The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is proposing changes to Title 6 (Environmental Conservation), Chapter 1 (Fish & Wildlife), Part 180 (Miscellaneous Regulations).
This proposal takes many reptile and other species currently heavily regulated as “wild animals” by the DEC under Environmental Conservation Article 11 – Fish and Wildlife Title 1 and reclassifies them as “animals dangerous to health or welfare” under New York State Code Title 6. It also adds a few species (mainly mammals).
While these are not major changes for reptiles (except the addition of the Southern Rock python), there are several mammal species being added as prohibited. More details below.
Comment deadline: November 10, 2019
Agency Contact:
Joseph Therrien
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233
(518) 402-8985
Email: joseph.therrien@dec.ny.gov, wildliferegs@dec.ny.gov
Email subject line: Animals Considered Dangerous
Currently regulated species can be found here: www.nytts.org/nytts/NYS_and_Federal_Statutes_Applicable_to_Reptiles_and_Amphibians.pdf
Reptiles currently regulated as “wild animals” per above:
All reptiles that are venomous by nature, pursuant to department regulation, and the
following species and orders: Burmese Python (Python m. bivittatus), Reticulated Python
(Python reticulatus), African Rock Python (Python sabae), Green Anaconda (Eunectes
maurinus), Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), Australian Amethystine Python (Morelia
amethistina and Morelia kinghorni), Indian Python (Python molurus), Asiatic (water) Monitor
(Varanus salvator), Nile Monitor (Varanus nilocitus), White Throat Monitor (Varanus
albigularis), Black Throat Monitor (Varanus albigularis ionides) and Crocodile Monitor
(Varanus salvadori), Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodensis) and any hybrid thereof,
AND
(6) All Crocodylia.
Under the current regulation above, “No person shall knowingly possess, harbor, sell, barter, transfer, exchange or import any wild
animal for use as a pet in New York state,” unless they are properly licensed by the DEC.
Read the proposed changes at www.dec.ny.gov/
NOTE on the above link and regulation: Text that is underlined is NEW. Text in [brackets] will be omitted.
Under the proposal, “No person may possess, release, transport, import or export, or cause to be released, transported, imported
or exported, except under permit from the department,” any of the listed species which are classified as “animals dangerous to health or welfare.”
The proposal adds the below reptile species, in addition to several mammal species;
Python natalensis (Southern African python)
Eunectes deschauenseei ( DeSchauensee’s anaconda)
Eunectes beniensis (Beni anaconda)
Read a DEC article at www.dec.ny.gov/
