The state of Florida has recently amended the Section 379.372, Florida Statutes to require a special permit or license from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to keeping a reptile of concern and prohibiting their keeping or sale for personal use.
§ 379.372, F.S.
(2)(a) No person, party, firm, association, or corporation
shall keep, possess, import into the state, sell, barter, trade,
or breed the following species for personal use or for sale for
personal use:
- Burmese or Indian python (Python molurus).
- Reticulated python (Python reticulatus).
- Northern African python (Python sebae).
- Southern African python (Python natalensis).
- Amethystine or scrub python (Morelia amethystinus).
- Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus).
- Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus).
- Any other reptile designated as a conditional or prohibited species by the commission.
As a result, we will no longer publish ads for these animals.
Releasing Non-Native Animals is Illegal
Florida offers an amnesty day where non-native species can be turned in for adoption by registered keepers, which include zoos. Of particular benefit to herp lovers is turning in snakes that are too large for their owners to care for them properly. Most pets are adopted the same day.