Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hell everybody, I am new to the forum--I just found it, and it's great! I have been reading through old messages, including the archived messages, and I have not found exactly the information I am looking for. I have seen reference to the legality of owning only two chuckwallas per person in the state of California. Does anybody know FOR SURE whether this includes CB animals and wild caught animals? I found on the state's Fish and Game website the law that requires you to have a fishing license to collect wild animals, and that you can collect two per day, but it says "daily bag and possession limit" is two animals. If I were to buy CB animals from outside the state, would they apply to this limit, or is it referring only to animals taken from the wild? If you know the answer, would you mind telling me how you were able to find the answer? I called and spoke to the fish and game people, and they bounced me around and gave me their opinions about their interpretations of the law, but they could never find anybody who could give me a definitive answer (no actual wardens were available to speak to, so maybe I just wasn't speaking to the right people). I had a chuckwalla years ago that lived for about 11 years, and I have just started planning on getting another one. Any information anybody can give me would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Angus in Los Angeles

PS If the law really means that I can only possess two of these animals, but that I can take two every day with a fishing license, it's kind of funny--I guess I could go out every day and catch two, sell them, then go out every day and do the same thing over again--not that I would ever do that--I would definitely prefer to find captive bred animals. If anybody knows anybody who has any nice animals for sale, I would also be interested in hearing about that.

Bag limit and posession are seperate issues. You can take two a day only posess one limit of two. If you decide to keep them, then you can't get any more. Just like fishing. You can "take" 5 trout per day but you can only have up to 10 in "posession". You either have to stop fishing once you reach the posession limit or either eat or give away some before you go fishing again. I guess you could eat them and get more. Also, the same with fish, you cannot sell, buy, or transport chuckwallas across state lines or they will get you on a Lacy act violation as they have been doing a lot recently. That goes for any parts of the animal as well.

How can I find out what animals are covered by the Lacey act? The rat's nest of possibly applicable laws is so confusing, and I REALLY don't want to do anything illegal. Is my only option in CA to go out and catch my own chuckwallas? Or find someone in CA who is having success with captive breeding?

Thanks,

Angus

I think that their are exceptions with protected animals of course and I believe you can sell a couple kinds of snakes provided they are under a certain size like 14" but I am not sure which ones.

Yes you can transport chuckwallas accross CA state line if they are taken legally and if you are within the legal limit. What you cannot do with legally collected chuckwallas is trade, sell or barter them within the state or to anyone out of the state. Yes you can buy CB chucks out of state and have them shipped to you however the possession limit is still 2 no matter if you caught them or they are cb from someone out of state. I have sold chucks to several people in CA and was advised by by CAFG that I must put onn the reciept that the legal possession limit in CA is 2 and that the purchaser must keep the reciept in order to prove where they came from if ever inspected. Also it is not mandatory but they advised me to tell the purchaser they should go buy a fishing license to remove any questionable doubt. This was all told to me by a law enforement officer in the southern unit who was very helpful. Good luck. Tom

Sauromalus ater(formerly obesus). S. varius and S. hispidus can be kept in unlimited numbers.

Now that is helpful information! Are there any restrictions on taking s. hispidus and s. varius across state lines or selling/trading them that I should know of?

Thanks,

Angus

S. varius is an endangered species and permits are needed to purchase out of the state you live in or to sell to a person in another state. If they are purchased in the state you live in no permit is needed. No restrictions on hspidus.

I was reading your posts on chucks awhile back, and if the animls was captured legally on a citizen or out of state license it may be transported out of the state. I have every intention of captureing the colorado fringe-toed sand lizard in the spring and will transport. It is a violation when it was taken illegally and transported.......at least this is my understandiong based on an e-mail with FIsh & Game, I live in Texas.......
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