DANGEROUS ANIMALS


BANS dangerous animals.

  • GRANDFATHERS: owners on 5/31/06 with written notification to local animal control 8/1/06
  • EXEMPT ANIMALS:
    • domestic cats, dogs and ferrets
    • animals used for agriculture, scientific and educational purposes, and public exhibitions
    • animals listed in rules as not a threat to human health and safety
    • turtles allowed under special permit
  • EXEMPT:
    • research facility or federal research facility
    • USDA Class C exhibitor whose primary function is displaying animals
    • DNR permit holder
    • 501(c) 3 animal sanctuary that does not conduct commercial activity, breed, buy, sell, trade or lease except AZA SSP
    • animal control, law enforcement officer or private contractor of county or municipality responsible for animal control
    • licensed veterinarian treating it
    • nonresident traveling through state within 10 days
    • USDA Class C circus in state less than 90 days that does not allow public proximity except with sufficient distance and barriers
    • animals used by person with limited mobility obtained from nonprofit


LIST:

  • Felines and domestic hybrids over 30#
  • Canines and hybrids including foxes
  • Nonhuman Primates
  • Bears
  • Herp: Caiman, alligator, crocodile, poisonous snakes in Hydrophidae, Elapidae, Viperidae, Crotolidae
  • Skunks
  • raccoons


USDA Class C not under another exemption above may only acquire or breed additional nonhuman primates, bears, lions, tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars or hybrids after 6/30/14 if it has $1,000,000 insurance policy, paid full-time director, one paid full-time staff trained to care for each species, animal disposition policy in case facility closes, and a zoonotic disease risk and prevention plan.

(Maryland Statutes Criminal Code 10-621, Health Code 18-217 to 18-222)



LIVE CERVIDS


BANS import, export, possession and transport of live cervids

  • EXEMPT: AZA, game husbandry license, letter of authorization to transport through


(Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.03.09.12)



CAROLL, CECIL, FREDERICK COUNTIES


Counties of Carroll, Cecil and Frederick may regulate domestic and wild animals including hybrids between them, including licensing and control.

(Maryland Statutes Local Government 13-117, 13-118, 13-121)


NATIVE WILDLIFE


Fish – finfish, crustaceans, mollusks, reptiles and amphibians that spend majority of live in water

Game Birds and Mammals – forest game birds and mammals, fur-bearing mammals, upland game birds and mammals, and wetland game birds

Forest Game Birds and Mammals – Forest game birds (ruffed grouse, turkey) and forest game mammals (black bear, deer, fox squirrel except Delmarva, red and gray squirrels)

Fur- bearing Mammal – coyote, raccoon, bobcat, opossum, beaver, mink, muskrat, otter, gray and red fox, striped skunk, fisher, long-tailed weasel

Upland Game Birds and Mammals – upland game birds (blackbird, crow, dove, pheasant, quail, woodcock) and upland game mammals (rabbit, hare)

Wetland Game Birds – brant, coot, duck, gallinule, geese, merganser, rail, snipe, swan

Migratory Game Bird – wetland game birds, woodcock, dove

Nongame Birds and Mammals – all not game

Protected Birds – all not game or unprotected

Unprotected Birds – English sparrow, pigeon, European starling

Unprotected Mammals – nutria, woodchuck

Wild Bird – all birds wild by nature

Wild Mammals – all mammals wild by nature

Wild Quadruped – wildlife with 4 feet

Wild Waterfowl – brant, coot, duck, goose, merganser, swan

Wildlife – mammals, birds, and land reptiles and amphibians wild by nature

(Maryland Statutes GNR 4-101, 10-101)

 

PERMIT required to possess, import, export, breed, take, purchase and sell native wildlife.

  • Game Husbandry License (raise, breed, protect or sell game birds and mammals)
    • In state movement requires itemized bill of sale, export requires bill of lading
    • ALLOWS: possessing pen-raised quail or chukar partridge to train dogs with call-back pens
    • ALSO NEED: hunting license


  • Regulated Shooting Ground Permit
    • Annual report, inventory records kept 12 months, allow inspections and sampling


  • Falconry Permit (take alive, possess, train, fly and hunt during open season with falcons, hawks, owls)
    • Be 14 or older, adequate knowledge and training, sufficient facilities


  • Raptor Propagation Permit (breed raptors)


  • Peregrine Falconry Permit (take 1 passage peregrine falcon for falconry by general/master class)
    • ALSO NEED: falconry permit
    • Season: Sep 20 – Oct 20
    • Method: standard live trapping methods
    • Must band and report capture (BANS USFWS banded ones)


  • Retriever Training Permit (possess and release captive raised quail, chukar partridge, pheasant, and mallard ducks to train retrievers)


  • Deer Cooperator Permit (remove and handle problem deer)


  • Wildlife Rehabilitator Permit (rehabilitate and release injured or sick wildlife)


  • Wildlife Damage Control Permit (assist department in controlling wildlife injurious to agriculture)
    • Adequate training and sufficient facilities


  • Scientific Collection Permit (take wildlife for scientific or educational use)


  • Aquatic Scientific Collection Permit (take fish, shellfish, aquatic invertebrates for scientific or educational use)

  • Fish Breeders Permit (breed, transport and sell game and freshwater fish)


(Maryland Statutes GNR 4-212, 4-11A-21, 10-902 et. al.; Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.03.09, 08.03.12)

 


PROTECTED BIRDS


BANS taking or possessing protected nongame birds.

  • PERMIT issued for nonthreatened and nonendangered birds for scientific or educational or propagation purposes


BANS sale of protected birds.

  • EXEMPT: captive-bred birds of prey for falconry 


BANS selling game birds.

BANS release of captive-raised mallards.

  • EXEMPT: regulated shooting area permit, retriever training permit, field trial permit


(Maryland Statutes GNR 10-401; Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.03.07.11, 08.03.09.06)

 


RACOONS AND OPOSSUMS


PERMIT required for live raccoon and opossum but BANS wild-caught ones.

(Maryland Statutes GNR 10-414)



PROTECTED NONGAME MAMMALS


BANS take, export, possess, processing, sale, transport and shipment of protected nongame mammals.

  • EXEMPT: permits for scientific research, education to further public awareness, protect human health or safety and property damage


LIST:

Bats:

  • little brown
  • silver-haired
  • tricolored
  • big brown
  • Eastern red
  • Hoary
  • evening
  • Seminole


Other Mammals:

  • North American porcupine
  • Eastern spotted skunk


(Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.03.18.15)

 

DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN (GAME)


BANS taking or possessing diamondback terrapin for commercial purposes.

  • EXEMPT:
    • Accidental take if immediately returned
    • scientific or educational certificate or permit
    • aquaculture activities
    • captive wildlife breeding permits


LIMIT possession to 3 diamondback terrapin for noncommercial possession.

(Maryland Statutes GNR 4-902)

 


SNAPPING TURTLES (GAME)


PERMIT (Snapping Turtle Harvest Permit) required to harvest and possess snapping turtles for commercial purposes.

  • ALSO NEED: commercial fishing license
  • Must have carapace of at least 11”
  • BANS buying and selling if from nontidal waters
  • Need: snapping turtle harvest report and daily commercial fisheries catch log


PERMIT (Angler’s License) required to take snapping turtles for noncommercial use from nontidal waters.

  • Must have a carapace of at least 4”
  • LIMIT: 1 wild-caught turtle
  • EXEMPT FROM: coastal fishing license if in tidal waters
  • EXEMPT: scientific collection and landowner and commercial damage control permit (seasons and methods)


BANS release except with authorization. 

Illegal Take Methods: hook and line, trot line, bow and arrow, spear, gig or gig iron, or piercing device AND net, seine, fish pot, trap, or fishing rig in nontidal waters

BANS catching snapping turtles in tributary waters of Charles County from Apr 15 – May 31 AND hook and line and trotline at any time.  Department may NOT prohibit turtle pots where nets prohibited.

(Maryland Statutes GNR 4-218, 4-738; Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.02.06)



NATIVE HERPTILES (REST)


PERMIT (Captive Reptile and Amphibian Permit) required to possess more than the listed limits, breed or sell native herptiles.  Divided into the following lists with hybrids regulated same as all species involved:

  • .03A Species (may be possessed, bred and commercially traded)
    • EXEMPT:
      • 4 per species of reptiles and salamanders and 4 adults and 25 eggs or tadpoles per frog or toad (may be wild-caught, captive-breed or imported)
      • educational facility - unlimited frogs and toads if from permittee or imported
      • Unlimited number of captive-bred albino or color mutants for personal use
      • Bullfrogs for food
    • Allows unlimited possession of documented captive-bred and imported herp along with those from rehabilitator, rescue or veterinarian
    • Wild-caught herps for breeding subject to limits above


  • .03B Species (may be held without a permit .04C and .05A or may be bred or commercially traded)
    • EXEMPT: 1 per species
    • BANS: wild-take of wood turtles, spotted turtles, and diamond-backed terrapins (need certificate of origin or bill of sale as proof and carapace of 4”+)
    • LIMIT:  1 wild-caught eastern box turtle, eastern painted turtle, midland painted turtle, eastern mud turtle, northern red-bellied cooter, stinkpot, broad-headed skink, eastern six-lined racerunner, eastern hog-nosed snake, queen snake, common ribbonsnake
    • Allows unlimited possession of documented captive-bred and imported herp along with those from rehabilitator, rescue or veterinarian
    • GRANDFATHERS: Issues Grandfather Permit for:
      • more than 1 Eastern painted turtle, midland painted turtle, eastern mud turtle, northern red-bellied cooter, and stinkpot declared by 2008
      • wild-caught diamondback terrapin declared by 2008
      • more than 1 broad-headed skink, eastern six-lined racerunner, eastern hog-nosed snake, queen snake, or common ribbonsnake declared by 2008
      • Eastern mud salamander declared 2008


  • .03C Species (limited to scientific collection permit, endangered species permit or aquaculture)
    • GRANDFATHERS: Issues Grandfather Permit for copperhead owned 5/31/06 if declared


.03A and .03B Commercial Restrictions:

  • Allows breeding turtles
  • Must be captive bred or imported with documentation for sale
  • Acquisition for sale must be from permittee or import with documentation
  • Turtles must have carapace of 4”+ for sale or display; rest need caution notice (Health law)
    • EXEMPT: agricultural, scientific or educational purposes, exhibition or nonthreat
  • Has record-keeping and caging and shipping requirements


ILLEGAL TAKE:

  • Lethal methods
  • hook and line, trot line, bow and arrow, spear, gig or gig iron, or piercing device
  • traps, pit falls, snares, seines, or nets other than dip nets
  • Use of chemicals


GENERAL RESTRICTIONS:

  • BANS using native herps in competitions
  • BANS releasing captive-bred and nonnative herp without permission - Wild-caught must not be held with other herptiles or for longer than 30 days
  • BANS venomous snakes as pets


(Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.03.11, 10.06.01.23)




ENDANGERED, THREATENED, SPECIES IN NEED OF CONSERVATION


PERMIT issued to take and possess US and state endangered, threatened, and species in need of conservation wildlife, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans and finfish for scientific research to enhance survival or recovery of species, other research (threatened and species in need), and educational purposes. 

BANS export, take, possession, processing, sale, delivery, carrying, transport, and shipment for all other purposes.

Extirpated species will be listed as endangered upon finding a viable population.

EXEMPT:

  • aquaculture in nontidal ponds, lakes, or impoundments
  • legally imported species except ESA
  • purchase striped bass and hybrid striped bass out-of-state for aquaculture for nontidal ponds, lakes, or impoundment


Endangered Fish and Wildlife(Updated 2/8/21)
Extirpated Endangered Fish and Wildlife (Updated 2/8/21)
Threatened Fish and Wildlife (updated 2/8/21)
Fish in Need of Conservation

Species in Need of Conservation

(Maryland Statutes GNR 1-701, 4-2A-01, 10-2A-01; Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.02.12, 08.03.08)




SAN JUAN RABBITS


BANS all imports of San Juan rabbits with no exceptions

(Maryland Statutes GAG 5-601)

 


ANIMALS DANGEROUS TO LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY


Allows Department to create list of animals dangerous to livestock or poultry other than wildlife regulated by the DNR that cannot be possessed, imported or sold.

(Maryland Statutes GAG 3-115)



MUTE SWANS


BANS buying, selling, bartering, trading, transferring and possessing mute swans.

  • GRANDFATHERED: ones under permit since 2009 that had them pinioned and banded, had eggs destroyed, annual reports, and notify of escape in 48 hours


BANS release of mute swans.

(Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.03.09.13)



NUISANCE AND PROHIBITED SPECIES


BANNED for import, transport, purchase, possess, propagation, sale, or release (A species):

  • Alabama bass
  • Asian horseshoe crabs
  • Asian swamp eel
  • bighead/black/grass/silver carp
  • candiru
  • Chinese mitten crab
  • Eurasian river ruffe
  • marbled and rusty crayfish
  • New Zealand mudsnail
  • quagga and zebra mussel
  • red shiner
  • round goby
  • rudd
  • spotted bass
  • veined rapa whelk
  • walking catfish


BANNED for transport (B species):

  • blue and flathead catfish
  • green and Japanese shore crab
  • mimic shiner
  • red swamp, Southern white river and virile crayfish 


BANNED for import, transport, purchase, propagate, sale, and release (C species):

  • Australian crayfish (Cherax)
  • Chinese mystery snail
  • Oriental weatherfish


 
PERMIT issued for A, B and C species above for scientific or educational collection and aquaculture permit holders if free of disease and secure.   

  • EXEMPT: Transport to department for identification and dead specimens including preserved museum ones


BANS import, transport, introduction, breeding and sale of Snakeheads (Channidae). 

  • EXEMPT: import, transport, introduction allowed under federal injurious species; possession of dead ones; scientific purposes under permit
  • LIST: All Channidae including: African, Bangka, Baram, Barca, Black, Blackfinned, Blotched, Bluespotted, Bullseye, Burmese, Ceylon, Chel, Chevron, Chinese, Congo, Dwarf, Emperor, Giant, Golden, Inle, Niger, Night, Northern, Ocellated, Orangespotted, Panaw, Rainbow, Splendid, Spotted


BANS possession of eggs or live blotched and Northern snakeheads unless dead. 

(Maryland Statutes GNR 4-205.1; Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.02.19)



 NONNATIVE WILDLIFE DANGEROUS TO NATIVE WILDLIFE


Allows Department to ban import, export, possession, breeding, purchase and sale of nonnative wildlife dangerous to native wildlife.

(Maryland Statutes GNR 10-901, 10-903, GHG 18-217 et. al.)



NONNATIVE CRABS


Department may limit or prohibit import, use and possession of the following crabs:

  • green crab
  • Japanese shore crab
  • Chinese mitten crab


(Maryland Statutes GNR 4-816)



AQUACULTURE


Issues Aquaculture Permits for permitted native, native not on permitted list and exotic ones, and threatened and endangered fish along with brood stock capture, shellfish in on-shore facilities, and experimental finfish culture in tidal waters.

Nonnative species and hybrid striped bass permits must be limited to nontidal lakes, ponds and impoundments listed on permit with facility construction that prevents escape.

LIST: Permitted Species:

  • American eel
  • American Shad
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Brown Trout
  • Brook Trout
  • Golden Shiner
  • Fathead Minnow
  • Goldfish
  • Catfish (Ictaluridae)
  • Temperate Basses (Moronidae)
  • Sunfish (Centrarchidae)
  • Perch (Percidae)
  • Red Drum
  • Pike (Esocidae)
  • American Oyster
  • Hard Clams (Mercenaria)
  • Crayfish (Asticidie)
  • Surf Clams (Mactridae)


(Maryland Statues GNR 4-11A-01 to 4-11A-02; Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.02.14)



IMPORT


BANS import of live raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, and other mammalian wildlife species and hybrids for which there is no USDA rabies vaccine.

  • PERMIT (Transport Permit) required to harbor or transport wildlife above.
  • EXEMPT: Import or possession
    • circuses, carnivals or fairs
    • gerbils, hamsters, domesticated rats and mice, chinchillas, European ferrets, domestic rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and primates (families Cebidae, Cercopithecidae, and Pongidae)


In addition to any required DNR permit, import of all animals requires an Animal Health certificate of veterinary inspection.  Wild and semi-wild animals under domestication requires reporting number of animals to Animal Health Program within 72 hours.  Cervids require brucellosis and TB testing.

(Maryland Admin. Regs. 08.03.09.03 - 08.03.09.04)








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