Restricted Possession Permit

Due to ecological, economic, and human health and safety concerns related to potential impacts of nonnative animals in Alabama, effective October 15, 2020, an amendment to Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Regulation 220-2-.26 was adopted which prohibits any person, firm, association, or corporation from possessing, selling, offering for sale, importing, bringing, releasing, or causing to be brought or imported into the State of Alabama the following:

(a) Any species of venomous reptile which has never naturally existed in the wild in Alabama, including but not limited to venomous snakes of the families  Viperidae, Atractaspididae, Elapidae, Hydrophiidae, and Colubridae, except for hognose snakes (Genus Heterodon).

(b) Any species of bird, mammal, reptile, or amphibian listed as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42) from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

(c) Any species of Tegu (Genus Salvator).

Persons currently holding the above listed species of wildlife (b and c) without a DCNR permit will be given 90 days from effective date of amendment to notify AWFF and apply for a permit, lawfully export, or voluntarily surrender the animals to the appropriate AWFF personnel without prosecution.

NOTE: Venomous reptiles which have never naturally existed in the wild in Alabama (i.e. non-indigenous) have not been legal to possess in Alabama since 2001 and therefore are not eligible for a restricted species permit.

Permit Eligibility

To be eligible for a Restricted Species Permit, the following stipulations must be followed:

(a) Construction and maintenance of cages or enclosures: 

1. Cages or enclosures housing any animals identified in regulation 220-2-.26 shall be sufficiently strong to prevent escape and to protect the caged animal from injury, and shall be equipped with structural safety barriers to prevent any physical contact with the caged animal by public. All cages or enclosures less than one thousand square feet shall be covered at the top to prevent escape and also to exclude predators. Adjacent cages shall be far enough apart to prevent one animal from causing injury to another. Cages or enclosures shall be subject to inspection at any reasonable time.
2. Enclosure size should be determined by the size of the animal being housed and must ensure the health and sanitary needs of the animals being housed.  
3. Animal(s) may be housed in temporary cages or enclosures for transport or veterinarian care only. Any temporary cage or enclosure must be equipped with structural safety barriers to prevent any physical contact with the caged animal by public and shall be covered to prevent escape and exclude predators. Animals in transport or in temporary cages or enclosures must be rendered incapable of reproduction by segregation (e.g. individually caged to prevent breeding).  
4. Cages or enclosures shall be subject to inspection at any reasonable time.

(b) Each individual animal permitted must have a passive integrated transponder (PIT tag) or microchip in encoded with a unique identifier permanently implanted. 

(c) Render animal(s) incapable of reproduction by segregation (e.g. individually caged to prevent breeding). 

(d) All animals that die, escape, or are legally exported shall be reported to the Nongame Program Coordinator within 24 hours.

(e) An inventory must be provided to AWFF stating the species, sex, age (if known), and passive integrate transponder (PIT tag) or micro-chip number of each animal in persons possession. All animals must be reported on inventory. This inventory shall be listed on the permit. A list of all permitted inventory shall be maintained at AWFF Headquarters with the Nongame Program and updated as animals die, escape, or are legally exported, to reflect current inventory. Inspections by authorized AWFF personnel to confirm inventory shall be allowed at any reasonable time.

(f) A report of inventory must be submitted annually by October 1 of each calendar year.

(g) If permittee dies or otherwise becomes incapacitated while in possession of permitted animals, then the listed beneficiary can take possession of the animal under the permit. Disposition of animals covered under the permit must be approved by AWFF.

(h) Permit(s) will expire upon the death of animal(s). It is unlawful to replace any deceased, lawfully exported, escaped, or voluntarily surrendered animal.

(i) Permit may be revoked for any violation of conditions of the permit. Upon revocation of permit, former permittee will have 90 days to properly dispose of animals as outlined in permit. 

(j) Permit(s) are non-transferable.

Persons found in possession of, breeding, selling, trading, or importing any of the above prohibited species listed in regulation 220-2-.26 after 90 days from the October 15, 2020 effective date of amendment will be subject to prosecution and seizure of illegally held animals. 

Permit Application

Permit applications shall be submitted by:

(a) email: DCNR.Wildlife@dcnr.alabama.gov with the subject line “Restricted Species Possession Permit Application,” or 

(b) mail: Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Div., Attn: Nongame Wildlife Program, PO Box 301457, Montgomery, AL 36130-1457, or express mail: 64 N Union Street, Ste 584, 36104.

Applications must be received or postmarked by January 13, 2021.

For Questions Contact:

Carrie Threadgill
Nongame Widlife Program Coodinator
DCNR.Wildlife@dcnr.alabama.gov
334-242-3469

CPT. Micheal East, Law Enforcement
Captive Wildlife Coordinator
DCNR.Enforce@dcnr.alabama.gov
334-242-3467