(510 ILCS 68/5-5)
Sec. 5-5. Possession limits.
(a) The possession limit for indigenous amphibian and reptile taxa (excluding common snapping turtles and bullfrogs) is 8 total collectively with no more than 4 per species. Young of gravid wild-collected amphibians and reptiles shall be returned to the site of adult capture after birth.
(b) Only residents may possess herptiles collected from the wild within this State under a valid sport fishing license; non-residents may not possess herptiles collected from the wild within this State except for scientific purposes, with a Herptile Scientific Collection permit.
(c) All herptile species (other than bullfrogs and common snapping turtles) may be captured by hand. This shall not restrict the use of legally taken herptiles as bait by anglers. Any captured herptiles that are not to be retained in the possession of the captor shall be immediately released at the site of capture, unless taken with a lethal method such as bow and arrow, gig, spear, or pitchfork which does not permit release without harm. All common snapping turtles and bullfrogs taken for personal consumption must be kept and counted in the daily catch creel or bag. No culling of these 2 species for personal consumption is permitted.
(d) The trier of fact may infer that a person is collecting from the wild within this State if he or she possesses indigenous reptiles or amphibians, in whole or in part, if no documentation exists stating that the animals were legally collected from the wild outside of this State.
(e) Residents may possess a total of 8 native herp specimens collectively, with no more than 4 per species, without obtaining and possessing either a Herptile Scientific Collection permit or Herpetoculture permit from the Department, regardless of the origin of the species. A sport fishing license is required for residents to legally collect any native herp taxon on private land, with the landowner's permission. Collecting herptiles on public lands shall require additional permits.
(f) Any resident wishing to possess more than his or her allowed possession limit shall first apply to the Department for a Herptile Scientific Collection permit or Herpetoculture permit to do so. Issuance, modification, or denial of any and all of these permits shall be at the sole discretion of the Department.
(g) Due to the similarity of appearance (S/A) of certain intergrade or hybrid specimens, the Department retains the authority to enforce any and all provisions under this Act. Specimens determined by the Department, or its agents, to fit into this S/A category shall receive all benefits of this Act, as well as the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act if applicable, and shall be included in an individual's overall possession limit.
(Source: P.A. 98-752, eff. 1-1-15.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015