Trappers
IMPORTANT DATES FOR RULE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 68-5, F.A.C.
Effective date: April 29, 2021
The 90-day grace period to apply for a permit, upgrade indoor caging, and have any qualifying animals PIT tagged ended: July 28, 2021
The 180-day grace period to upgrade outdoor caging requirements for Prohibited reptile species ended: October 26, 2021
Persons or businesses in possession of the newly listed Prohibited reptiles for commercial sale use had until July 28, 2021 to liquidate their inventory in Florida. These species may not be possessed for commercial sale purposes in Florida after July 28, 2021, except green iguanas or tegus possessed by qualifying entities under a limited exception commercial use permit.
Removing high-risk nonnative fish and wildlife species from the environment is a high priority for the FWC. The eradication and control permit will authorize live transport of captured Prohibited species to off-site facilities for the purpose of humanely killing these animals discretely. You do not need an eradication and control permit if trapped Prohibited species are killed on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eradication and control activities are defined as targeted, systematic efforts to remove an entire population of a nonnative species or to contain or otherwise manage the population of an invasive species to minimize its spread and impacts.
No. Permits are only required for trapping and removal efforts that involve live possession or transport of Prohibited species or projects involving telemetry. If trapped or captured Prohibited species are humanely killed where captured, no permit is required.
Members of the public may still humanely kill nonnative reptiles at the site of capture using any lawful methods and with landowner permission on private property or on 25 Commission-managed lands in south Florida.
All nonnative species removed under an eradication and control permit must be humanely killed unless the permittee also has a valid permit to sell live green iguanas or tegus. Commercial sale permits are only issued to entities that qualify for the limited exception in Rule 68-5.007(4), F.A.C.
No. All Prohibited species eggs encountered during eradication and control work must be destroyed in the field and cannot be removed intact from the nest location.
If you are an entity engaged in eradication or control work, you must apply for a free eradication and control permit.
We have additional information and FAQ pages set up for the following topics:
For questions regarding nonnative permits, email NonnativePermitApps@MyFWC.com