The following information is exerpted from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department website (http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/importation_pets.cfm). Please note that only reptile & amphibian information has been provided. Please refer to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department site for the full regulation text.
Importing and Possessing Pets and Animals in Vermont
Any person within the state of Vermont interested in purchasing, importing, or possessing a pet or animal (except fish) must determine whether that pet or animal species first requires an Importation and Possession Permit from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
Effective January 23, 2008, a new regulation, regulation 10 V.S.A. App. § 18 establishes a list of Domestic Species and Unrestricted Wild Animals for which no state Importation and Possession Permit is required by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Species not listed as Domestic or Unrestricted Wild Animals will continue to require an importation and possession permit.
Individuals, educational institutions, or research facilities seeking to import or collect animals for the purposes of education or bona fide research must first obtain a Scientific Collection Permit. Individuals conducting any research or field activity that may result in the pursuit, capture, disturbance, handling, injury, death, or importation of any State threatened and endangered species are required to first obtain an Endangered Species Permit.
Importation and Possession Permit: Newly adopted Regulation #881 provides clear guidelines on the importation and possession requirements for all pet stores, dealers in wildlife, hobbyists, and prospective pet owners. These are intended to provide the public with current Department guidelines that identify which species are allowed to be imported and possessed without a permit and which species an individual or business must first obtain an importation and possession permit.
Many wildlife species are designated as Unrestricted Reptiles & Amphibians. Descriptions and lists of species are provided below. Species’ designations are generally based upon the following criteria as to whether the species is:
- Capable of competing with native wildlife species
- A risk of transmitting diseases to native wildlife species
- A threat to human health and safety
- Threatened in other regions by collecting for the pet trade
Species not listed as Unrestricted Wild Animals below require an Importation and Possession Permit, which may or may not be granted depending upon specific circumstances or conditions.
Unrestricted Reptile & Amphibian List: No Importation and Possession Permit is needed to import and possess these species into the state. These species have been designated as Unrestricted based on the fact that the species satisfy none of the criteria listed above. Those species listed as Exemptions in the Appendix: Exceptions to List do require an Importation and Possession Permit from the Department.
Permit applications can be obtained from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Agency of Natural Resources, 103 South Main Street, 10 South, Waterbury, VT 05671-0501. Their telephone number is: (802) 241-3700.
Click link to navigate to a specific section of the list:
Unrestricted List | Appendix: Exceptions to List
Unrestricted Reptile & Amphibian List
Animal Group | Order | Suborder | Family | Genus | Species | Common Name(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amphibians* | Anura | Discoglossidae | Bombina | bombina | Fire-bellied toads (Captive Bred Only) | |
Amphibians | Anura | Hylidae | Hyla | cinerea | Green treefrog (Captive Bred Only) | |
Amphibians | Anura | Hylidae | Agalychnis | callidryas | Red-eyed treefrog (Captive Bred Only) | |
Amphibians | Anura | Hylidae | Litoria caerulea | White’s treefrog (Captive Bred Only) | ||
Amphibians | Caudata | All species salamanders and newts, except those listed in Appendix that require an importation and possession permit | ||||
Reptiles* | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Anguidae | all species | All species of alligator lizards, glass lizards, slow worms | |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Lacertidae | All species of wall lizards, except those listed in Appendix that require an importation and possession permit | ||
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Scincidae | All species of skinks, except those listed in Appendix that require an importation and possession permit | ||
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Teiidae | all species | Tegus and whiptails | |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Varanidae | Varanus | brevicauda | Short-tailed pygmy monitor |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Varanidae | Varanus | exanthematicus | Savannah/Bosc’s monitor |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Varanidae | Varanus | storri | Dwarf monitor |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Varanidae | Varanus | timorensis | Timor monitor |
Reptiles | Squamata | Iguania | Agamidae | all species | Agamas | |
Reptiles | Squamata | Iguania | Chamaelonidae | all species | Chameleons | |
Reptiles | Squamata | Iguania | Crotaphytidae | Crotaphytus | all species | Collared lizards |
Reptiles | Squamata | Iguania | Polychrotidae | Anolis | all species | Anoles |
Reptiles | Squamata | Iguania | Phrynosomatidae | Sceloporus | all species | Fence lizards, spiny lizards |
Reptiles | Squamata | Iguania | Tropiduridae | Leiocephalus | all species | Curly-tailed lizards |
Reptiles | Squamata | Iguania | Tropiduridae | Liolaemus | all species | South American swifts |
Reptiles | Squamata | Scleroglossa | Gekkonidae | all species | Geckos | |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | All species of boas and pythons, except those listed in Appendix that require an importation and possession permit | ||
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | All species of colubrids, except those listed in Appendix that require an importation and possession permit | ||
Reptiles | Testudines | Emydidae | Chrysemys | picta dorsalis | Southern painted turtle (Captine Bred Only) | |
Reptiles | Testudines | Emydidae | Trachemys | scripta elegans | Red-eared slider (Captive Bred Only) | |
Reptiles | Testudines | Emydidae | Trachemys | scripta scripta | Yellowbelly slider (Captive Bred Only) | |
Reptiles | Testudines | Emydidae | Trachemys | scripta troostii | Cumberland slider (Captive Bred Only) | |
Reptiles | Testudines | Testudinidae | Testudo/Agrionemys | horsfieldii | Russian tortoise (Captive Bred Only) | |
Reptiles | Testudines | Testudinidae | Geochelone | carbonaria | Red-footed tortoise (Captive Bred Only) |
- Taxonomy by animal groups defined by the following: Univ. of Michigan Museum of Zoology – Animal Diversity Web (www.animaldiversity.unmz.umich.edu/site/index.html)
Appendix: Exceptions to Unrestricted Reptile & Amphibian List
Species below are exceptions to the Unrestricted Wild Animal List status and require an importation and possession permit
Animal Group | Order | Suborder | Family | Genus | Species | Common Name(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amphibians | Caudata | Ambystomatidae | Ambystoma | all species | Mole salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Cryptobranchidae | Cryptobranchus | alleganiensis | Hellbenders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Ambystomatidae | Dicamptodon | all species | American giant salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Hynobiidae | Ranodon | all species | Asian salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Plethodontidae | Desmognathus | fuscus | Northern dusky salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Plethodontidae | Eurycea | all species | Two-lined salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Plethodontidae | Gyrinophilus | porphyriticus | Spring salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Plethodontidae | Hemidactylium | scutatum | Four-toed salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Plethodontidae | Plethodon | all species | Slimy salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Proteidae | Necturus | maculosus | Mudpuppy | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Cynops | cyanurus | Blue tailed fire belly newt | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Cynops | orphicus | Dayang newt | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Cynops | chenggongensis | Chenggong fire belly newt | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Cynops | wolterstorffi | Wolterstorff’s newt | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Euproctus | all species | Brook salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Mertensiella | all species | Spine-tailed salamanders | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Notopthalmus | all species | Eastern newts | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Taricha | rivularis | Western newts | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Taricha | torasa | Western newts | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Taricha | granulose | Western newts | |
Amphibians | Caudata | Salamandridae | Triturus | all species | Alpine newts | |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Lacertidae | Gallotia | all species | Canary Island lizards |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Lacertidae | Lacerta | monticola | Iberian mountain lizard |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Lacertidae | Lacerta | strigata | Caucasian green lizard |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Lacertidae | Lacerta | vivipara | Viviparous lizard |
Reptiles | Squamata | Autarchoglossa | Scincidae | Eumeces | all species | Skinks |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Apodora | papuana | Water/Papuan python |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Eunectes | all species | Anacondas |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Eryx | johnii | Indian sand boa |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Gongylophis | conicus | Russell’s sand boa |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Liasis | olivaceous | Olive python |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Morelia | amethystina | Scrub/Amethistine python |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Morelia | oenpelliensis | Oenpelli python |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Python | molurus | Indian/Burmese python |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Python | reticulatus | Reticulated python |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Python | natalensis | Southern African python |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Boidae | Python | sebae | Northern Aftrican python |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Boiga | dendrophilia | Mangrove snake |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Boiga | irregularis | Brown tree snake |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Coluber | all species | Racers |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Diadophis | all species | Ring-necked snakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Dispholidus | typus | Boomslang |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Elaphe | obsoleta | N. American/Eastern ratsnakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Elapomorphus | all species | Diadem snakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Hydrodynastes | gigas | False water cobra |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Lampropeltis | traingulum | Eastern milk snake |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Nerodia | sipedon | Northern watersnake |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Opheodrys | all species | Green snakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Rhabdophis | subminiatus | Red-necked snakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Rhabdophis | tigrinus | Tiger keelback snakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Storeria | dekayi | Dekay’s brownsnakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Storeria | occipitomaculata | Red-bellied snakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Tachymenis | all species | False vipers |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Thamnophis | all species | Garter snakes, ribbon snakes |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Thelotornis | capensis | Twig/Bird snake |
Reptiles | Squamata | Serpentes | Colubridae | Thelotornis | kirtlandi | Bird/Vine snake |