Okla. Admin. Code § 800:25-7-7

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 800:25-7-7 - General provisions

The following are the general provisions for the taking and possession of reptiles and amphibians:

(1) It shall be unlawful to engage in any commercial activities involving any species or subspecies, if more than one exists, of reptiles or amphibians collected from the wild that are indigenous to or whose range extends into the State of Oklahoma, except for provisions for rattlesnakes, water turtles and aquatic salamanders (Necturus and Ambystoma , except Ambystoma talpodium and Ambystoma annulatum).

(2) Any person while in the act of taking or attempting to take reptiles and amphibians or possessing reptiles or amphibians must first possess:

(A) A resident or nonresident hunting license, unless otherwise exempt, for land dwelling reptiles or amphibians, with the exception of (C) and (D) of this paragraph.

(B) A resident or nonresident fishing license, unless otherwise exempt, for water dwelling reptiles or amphibians, with the exception of (C) and (D) of this paragraph.

(C) A commercial turtle harvester license for legal water dwelling turtles if the taking or possession is for commercial purposes.

(D) A commercial resident or nonresident minnow dealers license for legal aquatic salamanders if the taking is for commercial purposes.

(E) The appropriate license required for the taking of bullfrogs according to current statutes and regulations.

(3) Persons possessing a current resident or nonresident hunting license, unless otherwise exempt, may sell lawfully taken rattlesnakes only to those individuals holding a Commercial or Noncommercial Wildlife Breeders license during open season. A Commercial Breeders license is required of all who buy and resell live rattlesnakes.

(4) The method of taking legal water turtles and aquatic salamanders for commercial purposes and the taking of bullfrogs shall be restricted to provisions in the current statutes and regulations. It shall be unlawful to introduce, deposit, place or drain any deleterious, noxious, toxic or petroleum based substance into or around any underground dens or rock crevices for the purpose of taking reptiles or amphibians. With the exception of water turtles and aquatic salamanders taken for commercial purposes and all legal species of frogs, all other reptiles and amphibians may only be taken by hand or any other legal means.

(5) Nothing in this Part shall prohibit the control of reptiles other than those listed as endangered or threatened, by landowners, lessees, or occupants of such land when such reptiles are creating a nuisance.

(6) All persons so licensed for reptiles and amphibians shall keep detailed breeding and hatching records in addition to those records already required by law.

(7) Progeny of lawfully held reptiles may, for six months from date of birth, be held in captivity in excess of the stated limits. Before or upon reaching six months of age, such progeny must be disposed of according to the requirements of the license held, or as directed by the Department. Progeny may be retained for brood stock if replacing parent stock disposed of in the above manner so as not to exceed the stated limits.

(8) It is unlawful to possess an American Alligator without appropriate permit from the Department.

(9) The Director may make exception for education or research purposes to holder of Oklahoma Scientific Collector's permits for both reptiles and amphibians.

Okla. Admin. Code § 800:25-7-7

Amended at 9 Ok Reg 1291, eff 11-15-91 (emergency); Amended at 9 Ok Reg 3075, eff 7-13-92; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 1845, eff 5-15-98; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2919, eff 7-1-01; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1513, eff 7-1-12

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 31, Issue 24, September 2, 2014, eff. 9/15/2014