(1)(a) No person, party, firm, association, or corporation shall capture, keep, possess, or exhibit any poisonous or venomous reptile or reptile of concern without first having obtained a special permit or license therefor from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as provided in this section.

(b) By December 31, 2007, the commission shall establish a list of reptiles of concern, including venomous, nonvenomous, native, nonnative, or other reptiles, which require additional regulation for capture, possession, transportation, or exhibition due to their nature, habits, status, or potential to negatively impact humans, the environment, or ecology.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person, party, firm, association, or corporation, whether licensed hereunder or not, to capture, keep, possess, or exhibit any venomous reptile or reptile of concern in any manner not approved as safe, secure, and proper by the commission. Venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern held in captivity are subject to inspection by the commission. The commission shall determine whether the reptiles are securely, safely, and properly penned. In the event that the reptiles are not safely penned, the commission shall report the situation in writing to the person, party, firm, association, or corporation owning the reptiles. Failure of the person, party, firm, association, or corporation to correct the situation within 30 days after such written notice shall be grounds for revocation of the license or permit of the person, party, firm, association, or corporation.

(d) Venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern shall be transported in a safe, secure, and proper manner. The commission shall establish by rule the requirements for the transportation of venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern.

(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:

1. Burmese or Indian python (Python molurus).

2. Reticulated python (Python reticulatus).

3. Northern African python (Python sebae).

4. Southern African python (Python natalensis).

5. Amethystine or scrub python (Morelia amethystinus).

6. Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus).

7. Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus).

8. Any other reptile designated as a conditional or prohibited species by the commission.

(b) If a person, party, firm, association, or corporation holds a permit issued before July 1, 2010, under subsection (1) to legally possess a species listed in paragraph (a), that person, party, firm, association, or corporation may possess such reptile for the remainder of the life of the reptile.

(c) If a person, party, firm, association, or corporation holds a permit issued before July 1, 2010, under subsection (1) to legally possess a reptile listed in paragraph (a), and the reptile remains alive following the death or dissolution of the licensee, the reptile may be legally transferred to another entity holding a permit authorizing possession of the reptile for the remainder of the life of the reptile.

(d) If the commission designates a species of reptile as a conditional or prohibited species after July 1, 2010, the commission may authorize the personal possession of that newly designated species by those licensed to possess that species of reptile before the effective date of the species’ designation by the commission as a conditional or prohibited species. The personal possession of such reptile is not a violation of paragraph (a) if the personal possession was authorized by the commission.

(e) This subsection does not apply to traveling wildlife exhibitors that are licensed or registered under the United States Animal Welfare Act or to zoological facilities that are licensed or exempted by the commission from the licensure requirement.

History.—s. 1, ch. 28263, 1953; s. 165, ch. 99-245; s. 1, ch. 2007-239; s. 159, ch. 2008-247; s. 2, ch. 2010-185.

Note.—Former s. 372.86.