Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, first time on this forum and I was hoping to find out if it ok or not to catch Chuckwallas and or desert Iguanas in So Cal around Palm Springs. I found about 10 chucks out there last week but I didn’t keep them because I wasn’t sure if it was ok or not (better safe). I looked on this forum and I see lot of people have them but I’m not sure if they are from other places were it ok. Please fill me in all you can. I would love to be able to bring some home and start a breeding colony of them if it’s ok? Thanks.

Jim
www.westernhognose.com
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www.westernhognose.com

It is ok as laong as you have a fishing license. The limit is 2 and the possession limit is also 2. I think it may be in combination with the desert igs also so I am thinking a total of 2 altogether. You better check on that though. Also you cannot sell them or any offspring. Good luick and happy hunting. Tom

Hey Jim,

In a nutshell... It is legal to catch Chuckwallas and like everything there is a limit to both how many you can catch per day (like fish), and keep in captivity. The last that I read.. you are legally allowed to catch 2 per day, and keep a total of 12 Chuckwallas that are native to California. Native Chuckwallas are listed as **Vulnerable** and are currently not protected. It is against the law to release Chuckwallas, or any other native or non-native reptile/animal into the wild even if you caught them. This is to protect the wild populations from foreign diseases and viruses... It also protects other species that may feed on them from these things as well.

I am not sure if you are allowed to use things like nooses to catch reptiles. I've always caught Chucks by hand. Certain "tools" may be considered tools for poaching or trapping.

Look into "bag and possession" laws for the state you plan to collect Chucks, or D. Igs. I found the following by just typing in California, bag and possession laws... I've been told that all you need is a state fishing license, but I would look into it more and not take any chances. I've always used a fishing license clipped to my shirt or shorts while out "herping". What throws me off here is that it always says **permit** not **license**.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/pdffiles/fg1502.pdf

I hope this helps, and I'm sure there are people here that know much more than I do about this stuff.

Good luck.
-Kory

It is also, like Tom says, illegal to sell them or their offspring. The worst part of this is that once you reach the maximum number allowed in captivity... You must destroy any amount you are "over".

However, I believe that it is legal to crossbreed S. Ater with either S. Varius, or S. Hispidus and sell the offspring. Being that S. Varius is an endangered species, you would need a USFW permit to legally have one. S. Hispidus does not require a permit and is available at times from a handful of breeders. This could get very messy, so I'd like to hear more if anyone here knows more technical or accurate laws regarding crossbreeds. There are also issues with moving endangered species accross state lines as well.

By cross breeding S. Ater with S. Hispidus or S. Varius... It may affect the amount that you can legally keep in captivity since they are no longer a native species and are considered "hybrids".

-Kory

BTW... If you do not have a permit and catch one, you are breaking the law. This includes touching one in the wild with no intention of taking it home!!

thanks to all for the good news. i will check into it a bit more. thanks.

JIM
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www.westernhognose.com

You ARE allowed to give them away. You just can't make any financial gain off CA native wildlife. Its a different solution to having too many. And just in case you were wondering, releasing offspring to the wilds is illegal as well.

regards,
-Phil

Hey Phil,

You better check the laws again... The law states that you are NOT allowed to trade, give away, sell, release back to the wild any wild caught or captive born Chucks, Desert Iguanas etc... Any animals over the legal allowed limit are to be destroyed.

I do not agree with this law, and would never destoy an animal. I would take the chance of releasing it, or giving it away... However, I would be breaking the law.

This law still sticks if both parties have a permit/license and the person that would be taking the animal is under the legal limit. There are also limits that exist based on what city/county you may live in.

-Kory

That it would be better to DESTROY animals if they were over the limit, geesh.... how nasty rotten is that
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PHEve / Eve

You can give the progeny away as long as the recipient complies with the bag limit:

(d) Progeny resulting from pregnant native reptiles or
amphibians collected from the wild must be transferred to another
person or to a scientific or educational institution within 45 days
of birth or hatching. Persons receiving such progeny shall comply
with the bag and possession limits specified in sections 5.05 and
5.60.

I've alway interpreted the max as 2 not 12. Where are you seeing this?

-Alice

Years ago I was in contact with CA fish and Game and they sent me copies of the laws pertaining to reptiles and yes the limit was 2 and you could give away the progeny.