250 R.I. Code R. § 250-RICR-40-05-3.17 - Appendix A: List of Exempt Exotic Animals and Native Wild Animals
A. This list identifies those species of wild
animals which are exempt from the permit provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter
4-18, and may be kept without a possession permit from the Department provided
that all provisions of applicable statutes and this Part are satisfied. Species
not listed, or which are explicitly identified as requiring a possession permit
from the Department, are not considered exempt and shall require a valid
possession permit per the specifications of this Part. The inclusion of a
species on this listing does not obviate the necessity for the obligation to
comply with any applicable requirements under Federal, State, or local laws,
including those pertaining to endangered species and State export restrictions.
This appendix may be modified as need.
1. List
of Invertebrates:
a. Insects: All species of
insects are exempt from the requirement for an exotic animal possession permit
unless it is considered a nuisance species, invasive species, or is otherwise
prohibited from importation by Federal or State laws that restrict said
importation. The list of prohibited insects is published by the USDA at the
following URL
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/main.shtml
under the heading of "Invasive Species." Possession of any animal on this list
requires the possession of a valid exotic animal possession permit.
b. Other Invertebrates: All other
invertebrates except those specifically listed below are exempt from the
requirement for an exotic animal possession permit unless it is considered a
nuisance species, invasive species, or is otherwise prohibited from importation
by Federal or State laws that restrict said importation.
c. Possession of the following invertebrates
is prohibited:
(1) Zebra Mussels (
Dreissena polymorpha, D. bugensis ),
(2) Spiny Waterflea (Bythotrephes
cederstroemi ),
(3)
Fishhook Waterflea (Cercopagis pengoi),
(4) All non-indigenous crayfish,
(5) Asiatic Clam (Corbicula sp.
) Live specimens of this genus are prohibited. Specimens that are
frozen, cooked, or otherwise prepared for human consumption are exempt from the
permitting requirement.
2. List of Fish:
a. All aquarium trade fish, other than those
listed below as prohibited, may be kept without an exotic animal possession
permit except endangered species. The Division of Fish and Wildlife may have
additional Regulations if the species of fish is considered to be native or
nuisance.
b. Possession of the
following species of fish is prohibited:
(1)
Grass Carp or White Amur (Ctenopharyngdon idella),
(2) Rudd (Scardinius
erythrophthalmus),
(3)
Walking Catfish (Clarias spp. and all members of the family
Clariidae),
(4) Snakeheads
(Channidae and Parachannidae ),
(5) Black Carp (Mylopharyngodaon
piceus),
(6) Round Goby (
Neogobius melanostomus),
(7) Tubenose Goby (Proterhinus
marmoratus),
(8) Ruffe (
Gymnocephalus cernuus).
3. List of Amphibians:
a. The Rhode Island DEM's Division of Fish
and Wildlife considers all exotic amphibians to be a potential nuisance, vector
for disease, or a threat to native fauna. All retail amphibian vendors must be
in compliance with §
3.7(H) of
this Part. Any person in possession of an exotic amphibian must house the
animal indoors at all times and in a manner that will prevent escape or
liberation into the wild.
b. The
possession of native amphibians is restricted to those institutions identified
within §
3.7(C) of
this Part, and as exempted per §
3.8 of this Part. Terrestrial
amphibians considered native to Rhode Island and which possession as pets is
prohibited include the following:
(1) American
Bullfrog ( Lithobates catesbeian us),
(2) American Toad (Anaxyrus
americanus),
(3) Eastern
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus),
(4) Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus
holbrookii),
(5) Four-toed
Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum),
(6) Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus
fowleri),
(7) Gray
Treefrog (Hyla versicolor),
(8) Marbled Salamander ( Ambystoma
opacum),
(9) Northern
Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus),
(10) Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans
),
(11) Northern Leopard
Frog (Lithobates pipiens),
(12) Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus
porphyriticus ),
(13)
Northern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata ),
(14) Pickerel Frog ( Lithobates
palustris),
(15) Eastern
Newt ( Notophthalmus viridescens ),
(16) Spotted Salamander ( Ambystoma
maculatum),
(17) Spring
Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer),
(18) Wood Frog ( Lithobates
sylvatica).
4. List of Reptiles:
a. Turtles:
(1) All exotic species of turtles may be kept
without an exotic animal possession permit, except endangered species. §
3.17(A)(4)(a)
((2)) of this Part for a list of native turtle species. Possession of the
following species requires an exotic animal possession permit:
(AA) Argentina or Chaco Tortoise (
Geochelone chilensis),
(BB) Gopher tortoises (Gopherus
polyphemus) and all other species in the genus Gopherus ,
(CC) Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus
tornieri).
(2)
The possession of native turtles is restricted to those institutions identified
within §
3.7(C) of
this Part, and as exempted per §
3.8 of this Part. Turtles
considered native to Rhode Island and which possession as pets is prohibited
include the following:
(AA) Box Turtle
(Terrapene carolina),
(BB) Eastern Musk Turtle (
Sternotherus odoratus),
(CC) Painted Turtle (Chrysemys
picta),
(DD) Snapping
Turtle (Chelydra serpentina),
(EE) Diamond-backed Terrapin (
Malaclemys terrapin),
(FF) Spotted Turtle (Clemmys
guttata),
(GG) Wood Turtle
(Glyptemys insculpta).
b. Snakes:
(1) All venomous snakes require an exotic
animal possession permit. Refer to §
3.17(A)(4)(a)
((2)) of this Part for a list of native snake species.
(2) The following exotic species of snakes
may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except endangered
species and the specific exceptions listed below:
(AA) All species of boas and pythons
(family Boidae), may be kept without an exotic animal
possession permit except those species that are endangered, and except the
Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus), Green Tree Python (
Chondropython spp.), African Rock Python (Python sebae
), Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus ) and all
species of Anaconda (Eunectes spp.).
(BB) Shield-tailed Snakes, Sunbeam Snakes,
and others in the families Uropeltidae and Xenopeltidae may be kept without an
exotic animal possession permit.
(CC) Worm Snakes, Thread Snakes, and others
in the families Typhlopidae, Leptotyphlopidae, and Anomalepidae may be kept
without an exotic animal possession permit.
(DD) Snakes of the family Colubridae, as
follows may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit:
(i) Asian Rat Snakes (Elaphe spp. and
Ptyas spp. and Zaocys spp. and Bogetophis spp.),
(ii) Bird Snake or Puffing Snake (
Pseustes spp .),
(iii)
Brown and Redbelly Snakes (Storeria spp .),
(iv) Diadem Snakes (Spalerosophis spp
.),
(v) Glossy Snakes
(Arizona spp .),
(vi) Gopher and Pine Snakes (
Pituophis spp .),
(vii)
Green Snakes (Opheodrys spp .),
(viii) Ground Snakes (Sonora spp
.),
(ix) House Snakes (
Boaedon [ Lamprophis] spp.),
(x) Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes (
Lampropeltis spp .), other than native species listed below,
(xi) Mole Snake (Pseudaspis spp
.),
(xii) North American
Rat Snakes (Pantherophis spp .) except the Allegheny Rat Snake
(P. alleghaniensis) (other than albinistic and leucistic
individuals) which requires a permit,
(xiii) Texas Indigo Snake (
Drymarchon corais erebennus),
(xiv) Tropical Rat Snakes (Spilotes
spp .),
(xv) Water Snakes
(Nerodia [Natrix] spp .), and,
(xvi) Western Hognose Snake (
Heterodon nasicus).
(3) The possession of native snakes is
restricted to those institutions identified within §
3.7(C) of
this Part, and as exempted per §
3.8 of this Part. Snakes
considered native to Rhode Island and which possession as pets is prohibited
include the following:
(AA) Eastern
Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus),
(BB) Northern Watersnake (Nerodia
sipedon),
(CC) Common
Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis),
(DD) Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
(Heterodon platirhinos),
(EE) Milksnake (Lampropeltis
triangulum),
(FF) Eastern
Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis),
(GG) Common Wormsnake (Carphophis
amoenus),
(HH) North
American Racer (Coluber constrictor),
(II) Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria
dekayi),
(JJ) Red-bellied
Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata),
(KK) Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis
punctatus),
(LL) Smooth
Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis),
(MM) Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus
horridus).
c. Lizards:
(1) Possession of the Gila Monster, Beaded
Lizard (Heloderatidae), and all Monitors (
Varanidae) requires an exotic animal possession
permit.
(2) The following lizards
may be kept without a permit except for endangered species. The Division of
Fish and Wildlife may have additional Regulations if the species of lizard is
considered native or nuisance.
(AA) All Skinks
( Scincidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except for
the following: Florida Sand Skinks (Neoseps spp .), Solomon
Island Ground Skink (Tribolonotus spp .).
(BB) The following Girdle-tailed Lizards (
Cordylidae) may be kept without a permit: False Club-tailed
Lizards (Pseudocordylus spp .), Girdle-tailed Lizards (
Cordylus spp .), Plated Lizards (Gerrhosaurus spp
.), Rock Lizards (Platysaurus spp .), (
Zonosaurus spp. ).
(CC) All Teiids (Teiidae)
may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except for the
following: Brown Water Teiids (Neusticurus spp .), Dicrodon
spp., Earless Teiids (Bachia spp. ), Rough Teiids (
Echinosaura spp .), Snake Teiids (Ophiognomon spp
.), Spectacled Teiids (Gymnophthalmus spp .), Worm
Teiids (Scolacosaurus spp .).
(DD) The following Lacertid Lizards (
Lacertidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession
permit: Acanthodactylus spp., Gallotia spp ., Lacerta spp ., Podarcis spp .,
Psammodromus spp.
(EE) The
following Lateral-fold Lizards (Anguidae) may be kept without
an exotic animal possession permit: Alligator Lizards ( Gerrhonotus spp
.), Glass Lizards (Ophisaurus spp.), Slowworm
(Anguis spp .).
(FF) All Gekkos (Gekkonidae
) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except the Big Bend
Gekko (Coleonyx reticulatus).
(GG) The following Iguanid Lizards (
Iguanidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession
permit: Basilisks (Basiliscus spp .), Collared and Leopard
Lizards (Crotaphytus spp .), Common or Green Iguanas ( Iguana
i. iguana), False or Spring-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaurus spp
.), (Liolaemus spp .), New World Chameleons (
Anolis spp. and Ctenotus spp .), Spiny Lizards (
Sceloporus spp .), Tree and Bush Lizards (Urosaurus
spp .), (Uranoscodon spp .), Zebratailed Lizards (
Callisaurus spp .).
(HH) The following Agamid Lizards ( Agamidae
) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit: Amphibolorus spp .,
Calotes spp ., Hydrosaurus spp ., Pogona spp ., Water Dragon ( Physignathus spp
.).
(II) Night Lizards (
Xantusidae): All Night Lizards (Xantusia spp
.) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit, except for
the Utah Night Lizard (Xantusia virgilis utahensis
).
(JJ) Old World Chameleons (
Chameleonidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession
permit.
5. List of Birds:
a. Possession of the following groups of
birds is prohibited without a permit issued by the USFWS and if the bird is
considered native, a permit issued by Rhode Island DEM Division of Fish &
Wildlife:
(1) Endangered species of
birds,
(2) Migratory birds listed
in the Code of Federal Regulations,
50 C.F.R. §
10.13 (2017) (Migratory Bird Treaty
Act),
(3) NOTE: RIDEM Division of
Fish & Wildlife Regulations prohibits the possession of mute swans or their
eggs.
b. The following
birds or groups of birds may be kept without an exotic animal possession
permit:
(1) Blue or Button Quail (
Coturnix chinensis),
(2) Columbidae (Pigeons and
Doves),
(3) Bobwhite quail
( Colinus virginianus),
(4) Chukar partridge ( Alectoris
chukar),
(5) Estrildidae
(Waxbills and allies),
(6) Fringillidae (Finches and
allies),
(7) Pheasants
(the subfamily Phasianinae, of the family Phasianidae in the order
Galliformes ),
(8)
Ploceidae (Weaver Finches except the Red-billed, Black-fronted, and
Sudan Diochs, which require a permit),
(9) Psittacidae (Parrots and their
allies) except for Myiopsitta monachus (Monk
Parakeet), which requires a permit,
(10) Ramphastidae (Toucans, Aracaris,
and Toucanets),
(11)
Sturnidae (Starlings and Mynahs), except the Rose-colored
Starling (Pink Starling or Rosy Pastor, Sturnus roseus), which
requires a permit.
6. List of Mammals:
a. The following mammals may be kept without
an exotic animal possession permit:
(1)
Four-toed (African pygmy) Hedgehog (Erinaceus
albiventris) ( Atelerix pruneri),
(2) Chinchilla (Chinchilla spp
.) derived from captive stock,
(3) Degu ( Octodon degus
),
(4) Egyptian Spiny Mouse (
Acomys cahirinus),
(5) House Mouse (Mus
musculus),
(6) Jerboas (
Dipus spp .),
(7)
Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus),
(8) Paca (Cuniculus spp
.),
(9) Captive bred
hamsters that are common pet trade species,
(10) Sugar Glider (Petaurus
breviceps),
(11) Ferret (
Mustela putorius ). Note: Possession of a ferret does not
require obtaining an exotic animal possession permit. Possession of a ferret
does require a ferret possession permit issued through the Division of Fish
& Wildlife.
b. The
importation and possession of native and exotic cervids by any person is
prohibited without a valid permit from the Department per the Rules and
Regulations Governing the Importation, Feeding, and Baiting of Cervids in Rhode
Island, Part 60-00-2 of this Title. However, AZA-accredited facilities are
exempt from permitting requirements pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§
4-18-3 and
4-18-6 provided compliance with all
specified requirements within the statutes (also see §
3.8(B) of
this Part).
c. The possession of
native mammals is restricted to those institutions identified within §
3.7(C) of
this Part, and as exempted per §
3.8 of this Part. Terrestrial
mammals considered native either currently or historically to Rhode Island and
which possession as pets is prohibited include the following:
(1) American Beaver (Castor
canadensis),
(2) American
Mink (Neovison vison),
(3) Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus
fuscus),
(4) Black Bear
(Ursus americana),
(5) Bobcat ( Lynx
rufus),
(6) Common Muskrat
(Ondatra zibethicus),
(7) Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias
striatus),
(8) Eastern
Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus),
(9) Eastern Coyote (Canis
latrans),
(10) Eastern
Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis),
(11) Eastern Mole (Scalopus
aquaticus),
(12) Eastern
Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis),
(13) Fisher ( Pekaniapennanti
),
(14) Gray Fox (
Urocyon cinereoargenteus),
(15) Hairy-tailed Mole (Parascalops
breweri ),
(16) Hoary Bat
(Lasiurus cinereus),
(17) Little Brown Bat (Myotis
lucifugus),
(18)
Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata),
(19) Masked Shrew (Sorex
cinereus),
(20) Meadow
Jumping Mouse ( Zapus hudsonius),
(21) Meadow Vole (Microtus
pennsylvanicus ),
(22)
Moose (Alces alces),
(23) New England Cottontail (
Sylvilagus transitionalis ),
(24) Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis
septentrionalis),
(25)
Northern short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda),
(26) Porcupine (Erethizon
dorsatum),
(27) Raccoon (
Procyon lotor),
(28) Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes
),
(29) Red Squirrel (
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus),
(30) River Otter (Lontra
canadensis),
(31)
Short-tailed Weasel (Mustela erminea),
(32) Silver-haired Bat (
Lasionycteris noctivagans),
(33) Small-footed Bat (Myotis
leibii),
(34) Smoky Shrew
(Sorex fumeus),
(35) Snowshoe Hare (Lepus
americanus),
(36) Southern
Bog Lemming (Synaptomys cooperi),
(37) Southern Flying Squirrel (
Glaucomys volans),
(38) Southern Red-backed Vole (
Clethrionomys gapperi ),
(39) Star-nosed Mole (Condylura
cristata),
(40) Striped
Skunk ( Mephitis mephitis),
(41) Tri-colored Bat ( Perimyotis
subflavus),
(42) Virginia
Opossum (Didelphis virginiana),
(43) Water Shrew (Sorex
palustris),
(44)
White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus),
(45) White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus
virginianus),
(46)
Woodchuck (Marmota monax ),
(47) Woodland Jumping Mouse (
Napaeozapus insignis ),
(48) Woodland Vole (Microtus
pinetorum ),
(49) Mountain
Lion ( Felis concolor),
(50) Wolf (Canis lupus
).
Notes
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