Rules and Regulations for Reptiles and Amphibians in New Hampshire

For further details, see rules or regulation identified in parentheses. Licensed exhibitors should read detailed rules that apply to them.

Possession

 

Possession includes the keeping, holding, or restricting of wildlife as defined in RSA 207:1. Includes eggs or progeny thereof.

 

The following species shall not be possessed without an appropriate permit: (FIS 804.02; to request a permit see instructions under FIS 804.04)

NOTE: No permit to possess shall be issued if there is any disease, genetic, ecological, environmental, health, safety or welfare risks to the public or other wildlife species.

 

• All venomous reptiles (including specimens where venom glands have been removed)
• All alligators and crocodiles
• The following reptiles and amphibians:

Amphibians
Marbled salamander	Ambystoma opacum
Fowler’s toad	Bufo fowleri
Northern leopard frog	Rana pipiens
Jefferson salamander	Ambystoma jeffersonianum
Blue-spotted salamander	Ambystoma laterale
Jefferson X blue-spotted salamander hybrids	Ambystoma jeffersonianum X laterale
Spring salamander	Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Four-toed salamander	Hemidactylium scutatum
Northern slimy salamander	Plethodon glutinosus
Common Mudpuppy	Necturus maculosus

 

Reptiles
All venomous reptiles
Blanding's turtles	Emydoidea blandingii
Eastern box turtles	Terrapene carolina carolina
Spotted turtles	Clemmys guttata
Wood turtles	Glyptemys insculpta
Black racer	Coluber constrictor
Eastern hognose snake	Heterodon platirhinos
Smooth green snake	Opheodrys vernalis
Ribbon snake	Thamnophis sauritus

 

Up to 5 specimens of the following species may be possessed without a permit

 

[NOTE: Although limited possession of these species are currently legal in NH, the NH Fish & Game Department encourages people to leave wildlife wild and seek captive-bred sources of common non-native species if pets are desired]

 

Amphibians
American toad	Bufo americanus
Gray treefrog	Hyla versicolor
Spring peeper	Pseudacris crucifer
American bullfrog	Rana catesbeiana
Green frog	Rana clamitans
Pickerel frog	Rana palustris
Mink frog	Rana septentrionalis
Wood frog	Rana sylvatica
Spotted salamander	Ambystoma maculatum
Northern two-lined salamander	Eurycea bislineata
Northern dusky salamander	Desmognathus fuscus
Eastern red-backed salamander	Plethodon cinereus
Red-spotted newt	Notophthalmus viridescens

 

Up to 2 specimens of the following species may be possessed without a permit

 

[NOTE: Although limited possession of these species are currently legal in NH, the NH Fish & Game Department encourages people to leave wildlife wild and seek captive-bred sources of common non-native species if pets are desired. Populations of some species, especially turtles, can be adversely affected by the removal of a small number of individuals.]

 

Reptiles
Musk turtle	Sternotherus odoratus
Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta
Snapping turtle	Chelydra serpentina
Ring-necked snake	Diadophis punctatus
Eastern milksnake	Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Northern watersnake	Nerodia sipedon
Brown snake	Storeria dekayi
Red-bellied snake	Storeria occipitomaculata
Garter snake	Thamnophis sirtalis

 

Sale (FIS 811.01)

 

No person shall sell indigenous species of reptiles or amphibians (listed below), including parts or eggs thereof:

 

Amphibians
American toad	Bufo americanus
Fowler’s toad	Bufo fowleri
Gray treefrog	Hyla versicolor
Spring peeper	Pseudacris crucifer
American bullfrog	Rana catesbeiana
Green frog	Rana clamitans
Pickerel frog	Rana palustris
Northern leopard frog	Rana pipiens
Mink frog	Rana septentrionalis
Wood frog	Rana sylvatica
Jefferson salamander	Ambystoma jeffersonianum
Blue-spotted salamander	Ambystoma laterale
Jefferson X blue-spotted salamander hybrids	Ambystoma jeffersonianum X laterale
Spotted salamander	Ambystoma maculatum
Marbled salamander	Ambystoma opacum
Northern two-lined salamander	Eurycea bislineata
Northern dusky salamander	Desmognathus fuscus
Spring salamander	Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Four-toed salamander	Hemidactylium scutatum
Eastern red-backed salamander	Plethodon cinereus
Northern slimy salamander	Plethodon glutinosus
Common Mudpuppy	Necturus maculosus
Red-spotted newt	Notophthalmus viridescens

 

Reptiles
Timber rattlesnake	Crotalus horridus
Blanding's turtles	Emydoidea blandingii
Eastern box turtles	Terrapene carolina carolina
Spotted turtles	Clemmys guttata
Wood turtles	Glyptemys insculpta
Musk turtle	Sternotherus odoratus
Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta
Snapping turtle	Chelydra serpentina
Black racer	Coluber constrictor
Ring-necked snake	Diadophis punctatus
Eastern hognose snake	Heterodon platirhinos
Eastern milksnake	Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Northern watersnake	Nerodia sipedon
Smooth greensnake	Opheodrys vernalis
Brown snake	Storeria dekayi
Red-bellied snake	Storeria occipitomaculata
Ribbon snake	Thamnophis sauritus
Garter snake	Thamnophis sirtalis

 

EXCEPTIONS (Sale allowed):

 

• Non-living snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and bull frogs (Rana catesbeiana) raised outside the state which may be possessed, bought and sold for use as food provided that with each package there shall be a bill of sale bearing the species, the weight of the package and the place of origin.
• Certain non-living indigenous amphibians and reptiles listed below (also listed in Table 800.2 for category one) obtained outside the state to be used for educational purposes (e.g., biosupply companies selling frozen specimens to schools for dissection).
  

 

Amphibians
American toad	Bufo americanus
Gray treefrog	Hyla versicolor
Spring peeper	Pseudacris crucifer
American bullfrog	Rana catesbeiana
Green frog	Rana clamitans
Pickerel frog	Rana palustris
Mink frog	Rana septentrionalis
Wood frog	Rana sylvatica
Spotted salamander	Ambystoma maculatum
Northern two-lined salamander	Eurycea bislineata
Northern dusky salamander	Desmognathus fuscus
Eastern red-backed salamander	Plethodon cinereus
Red-spotted newt	Notophthalmus viridescens

 

Reptiles
Musk turtle	Sternotherus odoratus
Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta
Snapping turtle	Chelydra serpentina
Ring-necked snake	Diadophis punctatus
Eastern milksnake	Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Northern watersnake	Nerodia sipedon
Brown snake	Storeria dekayi
Red-bellied snake	Storeria occipitomaculata
Garter snake	Thamnophis sirtalis

 

Importation

 

A permit shall be required to import (FIS 803.03; to request a permit see instructions under FIS 803.13) the following:

• Alligators and Crocodiles
• All venomous reptiles (including specimens where venom glands have been removed)
• All indigenous amphibians and reptiles listed below:

 

Amphibians
American toad	Bufo americanus
Fowler’s toad	Bufo fowleri
Gray treefrog	Hyla versicolor
Spring peeper	Pseudacris crucifer
American bullfrog	Rana catesbeiana
Green frog	Rana clamitans
Pickerel frog	Rana palustris
Northern leopard frog	Rana pipiens
Mink frog	Rana septentrionalis
Wood frog	Rana sylvatica
Jefferson salamander	Ambystoma jeffersonianum
Blue-spotted salamander	Ambystoma laterale
Jefferson X blue-spotted salamander hybrids	Ambystoma jeffersonianum X laterale
Spotted salamander	Ambystoma maculatum
Marbled salamander	Ambystoma opacum
Northern two-lined salamander	Eurycea bislineata
Northern dusky salamander	Desmognathus fuscus
Spring salamander	Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Four-toed salamander	Hemidactylium scutatum
Eastern red-backed salamander	Plethodon cinereus
Northern slimy salamander	Plethodon glutinosus
Common Mudpuppy	Necturus maculosus
Red-spotted newt	Notophthalmus viridescens

Reptiles
Timber rattlesnake	Crotalus horridus
Blanding's turtles	Emydoidea blandingii
Eastern box turtles	Terrapene carolina carolina
Spotted turtles	Clemmys guttata
Wood turtles	Glyptemys insculpta
Musk turtle	Sternotherus odoratus
Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta
Snapping turtle	Chelydra serpentina
Black racer	Coluber constrictor
Ring-necked snake	Diadophis punctatus
Eastern hognose snake	Heterodon platirhinos
Eastern milksnake	Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Northern watersnake	Nerodia sipedon
Smooth greensnake	Opheodrys vernalis
Brown snake	Storeria dekayi
Red-bellied snake	Storeria occipitomaculata
Ribbon snake	Thamnophis sauritus
Garter snake	Thamnophis sirtalis

 

EXCEPTIONS: Non-living members of the following species may be imported without a permit:

 

Amphibians
American toad	Bufo americanus
Gray treefrog	Hyla versicolor
Spring peeper	Pseudacris crucifer
American bullfrog	Rana catesbeiana
Green frog	Rana clamitans
Pickerel frog	Rana palustris
Mink frog	Rana septentrionalis
Wood frog	Rana sylvatica
Spotted salamander	Ambystoma maculatum
Northern two-lined salamander	Eurycea bislineata
Northern dusky salamander	Desmognathus fuscus
Eastern red-backed salamander	Plethodon cinereus
Red-spotted newt	Notophthalmus viridescens

 

Reptiles
Musk turtle	Sternotherus odoratus
Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta
Snapping turtle	Chelydra serpentina
Ring-necked snake	Diadophis punctatus
Eastern milksnake	Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Northern watersnake	Nerodia sipedon
Brown snake	Storeria dekayi
Red-bellied snake	Storeria occipitomaculata
Garter snake	Thamnophis sirtalis

 

Release

 

It is illegal to release the following species in NH (FIS 805):

• All amphibians and reptiles imported into the state
• All exotic amphibians and reptiles

 

Water gardens and Outdoor ponds (FIS 804.0.9, 805):
Reptiles and amphibians including tadpoles originating outside of New Hampshire (including but not limited to internet and in-person purchases from water garden suppliers, reptile and amphibian distributors, biological supply companies, and pet stores importing specimens from out-of-state) must be caged or enclosed, and therefore can not be released to outdoor environments, including pools and ponds, in New Hampshire.

 

Reptile Rules – Other

 

• No person shall take or possess at any time a spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta), Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), or black racer (Coluber constrictor) or any egg or part thereof.
• No person shall take any species of indigenous turtle from May 15 to July 15.

[In addition to species listed above that are restricted year-round (Blanding’s, spotted, wood, and box turtles), this rule includes painted turtles, common snapping turtles, and musk turtles]

 

• The taking of amphibians and reptiles shall be only by hand capture, including the use of hand held nets.
• The taking of snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) shall only be allowed of snapping turtles less than 6 inches or 12 to 15 inches in length as measured from the front to rear along the top of the carapace.

 

Definition of ‘Take’– (RSA 207:1)
Includes pursuing, shooting, hunting, killing, capturing, trapping, snaring, and netting wildlife, and all lesser acts, such as disturbing, harrying, worrying, wounding, or placing, setting, drawing, or using any net or other device commonly used to take wildlife, whether they result in taking or not, and includes every attempt to take and every act of assistance to every other person in taking or attempting to take wildlife, provided that whenever taking is allowed by law, reference is had to taking by lawful means and in lawful manner.

 

Also, see RSA 212-A for rules pertaining to threatened and endangered species.

 

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