Virginia Administrative Code › Title 4 - CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES › Agency 15 - DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES › Chapter 30 - DEFINITIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS: IMPORTATION, POSSESSION, SALE, ETC., OF ANIMALS › Section 4VAC15-30-40 - Importation requirements, possession, and sale of nonnative (exotic) animals

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. Permit
				required. A special permit is required and may be issued by the department, if
				consistent with the department's fish and wildlife management program, to
				import, possess, or sell those nonnative (exotic) animals listed in the
				following table and in
				4VAC15-20-210
				that the board finds and declares to be predatory or undesirable within the
				meaning and intent of §
									29.1-542 of the Code
				of Virginia, in that their introduction into the Commonwealth will be
				detrimental to the native fish and wildlife resources of Virginia.
AMPHIBIANS
Order
Family
Genus/Species
Common Name
Anura
Bufonidae
Rhinella marina
Cane toad*
Pipidae
Hymenochirus spp. Pseudohymenochiris merlini
African dwarf frog
Xenopus spp.
Tongueless or African clawed frog
Caudata
Ambystomatidae
All species, except Ambystoma mexicanum
All mole salamanders, except Mexican axolotl
BIRDS
Order
Family
Genus/Species
Common Name
Psittaciformes
Psittacidae
Myiopsitta monachus
Monk parakeet*
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Cygnus olor
Mute swan
FISH
Order
Family
Genus/Species
Common Name
Cypriniformes
Catostomidae
Catostomus microps
Modoc sucker
Catostomus santaanae
Santa Ana sucker
Catostomus warnerensis
Warner sucker
Ictiobus bubalus
Smallmouth* buffalo
I. cyprinellus
Bigmouth* buffalo
I. niger
Black buffalo*
Characidae
Pygopristis spp.
Pygocentrus spp.
Rooseveltiella spp.
Serrasalmo spp.
Serrasalmus spp.
Taddyella spp.
Piranhas
Cobitidae
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Oriental weatherfish
Cyprinidae
Aristichyhys nobilis
Bighead carp*
Chrosomus saylori
Laurel dace
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Grass carp or white amur
Cyprinella caerulea
Blue shiner
Cyprinella formosa
Beautiful shiner
Cyprinella lutrensis
Red shiner
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Silver carp*
Mylopharyngodom piceus
Black carp*
Notropis albizonatus
Palezone shiner
Notropis cahabae
Cahaba shiner
Notropis girardi
Arkansas River shiner
Notropis mekistocholas
Cape Fear shiner
Notropis simus pecosensis
Pecos bluntnose shiner
Notropis topeka (= tristis)
Topeka shiner
Phoxinus cumberlandensis
Blackside dace
Rhinichthys osculus lethoporus
Independence Valley speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis
Ash Meadows speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus oligoporus
Clover Valley speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus ssp.
Foskett speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus thermalis
Kendall Warm Springs dace
Scardinius erythrophthalmus
Rudd
Tinca tinca
Tench*
Cyprinodontiformes
Poeciliidae
Gambusia gaigei
Big Bend gambusia
Gambusia georgei
San Marcos gambusia
Gambusia heterochir
Clear Creek gambusia
Gambusia nobilis
Pecos gambusia
Peociliopsis occidentalis
Gila topminnow
Gasterosteiformes
Gasterosteidae
Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni
Unarmored threespine stickleback
Gobiesociformes
Gobiidae
Proterorhinus marmoratus
Tubenose goby
Neogobius melanostomus
Round goby
Perciformes
Centrarchidae
Micropterus henshalli
Alabama bass
Channidae
Channa spp.Parachanna spp.
Snakeheads
Cichlidae
Tilapia spp.
Tilapia
Gymnocephalus cernuum
Ruffe*
Elassomatidae
Elassoma alabamae
Spring pygmy sunfish
Percidae
Crystallaria cincotta
Diamond darter
Etheostoma chermocki
Vermilion darter
Etheostoma boschungi
Slackwater darter
Etheostoma chienense
Relict darter
Etheostoma etowahae
Etowah darter
Etheostoma fonticola
Fountain darter
Etheostoma moorei
Yellowcheek darter
Etheostoma nianguae
Niangua darter
Etheostoma nuchale
Watercress darter
Etheostoma okaloosae
Okaloosa darter
Etheostoma phytophilum
Rush darter
Etheostoma rubrum
Bayou darter
Etheostoma scotti
Cherokee darter
Etheostoma sp.
Bluemask (= jewel) darter
Etheostoma susanae
Cumberland darter
Etheostoma wapiti
Boulder darter
Percina antesella
Amber darter
Percina aurolineata
Goldline darter
Percina jenkinsi
Conasauga logperch
Percina pantherina
Leopard darter
Percina tanasi
Snail darter
Scorpaeniformes
Cottidae
Cottus sp.
Grotto sculpin
Cottus paulus (= pygmaeus)
Pygmy sculpin
Siluriformes
Clariidae
All species
Air-breathing catfish
Ictaluridae
Noturus baileyi
Smoky madtom
Noturus crypticus
Chucky madtom
Noturus placidus
Neosho madtom
Noturus stanauli
Pygmy madtom
Noturus trautmani
Scioto madtom
Synbranchiformes
Synbranchidae
Monopterus albus
Swamp eel
MAMMALS
Order
Family
Genus/Species
Common Name
Artiodactyla
Suidae
All Species
Pigs or Hogs*
Cervidae
All Species
Deer*
Carnivora
Canidae
All Species
Wild Dogs,* Wolves, Coyotes or Coyote hybrids,
							 Jackals and Foxes
Ursidae
All Species
Bears*
Procyonidae
All Species
Raccoons and* Relatives
Mustelidae
All Species
Weasels, Badgers,* Skunks and Otters
(except Mustela putorius furo)
Ferret
Viverridae
All Species
Civets, Genets,* Lingsangs, Mongooses, and
							 Fossas
Herpestidae
All Species
Mongooses*
Hyaenidae
All Species
Hyenas and Aardwolves*
Felidae
All Species
Cats*
Chiroptera
All Species
Bats*
Lagomorpha
Lepridae
Brachylagus idahoensis
Pygmy rabbit
Lepus europeaeous
European hare
Oryctolagus cuniculus
European rabbit
Sylvilagus bachmani riparius
Riparian brush rabbit
Sylvilagus palustris hefneri
Lower Keys marsh rabbit
Rodentia
All species native to Africa
All species native to Africa
Dipodidae
Zapus hudsonius preblei
Preble's meadow jumping mouse
Muridae
Microtus californicus scirpensis
Amargosa vole
Microtus mexicanus hualpaiensis
Hualapai Mexican vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli
Florida salt marsh vole
Neotoma floridana smalli
Key Largo woodrat
Neotoma fuscipes riparia
Riparian (= San Joaquin Valley) woodrat
Oryzomys palustris natator
Rice rat
Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola
Key Largo cotton mouse
Peromyscus polionotus allophrys
Choctawhatchee beach mouse
Peromyscus polionotus ammobates
Alabama beach mouse
Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris
Southeastern beach mouse
Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis
St. Andrew beach mouse
Peromyscus polionotus phasma
Anastasia Island beach mouse
Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis
Perdido Key beach mouse
Reithrodontomys raviventris
Salt marsh harvest mouse
Heteromyidae
Dipodomys heermanni morroensis
Morro Bay kangaroo rat
Dipodomys ingens
Giant kangaroo rat
Dipodomys merriami parvus
San Bernadino Merriam's kangaroo rat
Dipodomys nitratoides exilis
Fresno kangaroo rat
Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides
Tipton kangaroo rat
Dipodomys stephensi (including D. cascus)
Stephens' kangaroo rat
Perognathus longimembris pacificus
Pacific pocket mouse
Sciuridae
Cynomys spp.
Prairie dogs
Spermophilus brunneus brunneus
Northern Idaho ground squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis
Mount Graham red squirrel
Soricomorpha
Soricidae
Sorex ornatus relictus
Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew
MOLLUSKS
Order
Family
Genus/Species
Common Name
Neotaenioglossa
Hydrobiidae
Potamopyrgus antipodarum
New Zealand mudsnail
Veneroida
Dreissenidae
Dreissena bugensis
Quagga mussel
Dreissena polymorpha
Zebra mussel
REPTILES
Order
Family
Genus/Species
Common Name
Crocodilia
Alligatoridae
All species
Alligators, caimans*
Crocodylidae
All species
Crocodiles*
Gavialidae
All species
Gavials*
Squamata
Colubridae
Boiga irregularis
Brown tree snake*
CRUSTACEANS
Order
Family
Genus/Species
Common Name
Decapoda
Cambaridae
Cambarus aculabrum
Cave crayfish
Cambarus zophonastes
Cave crayfish
Orconectes rusticus
Rusty crayfish
Orconectes shoupi
Nashville crayfish
Pacifastacus fortis
Shasta crayfish
Procambarus sp.
Marbled crayfish
Parastacidae
Cherax spp.
Australian crayfish
Varunidea
Eriocheir sinensis
Chinese mitten crab
B.
				Temporary possession permit for certain animals. Notwithstanding the permitting
				requirements of subsection A of this section, a person, company, or corporation
				possessing any nonnative (exotic) animal, designated with an asterisk (*) in
				subsection A of this section, prior to July 1, 1992, must declare such
				possession in writing to the department by January 1, 1993. This written
				declaration shall serve as a permit for possession only, is not transferable,
				and must be renewed every five years. This written declaration must include
				species name, common name, number of individuals, date or dates acquired, sex
				(if possible), estimated age, height or length, and other characteristics such
				as bands and band numbers, tattoos, registration numbers, coloration, and
				specific markings. Possession transfer will require a new permit according to
				the requirements of this subsection.
C. Exception for certain monk parakeets. A
				permit is not required for monk parakeets (quakers) that have been captive bred
				and are closed-banded with a seamless band.
D. Exception for parts or products. A permit
				is not required for parts or products of those nonnative (exotic) animals
				listed in subsection A of this section that may be used for personal use, in
				the manufacture of products, or used in scientific research, provided that such
				parts or products be packaged outside the Commonwealth by any person, company,
				or corporation duly licensed by the state in which the parts originate. Such
				packages may be transported into the Commonwealth, consistent with other state
				laws and regulations, so long as the original package remains unbroken,
				unopened and intact until its point of destination is reached. Documentation
				concerning the type and cost of the animal parts ordered, the purpose and date
				of the order, point and date of shipping, and date of receiving shall be kept
				by the person, business, or institution ordering such nonnative (exotic) animal
				parts. Such documentation shall be open to inspection by a representative of
				the Department of Wildlife Resources.
E. Exception for prairie dogs. The effective
				date of listing of prairie dogs under subsection A of this section shall be
				January 1, 1998. Prairie dogs possessed in captivity in Virginia on December
				31, 1997, may be maintained in captivity until the animals' deaths, but they
				may not be sold on or after January 1, 1998, without a permit.
F. Exception for snakehead fish. Anglers may
				legally harvest snakehead fish of the family Channidae, provided that they
				immediately kill such fish and that they notify the department, as soon as
				practicable, of such actions.
G.
				Exception for feral hogs. Anyone may legally trap feral hogs with written
				permission of the landowner, provided that any trapped hogs are not removed
				from the trap site alive and are killed immediately.
H. Exception for grass carp. Anglers may
				legally harvest grass carp of the family Cyprinidae only from public waters of
				the Commonwealth. It is unlawful to harvest grass carp from any public inland
				lake or reservoir. Anglers taking grass carp must ensure that harvested grass
				carp are dead.
I. Exception for
				Alabama bass. Anglers may possess live Alabama bass of the family Centrarchidae
				only on the body of water from which the fish were captured, provided that the
				angler does not live transport these fish outside of the body of water from
				which the fish were captured. Anglers may only release live Alabama bass back
				into the body of water from which the fish were captured. Anglers may legally
				harvest Alabama bass provided that the anglers ensure all harvested Alabama
				bass are dead.
J. All other
				nonnative (exotic) animals. All other nonnative (exotic) animals not listed in
				subsection A of this section may be possessed, purchased, and sold; provided,
				that such animals shall be subject to all applicable local, state, and federal
				laws and regulations, including those that apply to threatened/endangered
				species, and further provided, that such animals shall not be liberated within
				the Commonwealth.
Statutory Authority: §§
											29.1-103,
					 29.1-501,
					 and
					 29.1-502
					 of the Code of Virginia.