You might want to offer MD regs as an example for other states to follow. As far as I can see, MD has the best regs for both protecting native species AND allowing commercial/pet use of native species. Those that want to make a profit from commercial harvest might disagree, but for commercial breeders and hobbiests, it seems to be the best you can expect.

MD regs allows for the possession, breeding, and selling of captive bred native species with a paper trail. Limited numbers of WC parent stock (1 or 4 depending on species) are allowed for some species, but no MD WC animals may be sold. Except for snapping turtles, you can't pick something up out of the woods and sell it.

The only exception is snapping turtles, but those are controlled by Fisheries, not Wildlife, and Fisheries still allows a commercial harvest of snappers. Breeding of snappers requires an aquaculture permit.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/captive.asp

Katrina

FYI, the copperhead was added to List C due to a change in the dangerous animal law in MD that was pushed through by HSUS, not DNR.

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