CB Alligator Snapping Turtle Legal in FL?

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farawayinn

Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2008
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cedar key, fl
www.farawayinn.com
The new Florida turtle regs are a bit confusing. Does anyone know if we are allowed one captive bred Alligator Snapper with a state permit? Not interested in wild caught, just a single cb animal for a display of natives at our business.

"The rule prohibits taking or possessing turtles from the wild that are listed on Florida's imperiled species list. These turtles are listed as imperiled:
  • Alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii)
  • Barbour's map turtles (Graptemys barbouri)
  • Suwannee cooters (Pseudemys suwanniensis)"
This is clearly referencing wild caught. OK so far. But a few paragraphs later, after referring to other wild caught turtles, the references to wild caught stop:

"In addition, no one may buy, sell, or possess for sale alligator snapping turtles, box turtles, Barbour’s map turtles, river cooters, loggerhead musk turtles, Escambia River map turtles, diamondback terrapins or parts thereof."

Still OK, not trying to sell, just own one. Then this bit of wierdness:

"If you had an alligator snapping turtle, Barbour's map turtles, or Suwannee cooters before July 20, 2009, you must apply for a Class III Personal Pet License to keep your turtles. The license will not be issued for more than one alligator snapping turtle or more than two Barbour's map turtles."

This part does not specify wild caught only. Does this mean we can't now puchase a cb alligator snapper in FL? And if we can, does that also require a class III permit?

Above text is from http://www.myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/SpeciesInfo_FreshwaterTurtles.htm

Thanks,
Oliver
 
The last part is just a grandfather clause so current turtle owners won't have to get rid of their pets. I think the part saying you can't buy one is pretty clear: they don't want anyone to acquire any of those species in any way.

As always, the opinions of anonymous people on the internet are not legally valid. Talk to your wildlife agency people for clarification.
 
thanks noto. i was hoping cb was excluded and the reg change referred to wild caught only.
 
was hoping to do side by side enclosures of a florida snapper and an alligator snapper. both are native to our area. if the gator snapper isn't possible, then maybe a florida softshell instead.
 
I've talked to friends that live in Florida before about owning an Alligator Snapping turtle over there and they told me that they were allowed at least one. I'm guess the law has changed a bit, perhaps they are not allowing people to acquire even one at all anymore. I will talk to my friend when he I see him this weekend. He is a turtle guy and is up to par with the current turtle regulations over there.
 
Just a thought- if you get a wildlife rehabilitation license, you could volunteer to take in confiscated allies or other banned critters that the DNR nabs. It's a hassle but may be worthwhile if you really want the turtle (and possibly a tax write-off).
 
I'm no legal expert but it does seem to me they are referring to wild caught. My father lives in Clearwater and his neighbor owns one that he bought legally out of state. He told me that when he applied for his permit he only had to show the sales receipt to prove it was not wild caught. I would call the DNR and I'm sure you can find out for sure.
 
thank you all. at least i'm not the only one who isn't clear about the new rules.

i will contact the fwc to inquire about a cb gator snapper. best to get their interpretation before i get in trouble. will post about it when i get an answer.

noto - a great idea and we would love to do rehabs, but we are in city limits and they won't give a zoning variance for it. we are grandfathered in as a motel in a residential zone already, so no additional variances is the rule for us.

thanks again,
oliver
 
you cannot buy, sell, capture or trade them but you can keep them. Basically, no, you cannot get any but if you had some prior to the law taking place, you could keep it. same with RES now.
 
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