Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it legal to catch a wild caught eastern box turtle and keep it as a pet in alabama?

No it is not. Box turtles are illegal to keep in Alabama. Also listed as illegal are any species of animal found locally in the wild that are not captive bred with breeding records to prove it. There are also some protected species such as coachwhips, black racers, Florida pines, eastern indigos, etc that can be kept but a permit is required.

Basicaly it goes like this... If protected permit required.

If found in the wild anywhere in the state only captive bred is allowed and then records are needed.

Venemous species that are found locally may be kept with no permit but again must be captive bred.

Box turtles and a few others can't be kept at all.

Last year the rules changed as it didn't used to matter if wildcaught stuff was kept but that has been changed and the rules I have listed are current.

Phil

where are you getting your information ? I just got off the Alabama Fish and wildlife web site and I see nothing that states all reptiles are protected and the only way you can have them is if they are captive bred.

My information is ciming directly from the local Fish and Wildlife inspector whom I spent an hour or so on the phone with Wednesday. I didn't see that part on the site either but when speaking to him was informed that they had changed the rule last year. Now if it is found here in the wild the only way to keep it is captive bred regardless of what type of animals as it applies to birds, mammals, reptiles, etc all animals. When he told me of this I questioned it's accuracy but he looked it up and read it off to me. I guess the site hasn't been updated yet. The way I found him was to call the contact number in the back of the Alabama Fish and Wildlife regulations book for our local office in Montgomery. If you don't have the number anywhere or can't find it on the site let me know and I'll send it to you. Actually I'm glad you saw the post as I was going to call you and mention it to you anyway since I don't believe some of the vendors at the show realize this rule is in place.

Phil

Thanks Phil,I will look into this.Terry

No problem. By the way if you find out anything other than what I found please let me know as I am really wanting to make sure and follow the rules. My e-mail is arachnophil69@yahoo.com

Phil

I thought that all venomous snakes were not allowed to be kept in Alabama because of the escaped cobra caper last year. ~Bill~

Venemous that are indigenous are fine with no permit required. No wildcaught however and none that are non indigenous are allowed. The only exceptions to the rule are the ones that had exotic venemous before the law was passed that got permits through a grandfather clause. There are however no new permits issued for hots and the ones that were allowed to keep what they had cannot sell them or breed them creating more.

And yes the whole thing was started by an escaped cobra in Moody.

Phil