New York State Reptile Laws

The New York state reptile laws simply states that it is illegal to possess any reptile. The exception to this law would be any one who posses the said reptile before January 1, 2005 and who have a proper permits issued from the New York Department of Environmental conservation for the reptile in question. Any one who is wishing to posses a reptile pet in New York should research the topic carefully.

New York state have made a handful of laws to protect the reptiles species for many years. The species which are been considered as one of the endangered species are given a special protection in the specific legislation. This vulnerable species, such as, timber rattlesnake and the bog turtle, are being protected.

The New York State Exotic laws begin with a New York Environmental Conservation. “The law defines that wildlife as prosimians and non human primates, felidae except domesticated cats, feral cats and their offspring, caniade except domesticated dogs as well as fennec fox, ursidae , venomous reptiles such as Burmese pythons, African rock pythons, green anacondas, yellow anacondas, reticulated pythons, Indian pythons, Australian pythons, Nile monitors, asistic monitors, black throat monitors, white throat monitors, crocodile monitors, with the hybrid of these reptiles and finally the crocodilians”.

In the year 2006, the New York states have adopted legislation that all frogs, turtles, snakes, lizard, and salamanders should be given legal protection. This reptile law does not differtiate between the wild caught and the captive breed reptiles also prior to the enactment of law. New York state reptile law also applies to the herps in any life form, which includes eggs as well as larvae. DEC can issue a permit to the individual who desire to posses a limited number of more common species of herps, but this permit does not allow selling, buying or breeding of herps.

New York state environmental conservation law states that it is illegal for anyone to transport, export, import or posses , without the proper licensing or permits of venomous reptiles and other animals like coyotes, wolves, coy dogs, wolf dogs, skunks, fox and raccoons. New York state reptile laws state that it is illegal to sell, transfer, barter, import and exchange of any reptiles, wild animals as pets, except for the zoos, exhibitors, research facilities, licensed veterinarians, animal shelter, animal welfare organization, educational facilities, wild life sanctuaries, wildlife rehabilitation and falconries.

Even the individuals or the organization which are exempted, cannot sell, transfer, barter, exchange or import their permitted wild animals or reptiles for use as pets. Application permits include the information such as the individual or organizations name, address and the telephone number. The physical address where the animals or reptile will be housed, a description of each animal (reptile) covered by the permit, species, age, gender, tags and identified marks is noted. It is also necessary to include the information related to the veterinarian who will be responsible for the treatment of these animals (reptile).

It includes a acknowledgment indicating that the particular owner or individual applying for the permit is above 21 years of age and that the animals being permitted is not tethered, chained, tied, allowed to run in large area, should be carried to a public park, commercial facility other than the veterinarian clinic. Fees related to this permit can be up to $80 per animal (reptile) for about two years.

The above-mentioned information explains you about the New York state reptile laws. One has to follow the above given laws strictly in order to posses a reptile in the New York State.