Released by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission …
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is moving forward with proposed rules that will help protect the state from a variety of high-risk invasive species including birds, mammals and reptiles. Draft rule language was presented at the FWC’s December 2018 Commission Meeting and subsequently approved at the FWC’s February 2019 Commission Meeting. Copies of all of the items presented at those meetings (including the presentations, summary memos and draft rules) are all available on our website at https://myfwc.com/about/commission/commission-meetings/.
These rule changes to Chapter 68-5, Florida Administrative Code, will create definitions for terms used in the chapter, add species to the Prohibited list, provide grandfathering language for people currently in possession of the newly listed Prohibited species as personal pets, and create a 90-day grace period for people to come into compliance with the new Prohibited species rules. For more information, please visit our website at https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/rule-development/.
Per the Florida rulemaking process, draft rules and related notices have been published in the Florida Administrative Register. These rules will become effective on April 28, 2019. The 90-day grace period for obtaining a permit for the newly-listed Prohibited species will end on July 27, 2019.
After the rule language goes into effect on April 28, 2019:
- Qualifying researchers and educational exhibitors will need to apply for a permit to possess any of the newly-listed Prohibited species currently in possession. Any facilities that already have a valid Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species Permit can simply request an amendment to add species to their existing permit.
- Commercial sale entities that will no longer be eligible to possess these species at the conclusion of the 90-day grace period should begin placing any of the newly-listed Prohibited species currently possessed either with qualifying facilities in Florida or with other facilities outside of the state. Commercial sale activity will not be grandfathered or allowed to continue after the grace period ends.
- People in possession of any of the newly-listed Prohibited species as personal pets prior to April 28, 2019 may apply for a permit to maintain that pet for the life of the animal. Only animals possessed prior to April 28, 2019 are eligible to be permitted for personal possession. All grandfathered pets must be marked with a PIT tag. No new pets of these species (including the offspring of grandfathered pets) may be acquired after April 28, 2019.
After the 90-day grace period ends on July 27, 2019:
- Any individual in possession of the newly-listed Prohibited species must have a valid permit for those animals, including public educational exhibitors, researchers and people with grandfathered personal pets.
- Commercial sale activity will no longer be allowed for the newly-listed Prohibited species.
If you are in possession of one of the newly-listed Prohibited species and do not wish to keep that animal, the FWC can help. The FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program helps pet owners place animals that they no longer want or can no longer keep. Any surrendered animals are placed with qualified, permitted adopters. For more information, please visit https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/amnesty-program/.
For information on permits and application requirements, please visit https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nonnative-species/ or email NonnativePermitApps@MyFWC.com. For more information on these rule changes and FAQs, please visit our website at https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/ or email NonnativeSpeciesRules@MyFWC.com