Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

Does anyone know if you can keep Egyptian Tortoises legally in Massachusetts? I've been researching, and MA wildlife documents don't say specifically that Egyptians are illegal, but they say anything listed in the Red List of threatened species is illegal to keep in MA, and Egyptians are indeed on this list. The problem is that Russian, Greek, and Hermans tortoises are also on the Red List and yet I see them in petshops/ reptile shows all the time in MA. I have tried to contact someone from MA wildlife but I always get directed to a voicemail and my messages have never been returned in the past. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jeff

Hi Jeff, unfortunately many state and local wildlife laws and ordinances are vague and difficult to interpret, especially in situations like you describe. One avenue would be to discuss this with a reputable dealer or petshop in your area. It may require a special permit. Unfortunately, the folks you see selling these animals may simply be breaking the law, but wildlife enforcement in your area is understaffed/underbudgeted to care or do anything about it, especially with plentiful pet trade animals. Its sort of like an unofficial "blind eye" towards the numerous infractions they see being committed. However, I would hate to be on the bad end of an overzealous official who may threaten to confiscate all your animals, etc. because you are indeed breaking the law and they decide to put the donut and coffee down to do something about it.

To hopefully answer your question, I would go with the conservative route and assume that if the animal is on the Red List, and they state all Red List animals are illegal, then the eyptian, and technically all the other animals you see of sale, are illegal to keep.

I was looking at the Red List some more and Marginated, Yellowfoot, and Sulcatta (!) are also on it. Hopefully MA wildlife will answer my questions because I feel like this can't be right. Sulcattas illegal in MA? They are bloody everywhere.

Be careful. I know it doesnt make sense, and most state and local wildlife laws and how they are enforced don't. Here in Louisiana you cannot sell, trade for value, etc., any native snake species like cornsnakes without a dealers license from LA Wildlife and Fisheries. However, tons of folks breed and sell baby corns without it. It seems like the law is never enforced, and there are never any wildlife officials at the local herp shows. But, some folks have gotten popped time to time. Russian roulette. My advice is if it is on list and they say anything on the list is a no no, then keep at your own risk. Its a matter of asking yourself if a local wildlife agent is going to go into your house or yard to check. Probably not. If you got into breeding and produced offspring you tried to sell locally, could be another issue. A random tort or so will probably never draw attention.