempt from fishing limits for research
  • Take method must be approved and unattended devices need name, address and permit number
  • Assistants for taking must be listed on permit and be supervised
  • Taking/collection of herp for museum or scientific institution limited to areas on permit and private properties requires permission and department owned or managed requires additional permits
  • Taken and rehabilitated herptiles must be released (with prior approval) where captured or donated to public or state scientific educational or zoological institution
  • Records of animals for 2 years and annual report


Herpetoculture:
Application:

  • Age 18+
  • Must include all non-listed native on permit
  • Not issued for special use taxa (those with special requirements)
  • BANS the take, possession, purchase, sale, offer to buy or sell or barter of any native herptile, eggs, resulting offspring, or parts taken from the wild for commercial use unless otherwise allowed 
  • BANS breeding and commercialization of wild-caught herptiles and offspring except research or recovery unless otherwise authorized by the Act or rules
  • BANS release of propagated herptiles unless authorized


General:

  • Additions to species list must be approved and reported in 1 business day
  • Proof of origin 
  • Meet facility requirements  
  • Paper receipts or bills of sales required for sales   
  • Follow activities, numbers of species and other requirements on permit exactly
  • Maintain purchase and sale records for 2 years from disposition    
  • Annual report, present bills of sales upon request
  • Nonresidents must submit report within 30 days of expiration
  • Procedures listed in administrative rule


Endangered/Threatened:

  • Permit requirements listed in administrative rule including: applications, fees, duration, acquisition, possession, propagation
  • Excluded from possession limits but need to follow species limitations in permit rules
  • Federally licensed exhibits must comply with Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act, the Herptiles Act and administrative rules
  • Report changes in inventory in 1 business day


Special Use:
Application:

  • Age 18+
  • Proof of $100,000 per herp/$1 million maximum liability insurance or surety bond(EXEMPT: medically-significant colubridae except boomslangs, twig snakes, keelbacks, brown tree snake, and Lichtenstein's green racer)
  • Outline of educational program
  • List of similar programs conducted in last 2 years and estimated attendance
  • How possession enhances welfare of species
  • Description of facilities including photos
  • Verified statement herptiles will be obtained legally
  • Meet credentials and hours of experience (EXEMPT: medically-significant colubridae except boomslangs, twig snakes, keelbacks, brown tree snake, and Lichtenstein's green racer)
  • Program must promote survival of species, ecological needs and role in natural habitat
  • Meet caging standards
  • Allow pre-inspection 


General:

  • 6 educational programs/year
  • Species under permit not included in Herpetoculture Permit limits
  • Approval for additional species and report changes in 1 business day
  • PIT tag or microchip or color photo if too small
  • Records of acquisitions, dispositions and possession for 2 years after disposition
  • Annual report of activities including receipts or bills of sale for transfers
  • Notify of name and address change within 10 days
  • May transfer to other permittees with written approval


Limited Entry:
Applications:

  • Non-resident
  • Proof of $100,000 per herp/$1 million maximum liability insurance
  • Meet caging requirements
  • Description of and photos of facilities
  • name and address of venues
  • dates of entry and exit
  • complete inventory
  • verification of legal obtainment 
  • Report within 30 days of expiration


(510 ILCS 68 Herptiles-Herp Act; 17 Illinois Admin. Code 885)


ILLINOIS HERPTILES ACT