Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-8-.05 - Wild Animals, License Required

(1) The following wild animals are subject to licensing requirements pursuant to O.C.G.A. Sec. 27-5-4.

(a) Mammals

1. Order Afrosoricida (golden moles, tenrecs) - All species;

2. Order Artiodactyla (even-toed unguluates) - All species except Bison bison (buffalo), Bubalus bubalus (water buffalo), Genus Lama (llamas), and Genus Vicugna (alpaca);

3. Order Carnivora (weasels, ferrets, cats, bears, wolves, etc.) - All species, except that European ferret (Mustela putorius furo) may be sold, purchased, exhibited, or held as a pet without a license or permit; provided, however, that the ferret owner has in possession valid documentation that each ferret was sexually neutered prior to seven months of age and is vaccinated against rabies with a properly administered vaccine approved for use on ferrets by the United States Department of Agriculture;

4. Order Chiroptera (bats) - All species;

5. Order Cingulata (armadillos, etc.) - All species;

6. Order Dermoptera (flying lemurs) - All species;

7. Orders Diprotodontia and Peramelemorphia (Marsupials) - All species except that Petaurus breviceps (sugar glider) may be sold, purchased, exhibited, or held as a pet without a license or permit if the owner thereof possesses valid documentation that the animal originated from a source inspected and regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture;

8. Order Erinaceopmorpha (hedgehogs) - All species;

9. Order Hyracoidea (conies) - All species;

10. Order Lagomorpha (Rabbits, hares, etc) - All species;

11. Order Macroscelida (elephant shrews) - All species;

12. Order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates) - All species;

13. Order Pholidota (pangolins, scaly anteaters, etc.) - All species;

14. Order Pilosa (sloths, etc.) - All species;

15. Order Primates (monkeys, apes, etc) - All species;

16. Order Rodentia (rats, mice, etc.) - All species except Genera Cavia, Chinchilla, Gerbillus, Meriones, Mesocricetus, and species Mus musculus, Rattus rattus, and Rattus norvegicus;

17. Order Sirenia (manatees, dugongs) - All species;

18. Order Scandentia (tree shrews) - All species;

19. Order Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, etc) - All species;

20. Order Tubulidentata (aardvark) - All species;

(b) Birds:

1. Order Accipitriformes (Hawks, eagles, hawk-eagles, sea-eagles, harriers, osprey, Old World vultures, and kites) - All species;

2. Order Cathartiformes (New World vultures and condors) - All species;

3. Order Cuculiformes: Family Cuculidae (cuckoos) - All species;

4. Order Falconiformes (Forest-falcons, falcons, and caracaras) - All species;

5. Order Galliformes: Family Phasianidae (turkeys) - Genus Meleagris;

6. Order Passeriformes:

(i) Family Alaudidae (larks) - Alauda arvensis (Eurasian sky lark);

(ii) Family Corvidae (crows, ravens, etc.) - All species;

(iii) Family Emberizidae (Old World buntings, etc.) - Emberiza citrinella (yellow hammer);

(iv) Family Icteridae (New World blackbirds, grackles, orioles, etc.): Genera Molothrus, Quiscalus, and Agelaius - All species;

(v) Family Ploceidae (sparrows, weavers, queleas, weaver finches, etc.):

(I) Genus Passer - All species except Passer domesticus (English house sparrow);

(II) Ploceus capensis (cape weaver);

(III) Ploceus philippinus (Baya weaver);

(IV) Genus Quelea - All species;

(vi) Family Pycnonotidae (bulbuls) - All species;

(vii) Family Turdidae (thrushes, Old World blackbirds, fieldfare, etc.): Genus Turdus - All species;

(viii) Family Zosteropidae (white eyes): Genus Zosterops - All species;

(ix) Family Estrildidae (waxbills, ricebirds, munias, etc.) - Padda oryzivora (Java sparrow);

(x) Family Sturnidae (starlings, mynas, etc.) - All species, except Sturnus vulgaris (starling) and Gracula religiosa (Hill mynas);

7. Order Strigiformes (owls) - All species;

8. The species listed in subparagraphs (b)1, (b)4, and (b)7 may be possessed by individuals having a valid Georgia falconry license or permit without obtaining a wild animal license;

(c) Reptiles:

1. Order Squamata:

(i) Family Pythonidae - Python molurus (Indian rock python);

(ii) Family Pythonidae - Python bivittatus (Burmese python);

(iii) Family Teidae - Salvator merianae (Argentine black-and-white tegu);

(iv) Family Varanidae - Varanus niloticus (Nile monitor);

2. Order Testudines:

(i) Family Pelomedusidae - Pelomedusa subrufa (African helmeted turtle);

(ii) Family Trionychidae (softshell turtles) - Pelodiscus sinensis (Chinese softshell turtle);

3. The species listed in subparagraph (c) shall only be licensed for scientific, educational, or public exhibition purposes consistent with O.C.G.A. Sec. 27-5-4; provided, however, that such species possessed on or before the effective date of this rule may be held as a pet without a license or permit provided that the owner tags and registers all individuals with the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division within 12 months following the effective date of this rule;

(d) Amphibians:

1. Order Anura: Family Bufonidae (true toads): Genus Rhinella (cane toads) - All species;

(e) Fishes:

1. Order Osteoglossiformes: Family Arapaimidae (Arapaimas) - All species;

2. Order Characiformes:

(i) Family Characidae (characins) - Psalidodon fasciatus (banded Astyanax);

(ii) Family Erythrinidae (trahiras) - All species;

3. Order Cypriniformes:

(i) Family Xenocyprididae (east Asian minnows) - Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp);

4. Order Siluriformes:

(i) Family Clariidae (airbreathing catfishes) - All species;

(ii) Family Heteropneustidae (airsac catfishes, giant walking catfishes) - All species;

(iii) Family Sisoridae (sisorid catfishes): Genus Bagarius (goonch catfishes) - All species;

5. Order Synbranchiformes: Family Synbranchidae (swamp eels) - All species;

6. All exotic fishes which are not held in aquaria or tanks. This includes any fish species meeting the definition of wild animals. This subparagraph shall not apply to any species of fish regulated by any rule in this Subject, to domestic fish as defined in 27-1-2(23), or by any other Georgia law;

7. Species listed in subparagraphs (e)1, (e)2(ii), (e)4(iii), and (e)5 and held in aquaria or tanks in Georgia before the effective date of this rule may be possessed, sold, transported, or transferred for a 12-month period following the effective date of this rule;

(f) Invertebrates:

1. Order Architaenioglossa:

(i) Family Ampulariidae: Genus Pomacea (apple snails) - All species;

(ii) Family Viviparidae: Genus Cipangopaludina (asian mystery snails) - All species;

2. Order Decapoda:

(i) Family Astacidae (crayfishes) - All species;

(ii) Family Cambaridae (crayfishes) - All species, except that Cambarellus spp., Procambarus clarkii (red swamp crayfish), and Procambarus zonangulus (White River crayfish) may be sold, purchased or possessed without a license or permit;

(iii) Family Cambaroididae (crayfishes) - All species;

(iv) Family Parastacidae (crayfishes) - All species;

(v) Family Penaeidae (penaeid shrimps) - All species, except that dead penaeid shrimps may be possessed without a license when purchased for human consumption;

3. Order Littorinimorpha; Family Tateidae: - Potamopyrgus antipodarum (New Zealand Mud Snail);

4. Order Neogastropoda: Family Nasseridae - Anentome helena (assassin/bumblebee snail);

5. Order Unionida:

(i) Family Etheriidae (etheriid mussels) - All species;

(ii) Family Hyriidae (hyriid mussels) -All species;

(iii) Family Iridinidae (iridinid mussels) - All species;

(iv) Family Mycetopodidae (Mycetopodid mussels) - All species;

(v) Family Unionidae: Genera Anodonta and Sinanodonta (pond mussels) - All species;

6. All freshwater and marine invertebrate wild animals which are not held in aquaria or tanks. This subparagraph shall not apply to any species of invertebrate regulated by any other rule in this Subject;

7. Species listed in subparagraphs (f)1, (f)2, (f)3, (f)4, or (f)5 and held in aquaria or tanks in Georgia before the effective date of this rule may be possessed, sold, transported or transferred for a 12- month period following the effective date of this rule; and

8. The species listed in subparagraph (f)1 shall only be licensed for scientific purposes consistent with O.C.G.A. Sec. 27-5-4.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-8-.05

O.C.G.A. §§ 27-5-2, 27-5-4.

Original Rule entitled "Wild Animals, License Required" adopted. F. Nov. 14, 2022; eff. Dec. 4, 2022.