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Nongame Wildlife

General prohibitions

• No wildlife or their nests, eggs, young, homes or dens shall be taken, transported, stored, served, bought, sold or possessed in any manner at any time, except as specifically permitted by State of Florida rules.
• No one shall take, poison, store, buy, sell, possess or wantonly or willfully waste wildlife, unless specifically permitted to do so.
• Gasoline or any other chemical or gaseous substances used to drive wildlife from their retreats is prohibited.
• It is prohibited to intentionally place food or garbage, allow the placement of food or garbage; or offer food or garbage in such a manner that it attracts black bears, foxes, raccoons or sandhill cranes creating a public nuisance.

Birds
State and federal laws protect native species of birds. In addition to game birds, native birds may not be taken or harrassed, except as described in these rules. Migratory nongame birds that cause damage to trees, crops, livestock or wildlife, or that are concentrated in such numbers that they are  nuisance, may be taken with permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by calling (404) 679-7070. Blackbirds, grackles, cowbirds and crows can be taken without permits when they are causing damage.

Unprotected birds
State and federal wildlife laws do not protect non-native birds that have become
established in Florida by accidental releases or unauthorized stockings. Unprotected species include English sparrows, European starlings, rock doves (pigeons) and Muscovy ducks. If you are uncertain whether a bird is native to Florida, contact an FWC regional office (see page 2).

Unprotected mammals
Armadillos, Norway rats, black rats and house mice.

Frogs
Frogs can be taken day or night, year-round by hand, gigs, clubs, blowguns or hook and line. Frogs also can be taken by firearms but only during daylight hours. Licenses are not required to take frogs for noncommercial purposes. A Commercial Fishing License is required to sell frogs. Frog species classified as threatened or endangered may not be taken or possessed.

Turtles
Licenses and permits are not required to take freshwater turtles. Most freshwater turtles may be taken year-round by hand or with baited hooks, bows, dip nets, traps (designed where freshwater fish can escape) or by spearing (from boats or shore during daylight hours only). Taking turtles with bucket traps, snares or firearms is prohibited. All species of sea turtles are protected by State and Federal laws (see Endangered or Threatened Species below)

River cooters may not be taken from April 15 through July 31. Softshell turtles or their eggs may not be taken from the wild from May 1 through July 31. No more than 50 eggs, in any combination, from all native freshwater turtle species can be possessed, except as authorized by permit from the FWC executive director. Purchasing or selling turtle eggs taken from the wild is prohibited.

Eggs from the following restricted freshwater turtle species are subject to the same possession limits which apply for those turtles. Possession limits for turtles and eggs: river cooters - two; alligator snapping turtles - one; loggerhead musk turtles - two; box turtles - two; Barbour’s map turtles - two; Escambia River map turtles - two; diamondback terrapins - two. No one may buy, sell or possess for sale alligator snapping turtles, box turtles, Barbour’s map turtles, river cooters, loggerhead musk turtles, Escambia River map turtles, diamondback terrapins or parts thereof.

Gopher tortoises
Buying, selling, taking or possessing gopher tortoises, or parts thereof, is prohibited, except by permit from the FWC executive director.

Venomous snakes
Possessing or exhibiting any poisonous or venomous reptile is prohibited without first obtaining an FWC permit or license. A permit can be obtained from the Division of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 or call (850) 488-6253 or click MyFWC.com/permits.

Endangered or threatened species
Killing or attempting to kill or wound endangered species is prohibited. Capturing, harming, harassing, possessing, selling or offering for sale any endangered or threatened species or their nests, eggs or parts is prohibited, except by permit from the FWC executive director. Current listings of endangered or threatened species can be obtained at an FWC regional office click MyFWC.com/imperiledspecies.

Species of special concern
Taking, capturing, possessing, selling or offering for sale any species of special concern or their nests, eggs or parts is prohibited, except by specific FWC regulations or by permit from the FWC executive director. A listing of species of special concern can be obtained at an FWC regional office (see page 2) or at MyFWC.com/imperiledspecies.