DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS (AGRICULTURE)

BANS auctions of dangerous wild animals.

BANS dangerous wild animals.

• GRANDFATHERED: owners on 10/1/13 with Wildlife Shelter Permit
  
• EXEMPT:
  
  • livestock
    
  • AZA or ZAA or those in process of becoming one
    
  • Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries sanctuary or in process of becoming one
    
  • USDA research
    
  • association for the assessment and accreditation of laboratory animal care international accredited research facility
    
  • Circus
    
  • Rehabilitators of native
    
  • Veterinarian
    
  • Wildlife sanctuary
    
  • those traveling through the state less than 48 hours if not exhibited
    
  • educational institution with single mascot on 9/5/12
    
    • Must live at AZA or ZAA facility, $1,000,000 liability insurance, no public contact
      
  • Scientific, educational or rehabilitation licenses
    
  • state endangered/threatened species licensees
    
  • Mobility impaired, deaf or hearing-impaired, or blind person with spider monkey from nonprofit
    

PERMIT (Rescue Facility Permit) issued for rescue facilities.

• Must obtain by 1/1/14 for grandfathered or before 60 days of starting one
  

PERMIT (Wildlife Propagation Permit) required to propagate dangerous wild animals owned on 10/1/13 for a species survival plan.  Must be at least 2 acres.

 REGISTRATION is required for lemurs, marmosets, squirrel monkeys and capuchins.

 
LIST:

• Hyena
  
• Pure grey wolf
  
• Lion
  
• Tiger
  
• Jaguar
  
• Leopard, clouded leopard, Sundra clouded leopard, snow leopard
  
• Cheetah, lynx, cougar, caracal, serval, and domestic hybrids except savannah
  
• Bear
  
• Elephant
  
• Rhino
  
• Hippo
  
• Cape buffalo
  
• African wild dog
  
• Komodo dragon
  
• Alligator
  
• Crocodile
  
• Caiman except dwarf
  
• Gharial
  
• Nonhuman primates except lemurs and C20 species:
  
  • Golden lion, black-faced lion, golden-rumped lion, cotton-top, emperor, saddlebacked, black-mantled, and Geoffroy's tamarins;
    
  • Southern and northern night monkeys;
    
  • Dusky titi and masked titi monkeys;
    
  • Muriquis;
    
  • Goeldi's monkeys;
    
  • White-faced, black-bearded, white-nose bearded, and monk sakis;
    
  • Bald and black uakaris;
    
  • Black-handed, white-bellied, brown-headed, and black spider monkeys;
    
  • Common woolly monkeys;
    
  • Red, black, and mantled howler monkeys
    

(ORC 935, Added 9/5/2012 - Revised 2013; OAC 901:1-4)

RESTRICTED SNAKES (AGRICULTURE)

BANS auctions of restricted snakes except constrictors.

PERMIT (Restricted Snake Possession Permit) required to possess restricted snakes within 120 days of acquiring one. 

• GRANDFATHERED: snakes owned 1/1/14 for which permit was obtained
  
• REQUIREMENTS:
  
  • 18+
    
  • 2 years of experience or pass written exam (except constrictors)
    
  • Escape plan
    
  • Written statement from veterinarian to provide treatment
    
  • Must comply with all permit requirements
    
  • BANS sale at auction or having their teeth removed
    
  • liability insurance or surety bond of $100,000 for 1-5 snakes, $250,000 for 6-15, $500,000 for 16+ (exempt if only holding constrictors)
    
  • signed affidavit of not allowing public contact (except constrictors to primary or secondary school and employee or volunteer)
    
  • NO conviction or guilty plea for felony drug abuse, felony violence or cruelty to animals or prohibitions concerning companion animals
    
  • Affidavit that facility meets requirements
    
  • Maintain records
    
  • Immediately report escapes
    
  • access to anti-venom (venomous)
    

PERMIT (Restricted Snake Propagation Permit) required to propagate restricted snakes within 120 days of acquiring one.  Same requirements as possession.

LIST:

• Following constrictors 12’ or more:
  
  • green anaconda
    
  • yellow anaconda
    
  • reticulated python
    
  • Indian python
    
  • Burmese python
    
  • North and South African rock python
    
  • Amethystine
    
• Following families:
  
  • Atractaspididae
    
  • Elapidae
    
  • Viperidae
    
• Boomslang
  
• Twig snake
  

(Ohio Revised Code Ch. 935, Added 9/5/2012 - Revised 2013; OAC 901:1-4)

NONGAME BIRDS

BANS the catch, killing, injuring, pursuit, possession, purchase, sale, transport and shipment of birds other than game birds and migratory game birds.

• EXEMPT:
  
  • Game birds during open season
    
  • Killing European starlings, English sparrows, and common pigeons except homing pigeon
    
  • Blackbirds damaging grain or property
    

BANS killing and possessing bald and golden eagles and ospreys.

• EXEMPT: educational purposes by governmental or municipal zoological parks, museums, and scientific or educational institutions
  

(ORC 1533.07)

MUSSELS

BANS take, sale, possession, barter and trade of mussels.

(ORC 1533.324; OAC 1501:31-17-01)

 
BULLFROGS, GREEN FROGS, SNAPPING AND SOFTSHELL TURTLES (GAME)

PERMIT (Fishing License) required to take bullfrogs, green frogs, snapping and softshell turtles. 

• EXEMPT: landowner and immediate family on own land
  

Also regulated under native reptiles and amphibians below.

(ORC 1533.32)

NATIVE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

EXEMPT from law: American bullfrogs and green frogs with aquaculture permit

BANS:

• take of snapping and softshell turtle eggs
  
  • EXEMPT: imported or those propagated under propagating license
    
• take ones not listed as collectible amphibian or collectible reptile
  
  • EXEMPT: game species (bullfrog, green frog, snapping and softshell turtle)
    
• take or possession from division areas
  
  • EXEMPT: written permission if carried with them AND game species
    
• nonresident take of collectible reptiles and amphibians
  
• buy, sell, barter or trade wild-caught ones
  
  • EXEMPT: snapping and softshell turtles
    
• Export live wild-caught snapping or softshell turtles
  
  • EXEMPT: propagating permit
    
• Release imported ones, captive raised ones except aquaculture, wild-caught ones held captive 30 days, release at place other than capture, release ones held captive with other species
  

ILLEGAL SEASONS:

• Bullfrogs/green frogs – May 1 to 2nd Fri June
  
• Snapping/softshell turtles – Jan 1 to Jun 30 – need carapace of at least 11”
  
• Pymatuning lake – game species – Jul 1 to Oct 31
  

ILLEGAL METHODS:

• Shooting (except bullfrog/green frog by crossbow or longbow)
  
• Turtle traps less than 4” except 6” escape ring open at all times
  
• Traps with wings or leads, foot hold or body-gripping trap, chemicals, deleterious or stupefying substances, smoke, explosives, winches, jacks or similar device or material
  

TAKE LIMITS:

• Bullfrogs/green frogs – take 15/day total and possess 15 at capture site or transport to residence/lodging
  
• Collectible reptiles and amphibians – take/possess 4 per species
  

PERMIT (Propagation Permit) required for native herptiles whether imported, wild-caught or captive born.

• BANNED: endangered species
  
• EXEMPT:
  
  • those under 18 with 4 per species and 25 tadpoles or larvae per species
    
  • bullfrogs and green frogs imported or from commercial propagator for food
    
  • snapping and softshell turtles import, taken, or obtained for food
    
  • Snapping and softshell turtle head, shell and feet imported or obtained within state with bill of sale
    
  • Wildlife ornamental products
    

• REQUIREMENTS:
  
  • Tag traps and check traps every 24 hours
    
  • PIT tag of 125 kHz, 134.2 kHz or 400 kHz for native snake with a snout-vent length of 18”+ or native turtle with carapace at least 4” (excludes food ones)
    
  • Maintain records
    
  • certificate of origin, a bill of sale, receipt, record of acquisition or invoice for imported or captive bred
    

LISTS:
Collectible Amphibians:

• streamside salamander
  
• Jefferson salamander
  
• spotted salamander
  
• marbled salamander
  
• small-mouthed salamander
  
• Eastern tiger salamander
  
• American toad
  
• Fowler's toad
  
• Northern dusky salamander
  
• Allegheny mountain dusky salamander
  
• Northern two-lined salamander
  
• Southern two-lined salamander
  
• long-tailed salamander
  
• Kentucky spring salamander
  
• Northern spring salamander
  
• Cope's gray treefrog
  
• gray treefrog
  
• American bullfrog
  
• green frog
  
• pickerel frog
  
• Northern leopard frog
  
• Southern leopard frog
  
• wood frog
  
• common mudpuppy
  
• red-spotted newt
  
• Eastern red-backed salamander
  
• Northern slimy salamander
  
• Southern ravine salamander
  
• mountain chorus frog
  
• spring peeper
  
• Western chorus frog
  
• Northern red salamander
  

Collectible Reptiles:

• Eastern wormsnake
  
• Midwestern wormsnake
  
• midland painted turtle
  
• Northern black racer
  
• blue racer
  
• Northern ring-necked snake
  
• Northern map turtle
  
• Eastern hog-nosed snake
  
• Eastern milk snake
  
• common watersnake
  
•  Eastern ratsnake
  
• common five-lined skink
  
• broad-headed skink
  
• common wall lizard
  
• Eastern fence lizard
  
• Eastern musk turtle
  
• Northern brownsnake
  
• midland brownsnake
  
• Northern red-bellied snake
  
• Butler's gartersnake
  
• common ribbonsnake
  
• Eastern gartersnake
  
• red-eared slider
  

(OAC 1501:31-25-04, 1501:31-13-07) 

GAME BIRDS, GAME QUADRUPEDS, HERPTILES, FUR-BEARING ANIMALS

PERMIT required for selling or possessing game birds, game quadrupeds, reptiles, amphibians, or fur-bearing animals.

• EXEMPT:
  
  • governmental zoological parks
    
  • wild animal hunting preserve or commercial bird shooting preserve
    

PERMITS:

• Commercial Propagating License (sell and export from wholly enclosed area)
  
  • EXCLUDES: white-tailed deer
    

• Noncommercial Propagating License (private use)
  
  • EXCLUDES: white-tailed deer
    

• Captive White-tailed Deer Propagation License (propagate, hold, sell white-tailed deer)
  
  • Deer must have facility pre-built and inspected. 
    

 
LIST:

Game Birds: include:

• mourning doves
  
• ringneck pheasants
  
• bobwhite quail
  
• ruffed grouse
  
• sharp-tailed grouse
  
• pinnated grouse
  
• wild turkey
  
• Hungarian partridge
  
• Chukar partridge
  
• Woodcocks
  
• black-breasted plover
  
• golden plover
  
• Wilson's snipe or jacksnipe
  
• greater and lesser yellowlegs
  
• rail
  
• coots
  
• gallinules
  
• duck, geese, brant
  
• crows
  

Game Quadrupeds: include:

• cottontail rabbits
  
• gray squirrels
  
• black squirrels
  
• fox squirrels
  
• red squirrels
  
• flying squirrels
  
• chipmunks
  
• groundhogs or woodchucks
  
• white-tailed deer
  
• wild boar
  
• elk
  
• black bears
  

Fur-bearing Animals: include:

• minks
  
• weasels
  
• raccoons
  
• skunks
  
• opossums
  
• muskrats
  
• fox
  
• beavers
  
• badgers
  
• otters
  
• coyotes
  
• bobcats
  

Reptiles: include:

• common musk turtle
  
• common snapping turtle
  
• spotted turtle
  
• eastern box turtle
  
• Blanding's turtle
  
• common map turtle
  
• ouachita map turtle
  
• midland painted turtle
  
• red-eared slider
  
• eastern spiny softshell turtle
  
• midland smooth softshell turtle
  
• northern fence lizard
  
• ground skink
  
• five-lined skink
  
• broadhead skink
  
• northern coal skink
  
• European wall lizard
  
• queen snake
  
• Kirtland's snake
  
• northern water snake
  
• Lake Erie watersnake
  
• copperbelly water snake
  
• northern brown snake
  
• midland brown snake
  
• northern redbelly snake
  
• eastern garter snake
  
• eastern plains garter snake
  
• Butler's garter snake
  
• shorthead garter snake
  
• eastern ribbon snake
  
• northern ribbon snake
  
• eastern hognose snake
  
• eastern smooth earth snake
  
• northern ringneck snake
  
• midwest worm snake
  
• eastern worm snake
  
• black racer
  
• blue racer
  
• rough green snake
  
• smooth green snake
  
• black rat snake
  
• eastern fox snake
  
• black kingsnake
  
• eastern milk snake
  
• northern copperhead
  
• eastern massasauga
  
• timber rattlesnake
  

Amphibians:

• eastern hellbender
  
• mudpuppy
  
• red-spotted newt
  
• Jefferson salamander
  
• spotted salamander
  
• blue-spotted salamander
  
• smallmouth salamander
  
• streamside salamander
  
• marbled salamander
  
• eastern tiger salamander
  
• northern dusky salamander
  
• mountain dusky salamander
  
• redback salamander
  
• ravine salamander
  
• northern slimy salamander
  
• Wehrle's salamander
  
•  four-toed salamander
  
• Kentucky spring salamander
  
• northern spring salamander
  
• mud salamander
  
• northern red salamander
  
• green salamander
  
• northern two-lined salamander
  
• longtail salamander
  
• cave salamander
  
• southern two-lined salamander
  
• Fowler's toad
  
• American toad
  
• eastern spadefoot
  
• Blanchard's cricket frog
  
• northern spring peeper
  
• gray treefrog
  
• Cope's gray treefrog
  
• western chorus frog
  
• mountain chorus frog
  
• bullfrog
  
• green frog
  
• northern leopard frog
  
• pickerel frog
  
• southern leopard frog
  
• wood frog
  

(ORC 1531.01 and 1531.02, 1533.71, 1533.77)

CAPTIVE WHITE-TAILED DEER

Captive white-tailed deer are labeled as:

• monitored captive deer (individually CWD tested and for agriculture, personal, wild animal hunting preserve)
  
• captive deer with status (part of CWD tested herd and for agriculture, propagation, wild animal hunting preserve)
  
• captive deer with certified chronic wasting disease status (same as status but tested 5 years)
  

PERMIT or registration below along with DNR Captive White-tailed Deer Propagation License required to own captive white-tailed deer. 

• Livestock dealer or broker or small dealer
  
• License in 943.20 if above not qualified
  
• Registered annually with division of animal health
  

REQUIREMENTS: include:

• Initial and ongoing inspections
  
• 8’ perimeter fencing inspected weekly
  
• Movement form within 7 days of movement from or into facility (permit for hunting preserve or monitored herd)
  
• Immediately notify of escapes or thefts and must return within 24 hours or need CWD testing
  
• Immediately repair breaches and have repairs inspected
  
• Meet identification and record-keeping requirements
  

(OAC 901:1-1, 1501:31-19-04)

ENDANGERED SPECIES

BANS take, transport, sale and possession of federal and state endangered species.

• PERMIT issued for zoological, educational, and scientific purposes and propagation in captivity to preserve the species
  
  • NEED: project or program with clear objectives, justification for, duration and location of study, species and numbers, study method, assurance of annual report
    

• EXEMPT: imported animals possessed and propagated under propagating license
  

LEGAL to collect through sampling methods and possess in personal collection these species (BANS sale, barter and trade):

• Butterflies:
  
  • Persius dusky wing
    
  • Two- spotted skipper
    
  • Frosted elfin
    
  • Purplish copper
    
  • Swamp metalmark
    
  • Grizzled skipper
    
  • Dreamy duskywing
    
  • Aphrodite fritillary
    

• Moths:
  
  • Unexpected cycnia
    
  • Graceful underwing
    
  • Spartiniphaga inops
    
  • Hypocoena enervata
    
  • Papaipema silphii
    
  • Papaipema beeriana
    
  • Lithophane semiusta
    
  • Trichoclea artesta
    
  • Tricholita notata
    
  • Melanchra assimilis
    
  • Pointed sallow
    
  • Ufeus plicatus
    
  • Ufeus satyricus
    
  • Erythroecia hebardi
    

• Dragonflies and damselflies:
  
  • River jewelwing
    
  • Canada Darner
    
  • Mottled Darner
    
  • American Emerald
    
  • Uhler's Sundragon
    
  • Frosted Whiteface
    
  • Elfin Skimmer
    
  • Racket-tailed Emerald
    
  • Brushed-tipped Emerald
    
  • Chalk-fronted Corporal
    
  • Yellow-sided Skimmer
    
  • Taiga bluet
    
  • Hagen's bluet
    
  • Boreal bluet
    
  • Northern bluet
    
  • Marsh bluet
    
  • Riffle snaketail
    
  • Slender baskettail
    
  • Little blue dragonlet
    
  • Skillet clubtail
    
  • Golden-winged skimmer
    
  • Four-spotted skimmer
    
  • Allegheny river cruiser
    
  • Smokey shadowdragon
    
  • Stygian shadowdragon
    

• Bees:
  
  • Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
    

LIST: Threatened Species

(ORC 1531.25; OAC 1501:31-23)

OTHER NATIVE PERMITS

Issues these other permits:

• Education Collecting Permits (collect/possess for school instruction or educational use)
  
  • See Guide for Using Educational Animals
    

• Scientific Collecting Permits (take/possess scientific study)
  

• Banding Permit (band and release birds)
  

• Rehabilitation Permits (rehabilitate injured orphaned wildlife to release)
  
  • Category I (need department or OWRA rehabilitation course)
    
    • LIMITED TO: orphans
      
    • BANS: deer, raccoons, weasels, skunks, mink, opossums, badgers, beaver, raptors, canids, bats, mute swans and state or federal endangered
      
  • Category II (3 years Category I or similar)
    
    • ALLOWS: injured, diseased, orphaned
      
    • Allows all species except deer, coyote, mute swans, or state or federal endangered species unless given permission
      

• Incidental Take Energy Facility Permit (incidental take due to energy facility)
  

• Falconry Permit (raptors for sports falconry)
  
  • LIMITED TO: family Falconidae, family Strigidae (NEW SB 28 Signed into law 5/11/21- Effective 8/10/21), or family Accipitridae except bald eagle
    

• Raptor Capture Permit (capture raptors for falconry)
  

• Commercial and Noncommercial Raptor Propagation Permit (propagate raptors)
  
  • EXEMPT: state and state and federal agencies, zoological park
    

• Field Trial Club Permit (shoot banded domestically raised game birds for event)
  
  • LIMITED TO: quails, chukar partridges, ducks, pheasants, other game birds, common pigeons
    

• Private Dog Training Grounds Permit (training dogs where shooting game birds is essential)
  

• Commercial Nuisance Wild Animal Control Operator Permit (provide services for hire)
  
• Commercial Bird Shooting Preserve License
  
• Wild Animal Hunting Preserve License
  

• Fish Transportation Permit (transport fish for sale or purchase)
  

• Fish Wholesale Permit (handle fish at wholesale)
  

• White Amur/Grass Carp Permit (import/sell triploid grass carp)
  

• Bait Dealer/Collector Permit (buy, sell, deal in or collect for sale minnow, crawfish, hellgrammites)
  

• Aquaculture Permit (propagate aquatic species) – Class A and B
  
  • See definitions for lists
    

(ORC 1531.40, 1533.05, 1533.051, 1533.08, 1533.081, 1533.09, 1533.19 to 1533.221, 1533.301, 1533.40, 1533.632, 1533.72, 1533.721; OAC 1501:31 Ch. 9-07, 15-03, 25-01, 25-03, 31, 37, 39)

INVASIVE SPECIES

INJURIOUS AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES

BANS import, possession or sale of listed injurious aquatic invasive species unless headless or preserved.

• EXEMPT: research, zoos, public aquariums, and displays with written authorization
  

LIST:

• Fish:
  
  • Amur sleeper
    
  • Bighead carp
    
  • Bitterling
    
  • Black carp
    
  • Crucian carp
    
  • Diploid grass carp
    
  • Eastern banded killifish
    
  • Eurasian minnow
    
  • European perch
    
  • Ide
    
  • Largescale Silver carp
    
  • Nile perch
    
  • Prussian carp
    
  • Roach
    
  • Round goby
    
  • Rudd
    
  • Ruffe
    
  • Sea lamprey
    
  • Silver carp
    
  • Snakehead (Channa and Parachanna)
    
  • Stone moroko
    
  • Tench
    
  • Three spine stickleback
    
  • Tubenose goby
    
  • Walking catfish
    
  • White perch
    
  • Zander
    

• Mollusk:
  
  • Golden mussel
    
  • New Zealand mudsnail
    
  • Quagga mussel
    
  • Zebra mussel
    

• Crustaceans:
  
  • Chinese mitten crab
    
  • Killer shrimp
    
  • Marbled crayfish
    
  • Marron
    
  • Yabby
    

OTHERS

BANS:

• import, transport and possession of raccoons from outside the state
  
  • EXEMPT: pets with certificate of veterinary inspection and proof of legal ownership
    
• sale of wild birds (game and nongame) or quadrupeds (game quadruped or furbearing animal) unless authorized
  
• possess, import or sell exotic species of fish or hybrids for release into connected waters
  
• import or sell triploid white amur except with written authorization and if certified
  
• possess, import and sell raccoon dogs
  

(OAC 1501:31-19-01)

CARRIER PIGEONS (AGRICULTURE)

BANS shooting, killing, maiming, entrapping, catching or detaining carrier pigeons by other than the owner if it has owner name stamp or band.

(ORC 959.18)

DOMESTIC DEER (AGRICULTURE)

Domestic deer are regulated by Department of Agriculture and not Division of Wildlife.

(ORC 1531.081)

EXHIBITION

Exhibitions of animals have special rules. 

(OAC 901:1-18)

SHIPMENT WILD ANIMALS

Allows regulation of wild animal shipments by Division of Wildlife.

(ORC 1533.31)

IMPORT (AGRICULTURE)

 NON-DOMESTIC ANIMALS

PERMIT (Entry Permit) and certificate of veterinary inspection within 30 days prior required for non-domestic animals.  Specific testing requirements must be met. 

SALMONIDAE FISH

PERMIT (Entry Permit) and fish health inspection and testing report required to import salmonids along with other requirements.

LLAMAS AND ALPACAS

Certificate of veterinary inspection within 30 days prior and either ear tattoo, ear tag or microchip required to import llamas and alpacas.

(ORC 941.10; OAC 901:1-17)

OHIO laws

Ohio Revised Code            Ohio Administrative Code