VIRGINIA laws

Code of Virginia      Virginia Administrative Code

DANGEROUS CAPTIVE ANIMALS (Agriculture)

BANS keepers from providing or offering to provide members of the public with direct contact with dangerous captive animals.

LIST:

• Bear
  
• Cougar
  
• Jaguar
  
• leopard except clouded leopard
  
• lion
  
• tiger
  
• nonhuman primate
  
• hybrid of listed
  

(Code of Virginia § 3.2-6594 to 3.2-6596 - ADDED Effective 7/1/21 by Ch. 632)

EXOTIC REPTILES

BANS keeping nonnative reptiles, including American alligators, in any manner that allows it to escape or run at large.

(Code of Virginia § 29.1-569)

 

WOLVES, COYOTES, PREDATORY OR UNDESIRABLE, UNLISTED EXOTICS

LEGAL to import, possess and sell nonnative birds, animals and fish not listed as predatory or undesirable unless regulated by another law.

• EXCLUDES: endangered/threatened
  

LEGAL to import legally obtained game and fish.

BANS import, liberation and possession of wolves, coyotes and predatory and undesirable species as pets.

• SPECIAL PERMITS issued for other purposes:
  
  • Exotic Species Permit to Import Certified Triploid Grass Carp for Aquatic Vegetation Control in Private Ponds
    
  • Permit to Import and Possess Certain Non-Native (Exotic) Wildlife in Virginia
    
  • Permit to Import African Clawed Frogs or Tilapia into Virginia (import, possess, sell)
    
    • LIMITED TO: African clawed frogs; Mozambique, Nile, blue, Zanzibar tilapia
      

• GRANDFATHERED:
  
  • Species with * owned 7/1/92 with possession declared 1/1/93
    
  • Prairie dogs owned 12/31/97 – PERMIT required for sale
    

• EXEMPT:
  
  • Native or naturalized albino reptiles and amphibians
    
  • Captive bred monk parakeets with close-banded seamless band
    
  • Parts and products for personal use, manufacture in products, or research packaged outside state with documentation
    
  • Anglers harvesting snakehead if immediately killed and reported
    
  • Trapped feral hogs if killed immediately
    
  • Anglers harvesting grass carp from public waters (except public inland lake or reservoir) if killed
    
  • Anglers with live Alabama bass if used in waters caught (must kill to transport away)
    
  • Unlisted nonnative animals not regulated under other laws – BANS release
    
  • Department employees; U.S. government agencies' employees; county, city, or town animal control officers
    
  • commercial nuisance animal permit
    
  • Local animal shelters under contract with county, city or town with animal control (receive, temporarily confine, euthanize, transport to another shelter)
    
    • EXCLUDES: state or federal threatened and endangered, federally protected migratory bird species, black bear, white-tailed deer, and wild turkey
      
  • Wildlife rehabilitators (receive, temporarily confine, provide medical care, release)
    
  • Capture and transport injured, debilitated, sick or orphaned wild animal to rehabilitator or another authorized person if contacted before
    
  • Employees or agents of other state wildlife agencies
    
  • Employees or agents of government agencies taking care of carcasses of wild animals killed by vehicles
    
  • AZA for native and naturalized with written approval
    

LIST:

• Amphibians:
  
  • Cane toad*
    
  • African dwarf frog (Hymenochirus)
    
  • Tongueless or African clawed frog (Xenopus)
    
  • All mole salamanders (Ambystomatidae) except Mexican axolotl
    

• Birds:
  
  • Monk parakeet*
    
  • Mute swan
    

• Fish:
  
  • Modoc sucker
    
  • Santa Ana sucker
    
  • Warner sucker
    
  • Smallmouth* buffalo
    
  • Bigmouth* buffalo
    
  • Black buffalo*
    
  • Piranhas (Pygopristis, Pygocentrus, Rooseveltiella, Serrasalmo, Serrasalmus, Taddyella)
    
  • Oriental weatherfish
    
  • Bighead carp*
    
  • Laurel dace
    
  • Grass carp or white amur
    
  • Blue shiner
    
  • Beautiful shiner
    
  • Red shiner
    
  • Silver carp*
    
  • Black carp*
    
  • Palezone shiner
    
  • Cahaba shiner
    
  • Arkansas River shiner
    
  • Cape Fear shiner
    
  • Pecos bluntnose shiner
    
  • Topeka shiner
    
  • Blackside dace
    
  • Independence Valley speckled dace
    
  • Ash Meadows speckled dace
    
  • Clover Valley speckled dace
    
  • Foskett speckled dace
    
  • Kendall Warm Springs dace
    
  • Rudd
    
  • Tench*
    
  • Big Bend gambusia
    
  • San Marcos gambusia
    
  • Clear Creek gambusia
    
  • Pecos gambusia
    
  • Gila topminnow
    
  • Unarmored threespine stickleback
    
  • Tubenose goby
    
  • Round goby
    
  • Alabama bass
    
  • Snakeheads (Channa and Parachanna)
    
  • Tilapia (Tilapia spp.)
    
  • Ruffe*
    
  • Spring pygmy sunfish
    
  • Diamond darter
    
  • Vermilion darter
    
  • Slackwater darter
    
  • Relict darter
    
  • Etowah darter
    
  • Fountain darter
    
  • Yellowcheek darter
    
  • Niangua darter
    
  • Watercress darter
    
  • Okaloosa darter
    
  • Rush darter
    
  • Bayou darter
    
  • Cherokee darter
    
  • Bluemask (jewel) darter (Etheostoma)
    
  • Cumberland darter
    
  • Boulder darter
    
  • Amber darter
    
  • Goldline darter
    
  • Conasauga logperch
    
  • Leopard darter
    
  • Snail darter
    
  • Grotto sculpin (Cottus)
    
  • Pygmy sculpin
    
  • Air-breathing catfish (Clariidae)
    
  • Smoky madtom
    
  • Chucky madtom
    
  • Neosho madtom
    
  • Pygmy madtom
    
  • Scioto madtom
    
  • Swamp eel
    

• Mammals:
  
  • Pigs or Hogs* (Suidae)
    
  • Deer* (Cervids)
    
  • Wild Dogs,* Wolves, Coyotes or Coyote hybrids, Jackals and Foxes (Canidae)
    
  • Bears* 
    
  • Raccoons and* Relatives (Procyonidae)
    
  • Weasels, Badgers,* Skunks and Otters (Mustelidae) except ferret
    
  • Civets, Genets,* Lingsangs, Mongooses, and Fossas (Viverridae)
    
  • Mongooses* (Herpestidae)
    
  • Hyenas and Aardwolves* (Hyaenidae)
    
  • Cats* (Felidae)
    
  • Bats* (Chiroptera)
    
  • Pygmy rabbit
    
  • European hare
    
  • European rabbit
    
  • Riparian brush rabbit
    
  • Lower Keys marsh rabbit
    
  • All rodents native to Africa
    
  • Preble's meadow jumping mouse
    
  • Amargosa vole
    
  • Hualapai Mexican vole
    
  • Florida salt marsh vole
    
  • Key Largo woodrat
    
  • Riparian (= San Joaquin Valley) woodrat
    
  • Rice rat
    
  • Key Largo cotton mouse
    
  • Choctawhatchee beach mouse
    
  • Alabama beach mouse
    
  • Southeastern beach mouse
    
  • St. Andrew beach mouse
    
  • Anastasia Island beach mouse
    
  • Perdido Key beach mouse
    
  • Salt marsh harvest mouse
    
  • Morro Bay kangaroo rat
    
  • Giant kangaroo rat
    
  • San Bernadino Merriam's kangaroo rat
    
  • Fresno kangaroo rat
    
  • Tipton kangaroo rat
    
  • Stephens' kangaroo rat (includes D. cascus)
    
  • Pacific pocket mouse
    
  • Prairie dogs (Cynomys)
    
  • Northern Idaho ground squirrel
    
  • Mount Graham red squirrel
    
  • Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew
    

• Mollusks:
  
  • New Zealand mudsnail
    
  • Quagga mussel
    

• Reptiles:
  
  • Alligators, caimans* (Alligatoridae)
    
  • Crocodiles* (Crocodylidae)
    
  • Gavials* (Gavialidae)
    
  • Brown tree snake
    

• Crustaceans:
  
  • Benton County Cave crayfish
    
  • Hell Creek Cave crayfish
    
  • Rusty crayfish
    
  • Nashville crayfish
    
  • Shasta crayfish
    
  • Marbled crayfish (Procambarus)
    
  • Australian crayfish (Cherax)
    
  • Chinese mitten crab
    

(Code of Virginia § 29.1-542; 4 VAC 15-20-50, 15-30-40 to 15-30-50 – Amended as Signed into law 5/27/21 - Effective 7/1/21)

POSSESSION/IMPORT/SALE OF WILD ANIMALS

BANS take, possession, research, import, export, purchase, sale and liberation of wild animals unless allowed.

• GRANDFATHERED: Domesticated red foxes with coat colors different from wild and wild European rabbits owned 7/1/17 and declared by 1/1/18 – PERMIT required to breed or sell
  

• EXEMPT:
  
  • Nuisance
    
  • Domestic species
    
  • Native or naturalized albino reptiles and amphibians
    

• PERMITS issued:
  
  • Permit to Propagate and Sell Raptors in Virginia
    
  • Falconry Permit (hunt with falcons, hawks and owls)
    
  • Passage Peregrine Falcon Permit
    
  • Scientific Collection Permit (collect for museum or scientific purposes)
    
  • Bird Banding Permit (band for scientific/educational)
    
  • Salvage Permit (collect dead for scientific/educational)
    
  • Permit to Possess, Propagate, Buy and Sell Certain Wildlife in Virginia (Wildlife)
    
  • Dog Field Trial Permit (clubs and association for field trial with dogs)
    
  • Permit to Deal in Furs (deal in furs, hides, pelts)
    
    • EXCLUDES: hunters/trappers with own animals, American Indian tribes for religious purposes if not resold (excludes bear)
      
  • Animal Population Control Permit (trap/hunt predators out of season to control population)
    
  • Commercial Nuisance Animal Permit (commercially capture, transport, release nuisance)
    
  • Permit To Exhibit Wildlife in Virginia (exhibit for educational purposes)
    
    • LIMITED TO: educational institution, business providing educational exhibits for operation, state agency, political subdivision, public authority created by law, rehabilitator, falconer
      
  • Licensed Shooting Preserve Permit
    
  • Permit to Operate Foxhound Training Preserve in Virginia
    
  • Raccoon Hound Field Trial Permit
    
  • Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit
    
  • Permit to Stuff and Mount Birds, Animals, or Fish, and Part of Them for Sale or Compensation (Taxidermy)
    

LIST:

NUISANCE SPECIES

*Excludes endangered or threatened, game or fur-bearing animals, state or federal protected species

• Mammals:
  
  • Coyote
    
  • Feral swine/hog (wild with no proof of ownership)
    
  • House mouse
    
  • Norway rat
    
  • Black rat
    
  • Nutria
    
  • Woodchuck
    

• Birds:
  
  • Blackbirds
    
  • Crows
    
  • Cowbirds
    
  • Grackles
    
  • English (house) sparrow
    
  • European starling
    
  • Pigeon (Rock Dove)
    
  • Nonnative species in Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 2004 under 50 CFR 10.13
    

DOMESTIC ANIMALS

• Domestic dog including wolf hybrids
  
• Domestic cat including hybrids with wild ones
  
• Domestic horse including hybrids with donkeys
  
• Domestic ass, burro, and donkey
  
• Domestic cattle and zebu
  
• Domestic sheep including hybrids with wild
  
• Domestic goat
  
• Domestic swine including pot-bellied pigs – excludes wild swine with no ownership
  
• Llama
  
• Alpaca
  
• Camel, Bactrian and dromedary
  
• Domesticated races of hamsters (Mesocricetus)
  
• Domesticated races of mink weighing more than 1.15 kilograms or coat color distinguished from wild mink
  
• Domesticated races of guinea pigs
  
• Domesticated races of gerbils - Mongolian
  
• Domesticated races of chinchillas – Long-tailed
  
• Domesticated races of rats – Norway and black rats
  
• Domesticated races of mice – House mouse
  
• Domesticated breeds of European rabbit recognized by American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. and lineage from crossbreeding
  
• Domesticated races of chickens (Gallus).
  
• Domesticated races of turkeys
  
• Domesticated races of ducks and geese distinguishable morphologically from wild birds
  
• Feral pigeons and domesticated races of pigeons - common pigeons and rock doves
  
• Domesticated races of guinea fowl – helmeted
  
• Domesticated races of peafowl – Indian
  

(Code of Virginia § 29.1-100, 29.1-400 to 29.1-407, 29.1-417 to 29.1-422; 4VAC15-20-160, 15-20-200, 15-30-5 to 15-30-60, 15-250, 15-290)

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

BANS release.

LEGAL WITHOUT PERMIT for elementary and secondary teachers to possess and display wildlife for education.

• PERMIT (Permit to Exhibit Wildlife in Virginia) required for:
  
  •  Predatory and undesirable native and exotic species
    
  • Fur-bearing animals
    
  • Nonnative or exotic animals
    
  • Migratory birds protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act
    
  • Federal and state threatened and endangered species
    
  • Nuisance species
    
  • Nonindigenous aquatic nuisance species
    

REQUIREMENTS:

• notify department 48 hours before display
  
• report bites by mammals to local health department and separate them
  
• meet exhibit and handling standards
  
• Notify department within 24 hours of wildlife sickness or disease or escape
  

(Code of Virginia § 29.1-417; 4VAC15-290-60)

 

NONINDIGENOUS AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES

BANS take, import, possession, transport, sale, purchase, giving away, receipt, and introduction of nonindigenous aquatic nuisance species.

• PERMIT issued for research by recognized academic institutions or government agencies
  
• EXEMPT:
  
  • snakeheads caught and killed if department notified
    
  • HACCP plan certified restaurant or retail market that purchases snakeheads from HACCP certified dealer or sells processed ones
    

LIST:

• Zebra mussel
  
• Quagga mussel
  
• Snakehead (Channidae)
  
• Black carp
  
• New Zealand mudsnail
  
• Rusty crayfish
  
• Chinese mitten crab
  
• Marbled crayfish
  

(Code of Virginia § 29.1-571 to 29.1-577; 4VAC15-20-210)

AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES/AMPHIBIANS/REPTILES/NONGAME FISH - PRIVATE USE

BANS take of the following:

• Red-eared slider and all reptiles and amphibians in Species of Greatest Conservation Need per the 2015 Wildlife Action Plan for private use (BANS possession)   
  
• Spiny riversnail in Tennessee River (Clinch, Powell, and the North, South, and Middle Forks of the Holston Rivers and tributaries)
  
• Mussels in inland waters
  

LEGAL to capture for personal use 1 native or naturalized amphibian or reptile per species per address and 20 per species aquatic invertebrates and nongame fish.

• EXCLUDES: endangered and threatened species and game fish
  
• GRANDFATHERS: Those owned on 7/1/2021 for which possession was declared on 1/1/22
  

EXCEPTIONS TO LIMITS ABOVE:

• Allows unlimited take from inland waters of carp, mullet, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, black bullhead, flat bullhead, snail bullhead, white sucker, northern hogsucker, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, blueback herring, white perch, yellow perch, alewife, stoneroller, fathead minnow, golden shiner, goldfish, and Asian clams
  
  • EXCLUDES: anadromous blueback herring and alewife – Must follow creel limits
    
  • Grass carp must be from public inland rivers and streams (bans lakes and reservoirs) - Anglers must kill all grass carp
    
• American shad, hickory shad, channel catfish, white catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish must follow fishing creel limits
  
• Allows 50 total of all fish bait (native/naturalized minnows and chubs, 20 crayfish, hellgrammites)
  
  • EXCLUDES: Purchased fish bait with receipt of individuals purchased – except salamanders and crayfish
    
  • EXEMPT: stonerollers, fathead minnows, golden shiners, and goldfish listed above
    
  • NOT EXEMPT: Salamanders less than 6” no longer bait fish
    
  • EXCLUDES: crayfish in Big Sandy River Basin (Russell Fork, Pound River, Cranes Nest River, McClure River, Levisa Fork, Dismal Creek, Knox Creek, and tributaries)
    
    • INCLUDES: zoo, scientific and educational purposes, and scientific and museum purposes under 29.1-418
      
• Allows 15/day for bullfrogs and 5/day for snapping turtles
  
  • Snapping turtles limited to Jun 1 – Sep 30 with carapace of 13”+
    
  • BANS take from banks or waters of stocked trout waters
    

LEGAL METHODS: (except endangered and threatened species, game fish, waters where nets prohibited)

•  hand, hook, and line
  
• seine less than 4’ deep and 10’ long
  
• umbrella net less than 5’x5’
  
• small minnow traps with throats less than 1”
  
• cast nets
  
• hand-held bow nets with less than 20” diameter and 8’ handle
  
• gill net under marine recreational fishing law below fall line in tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay (gizzard shad and white perch)
  
• gigging or bow and arrow along with firearms for private waters (bullfrogs)
  
• hoop nets up to 6’ with throat up to 36” (snapping turtles)
  

REQUIREMENTS:

• Allows captured native amphibians and reptiles to be liberated if captivity is less than 30 days, liberated at site of capture, and housed separately from other wild-caught and domestic animals – BANS release of diseased ones or ones injured during captivity
  
• Proper license needed to take from federal or state lands
  

(4 Virginia Admin Code 15-360-10 – Amended Effective 7/1/21)

 

AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES/AMPHIBIANS/REPTILES/NONGAME FISH - SALE

BANS sale of madtoms (Noturus) and salamanders except nonnative newts and Mexican axolotls.  

BANS sale of live crayfish (Astacoidea) for bait or personal use. 

• EXEMPT: personal consumption
  

PERMITS:

• Haul Seine Permit to Take Fish for Personal Use (take nongame fish with haul seine for personal use)
  
• Haul Seine Permit to Take Nongame Fish for Sale (take for sale with haul seine)
  
  • BANS threatened and endangered
    

• Permit to Collect Snapping Turtles and Hellgrammites for Sale (take and sell)
  
  • Snapping turtles – take Oct 1 to May 31 - need 13”+ carapace – hoop net or similar
    
  • Hellgrammites may take and sell under Permit to Hold and Sell Certain Wildlife
    

• Permit to Hold and Sell Certain Fish, Snakes, Snapping Turtles, and Hellgrammites for Sale
  
  • Required to hold and sell crayfish
    
  • ENTITIES COVERED: Aquaculture facility, bait store, pet store, trout catch-out pond, catfish catch-out pond
    
  • LEGAL SPECIES (by and to): if captive-bred
    
    • ALL TO private ponds, bait, aquarium, consumption, catch-out pond
      
      • Catfish (except madtoms and blue catfish)
        
      • Trout (Salmonidae)
        
      • Yellow perch
        
    • Aquaculture facility TO private pond
      
      • Sunfish
        
      • Walleye
        
      • White bass
        
      • Chain pickerel
        
      • Muskellunge
        
      • Northern pike
        
    • Aquaculture facility TO consumption and other Hold and Sell or Propagation Permit and Import and Possess Certain Non-native (Exotic) Wildlife
      
      • Mossambique Tilapia
        
      • Nile Tilapia
        
      • Blue Tilapia
        
      • Zanzibar Tilapia
        
    • Aquaculture facility, bait store and pet store TO private pond, bait, aquarium
      
      • Minnows and chubs (Cyprinidae)
        
      • Triploid grass carp (also need exotic permit)
        
    • Pet stores to buyers
      
      • Eastern kingsnake (must be less than 16”)
        
      • Red cornsnake (must be less than 16”)
        
      • Northern pinesnake (must be less than 16”)
        
    • Aquaculture facility for human consumption
      
      • Snapping turtles 13+ carapace
        
    • Aquaculture facility, bait store and pet store FOR bait or aquarium
      
      • Hellgrammites
        

• Permit to Possess, Propagate, Buy and Sell Certain Wildlife in Virginia (Fisheries)
  
  • LEGAL SPECIES:
    
    • Frogs (research, education or consumption) – bullfrog, green, Southern leopard, green tree; tongueless or clawed (need exotic permit)
      
    • Eastern kingsnake (up to 16”)
      
    • Corn snake (up to 16”)
      
    • Game fish – sunfish, walleye, white bass, chain pickerel, muskellunge, northern pike (only to private pond)
      
      • EXCEPTION:
        
        • brown, brook and rainbow trout legal except bait
          
        • Artificially raised rainbow trout legal bait
          
        • Striped bass or hybrid covered under marine
          
    • Minnow and chubs
      
    • Catfish except madtoms and blue catfish
      
    • Yellow perch
      
    • Mozambique, Nile, blue, Zanzibar tilapia (need exotic permit)
      
    • Hellgrammites (bait, aquarium, consumption, resale by Hold and Sell permit
      
    • Crayfish (human consumption)
      

• Permit to Possess, Propagate, Buy and Sell Largemouth Bass (Black Bass) and Other Members of the Sunfish Family in Virginia (sell sunfish for consumption or catch-out pond)
  

REQUIREMENTS:

• Game fish, yellow perch, catfish raised by holder of permit may sell game fish to stock private waters (or public waters with approval), trout, yellow perch and catfish to stock private or public waters or for consumption
  

(4VAC 15-320-40, 15-330-190, 15-340-10, 15-340-20, 15-360 – Amended Effective 7/1/21)

NATIVE INVERTEBRATES

LEGAL to take earthworms at any time for private or commercial use.

LEGAL to take other invertebrates for private use.

• EXCLUDES:
  
  • Threatened and endangered wildlife species
    
  • Threatened and endangered insect species
    
  • Aquatic invertebrates under 4VAC15-360-10
    
  • Collection for scientific or museum purposes
    
  • Restriction on activities involving wild animals in 4VAC15-30-10
    

(4VAC15-20-180)

BLUE CATFISH

BANS stocking and releasing blue catfish and hybrids in any waters in state including private lakes and ponds.

(Code of Virginia § 29.1-543.1)

 

NUTRIA

BANS possession, sale, offer for sale, or liberation of nutria.

• EXEMPT: Employees of Department, USDA, or USFWS, or persons involved in research or management activities with these agencies
  

(Code of Virginia § 29.1-545 – Amended by HB65/Ch. 146 Effective 7/1/22)

ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES

BANS take, transport, processing, sale, and offering for sale any state or federal endangered or threatened species.

• PERMIT (Threatened and Endangered Species Collection Permit) issued for zoological, educational, or scientific purposes and propagation for preservation purposes
  

LEGAL to possess, breed, sell and transport non-native federal endangered/threatened if not prohibited by federal Endangered Species Act, in compliance with state laws, and NOT predatory or undesirable. 

LIST: Includes federal threatened and endangered species

Endangered:

• Fish:
  
  • Dace, Clinch
    
  • Dace, Tennessee
    
  • Darter, sharphead
    
  • Darter, variegate
    
  • Sunfish, blackbanded
    

• Amphibians:
  
  • Salamander, eastern tiger
    

• Reptiles:
  
  • Rattlesnake, canebrake (Coastal Plain population of timber rattlesnake)
    
  • Turtle, bog
    
  • Turtle, eastern chicken
    

• Birds:
  
  • Plover, Wilson's
    
  • Rail, black
    
  • Woodpecker, red-cockaded
    
  • Wren, Bewick's            
    

• Mammals:
  
  • Bat, Rafinesque's eastern big-eared
    
  • Bat, little brown
    
  • Bat, tri-colored
    
  • Hare, snowshoe
    
  • Shrew, American water
    
  • Vole, rock
    

• Mollusks:
  
  • Coil, rubble
    
  • Coil, shaggy
    
  • Deertoe
    
  • Elephantear
    
  • Elimia, spider
    
  • Floater, brook
    
  • Ghostsnail, thankless
    
  • Heelsplitter, Tennessee
    
  • Lilliput, purple
    
  • Mussel, slippershell
    
  • Pigtoe, Ohio
    
  • Pigtoe, pyramid
    
  • Springsnail, Appalachian
    
  • Springsnail (Fontigens morrisoni)
    
  • Supercoil, spirit
    

• Arthropods: NONE
  

Threatened:

• Fish:
  
  • Darter, Carolina
    
  • Darter, golden
    
  • Darter, greenfin
    
  • Darter, sickle
    
  • Darter, western sand
    
  • Madtom, orangefin
    
  • Paddlefish
    
  • Shiner, emerald
    
  • Shiner, steelcolor
    
  • Shiner, whitemouth
    

• Amphibians:
  
  • Salamander, Mabee's
    

• Reptiles:
  
  • Lizard, eastern glass
    
  • Turtle, wood
    

• Birds:
  
  • Falcon, peregrine
    
  • Shrike, loggerhead
    
  • Sparrow, Bachman's
    
  • Sparrow, Henslow's
    
  • Tern, gull-billed
    

• Mammals: NONE
  

• Mollusks:
  
  • Floater, green
    
  • Papershell, fragile
    
  • Pigtoe, Atlantic
    
  • Pimpleback
    
  • Pistolgrip
    
  • Riversnail, spiny
    
  • Sandshell, black
    
  • Supercoil, brown
    

• Arthropods:
  
  • Amphipod, Madison Cave
    
  • Pseudotremia, Ellett Valley
    
  • Xystodesmid, Laurel Creek
    

(Code of Virginia § 29.1-563 to 29.1-568; 4VAC15-20-130, 4VAC15-20-140)

 

ENDANGERED/THREATENED INSECTS (Agriculture)

BANS dig, take, cut, processing, collection, removal, transport, possession, sale, offer for sale, and give away of native threatened and endangered insects.

• PERMIT for scientific, biological, or educational purposes or propagation to ensure survival
  

LIST (Updated 2020): (Also includes plant species)

Endangered:

• rusty patch bumble bee
  
• Mitchell's satyr butterfly
  
• Holsinger's cave beetle
  
• Hupp's Hill cave beetle
  
• Thomas' cave beetle
  
• Buffalo Mountain mealybug
  
• Virginia Piedmont water boatman
  

Threatened:

• Northeastern beach tiger beetle
  
• Appalachian grizzled skipper
  

(Code of Virginia § 3.2-1001 to 3.2-1011; 2VAC5-320-10)

POULTRY DEALERS (Agriculture)

• Poultry – domestic birds, native and exotic wild birds
  

REGISTRATION with State Veterinarian required for poultry dealers (buy, sell, barter or exchange poultry or eggs) along with other requirements. 

• Sales of poultry that the entity produced or was contracted to raise or sell
  
• Eggs sold to grocery store
  
• Bird fanciers that buy, sell, trade as hobby
  

(2VAC5-170)

COMPANION ANIMAL CARE (Agriculture)

• "Companion animal" means any domestic or feral dog, domestic or feral cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit not raised for human food or fiber, exotic or native animal, reptile, exotic or native bird, or any feral animal or any animal under the care, custody, or ownership of a person or any animal that is bought, sold, traded, or bartered by any person
  
  • EXCLUDES: agricultural animal or game species, bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, noncommercial transport of pet animals by private citizens
    
  • INCLUDES: transport by carriers, dealers, exhibitors, pet shops, auction sales, pounds, cities, counties, animal control officers, and humane societies
    

There are various laws regarding companion animal care including transport.

(Code of Virginia § 3.2 Chapter 65; 2VAC5-150)

 

 

HYBRID CANINES (Agriculture)

The state gives municipalities the authority to create a permit system for hybrid canines that can include term and expiration date, number allowed, identification tags or tattooing, where it can be kept, handling while off property, and permit information.

Requires animal control or other officers to kill a hybrid canine they find injuring or killing livestock or poultry.  Allows anyone else to do the same.  Allows court to order destruction of confirmed livestock or poultry killer (poultry killer – killed poultry 3 or more times).   Allows seizure of hybrid canine believed to have killed livestock or poultry.  Allows compensation to livestock owner. 

(Code of Virginia 3.2-6581 to 3.2-6584)

AQUACULTURE (Agriculture)

PERMIT required for aquaculture facilities.

(Code of Virginia § 3.2-2600 et. al.)

 

RELEASE OF ANIMALS

BANS intentional release of scientific, research, commercial, agricultural or educational animals without consent to impede lawful purpose.  Penalty is Class I misdemeanor.

(Code of Virginia § 18.2-403.4)

IMPORT (Agriculture)

PERMIT (Import Permit) and certificate of veterinary inspection required to import agricultural animal, pet animal, primate, or other animal or bird. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Pet Animals – CVI within 10 days of entry, dogs and cats (wild too) need rabies vaccine if 4 months+ and those less than 7 weeks need dame
  
  • EXEMPT: travel through state if under control, nonresident moving to VA if not adopted or sold, hunting or exhibition up to 10 days
    
  • BANS those not allowed by state or federal laws
    

• Primates – CVI within 10 days prior, microchip, oral mucosa with no lesions or inflammation, negative TB within 30 days prior, 2 TB tests 30 days apart for colony with response to test
  
  • EXEMPT: travel through state if under control, nonresident moving to VA if not adopted or sold, exhibition up to 10 days
    
  • BANS those now allowed by law
    

DEFINITIONS:

• Agricultural animal – livestock or poultry
  

• Livestock - cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, donkeys, mules, camels, llamas, and alpacas
  

• Poultry - domestic fowl, ratites, and game birds raised in captivity to include chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail, or partridge
  

• Pet Animal - dog, cat, nonpoultry bird species, or any other animal, ferae naturae, wild or tame under domestication or in custody that is not intended for commercial use or that by its nature is fit for use only as a pet
  

• Cat, cattle, dog, goat, horse, sheep and swine – includes domestic and wild ones
  

(2VAC5-141; 2 Virginia Admin Code 5-141)