Wisconsin's Amphibian & Reptile Regulations

The following excerpt is from the Wisconsin's Amphibians and Reptile Regulations ER Publication 102-04(REV). The complete text from this brochure is available as a printable version for download (opens in new browser window): Wisconsin's Amphibian & Reptile Regulations [PDF 235KB]

These regulations apply to native Wisconsin amphibian and reptile species, regardless of their origin. No non-resident harvest or possession is allowed, except for unprotected aquatic turtles.

License Requirements for Collection and Possession

All residents and non-residents who collect, attempt to collect, or possess native Wisconsin unprotected aquatic turtles must possess one of the following resident or non-resident licenses: Fishing, Small Game, Sports, Conservation Patron, Setline*, or Set or Bank Pole*. Existing Senior Citizen Recreational Cards also qualify. In addition to the licenses listed above, residents holding a Commercial Fishing License may harvest turtles on Mississippi Boundary Waters.      * These licenses are available only to residents.

See the Sale Provisions section for license requirements for selling herptiles.

Protected Species

Endangered and Threatened species (including parts and all life stages) may not be collected, dead or alive, or possessed without first having a valid Endangered Species Permit. Permits are issued only for selected education, research, and conservation activities.

Possession Limits

Persons may collect or possess up to 5 individuals of each unprotected native herptile species (see lists above for protected species), with the following exceptions:

• The possession limit for snapping turtles, Chelydra s. serpentina, and softshell turtles, Apalone sp., is 3 statewide. The one exception is the Mississippi River, where the possession limit is 10 for snapping turtles and 5 for softshell turtles.
• Up to 2 eastern milk snakes, Lampropeltis t. triangulum, and 2 western fox snakes, Elaphe vulpina, may be collected or possessed.
• Up to 2 black rat snakes, 2 bullsnakes, and 2 yellow-bellied (blue) racers may be possessed if legally obtained from out of state.
• There are no possession limits for herptiles not listed as endangered and threatened that are atypically colored or atypically patterned (e.g., albinos, striped snakes that are typically blotched).
• Eastern tiger salamanders, Ambystoma t. tigrinum, mudpuppies, Necturus maculosus, and northern leopard frogs, Rana pipiens, may be collected and possessed in unlimited numbers if the collector or possessor has a valid Class A Captive Wild Animal Farm License.
• Licensed bait dealers and registered fish farmers may possess more than 5 specimens of any unprotected amphibian species which are collected or possessed as part of a bait collection or shipment.
• There is a 3-month grace period on the possession limit for unprotected native lizards and snakes that are born in captivity and that bring the possession limit above the legal limit for a species. The offspring must be given away within 3 months of their birth, but they may not be sold, bartered, or traded. These offspring may not be released to the wild without first obtaining a Stocking Permit from the Department.
• A person may collect and possess up to 1 full clutch of amphibian eggs and their hatched larvae up until metamorphosis (transformation to the adult form). Only 5 adult-form individuals may be possessed, and the rest must be either given away or released in the wetland where the eggs were originally collected.
• Publicly owned museums and American Zoo and Aquarium Association accredited institutions are exempt from possession limits.
• Accredited colleges, universities, and other educational institutions are exempt from possession limits for education and research. Faculty, staff, or students conducting research with native herptiles must obtain a Scientific Collectors Permit from the Department prior to in-state collecting.

Seasons

Frogs: Open frog season runs from the Saturday nearest May 1 through December 31. There is no open season for bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana, in Jefferson County.

Turtles: Open turtle season runs from July 15 through November 30. Turtles or turtle eggs may not be taken during the closed season.

Other Herptiles: There are no closed seasons for amphibians and reptiles not listed under the Protected Species section.

Sale Provisions

A Class A Captive Wild Animal Farm License is required in order to sell native amphibians or reptiles. The original license fee is $200; annual renewals are $100. This license allows for the sale of eastern tiger salamanders, mudpuppies, and northern leopard frogs legally collected in Wisconsin. It also allows for the sale of native amphibians and reptiles legally collected or purchased from out-of-state to out-of-state sources, or to educational or research institutions in-state. Class A licensees may sell the three native amphibians listed above as pets in Wisconsin.

Exception: Any native herptile not listed as endangered or threatened may be sold without a license if it has an atypical color or an atypical pattern (e.g., genetically manipulated specimens that exhibit aberrant colors and/or patterns).

Unprotected dead turtles and their parts, excluding turtle eggs, may be sold during the open turtle season. A Class A license is not required to sell dead turtles or their parts.

Size Limits

Snapping turtle size limits are a 12-inch minimum and a 16-inch maximum carapace (top shell) length.

There are no size limits for other herptiles.

Turtle Harvesting Methods

Turtles may be taken by hand, dip net, hook and line, set line, set or bank poles, hooking, or hoop net trap (see allowed design and specifications below). No other trap types are allowed

Turtles may not be taken by hook and line from trout streams during the closed trout season.

The number of hoop traps that can be operated are 10 in Iowa-Wisconsin or Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary waters and 3 in all other waters of the state.

Hoop Net Trap Specifications

Traps must be made of stretchable fabric (e.g., nylon) and must have a minimum mesh stretch of 6 inches. No wire mesh is allowed. Each trap must have a metal tag showing the name and address of the operator attached, and must be visible above the water's surface. The operator identified on the trap tag is the only person authorized to tend these traps. Traps must be set with the hoops exposed a minimum of 2 inches above the water's surface. Turtle traps must be checked and the entrapped contents removed at least once each day after the day they are set in all waters.

Herptile Exhibits

No license requirement is needed for residents to conduct commercial herptile exhibits, such as swap meets, involving sales, trading or bartering of non-native herptiles. Native species may not be included in these exhibits unless the exhibitor is selling the three amphibians listed under the Sales section of this brochure and only under a valid Class A Captive Wild Animal Farm License. Non-residents wishing to exhibit for sale, trade or barter must first obtain a Nonresident Exhibitor's License. The annual license fee is $50.

Non-commercial herptile exhibits, those strictly for educational purposes with no animal trading, bargaining or sales, are exempt from requiring a Nonprofit Exhibitor's License.

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