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.
