Reptile Clan Rescue

Getting Your Reptiles of Concern License

posted by Reptile Clan @ 9:01pm, Saturday 12 December 2009.

All About Reptiles of Concern and getting a permit

Reptiles of Concern (ROCs) are nonnative reptile species that have the potential to become established in Florida and can threaten native wildlife, cause economic damage or pose a threat to human safety.  Rules for Reptiles of Concern (ROCs) go into effect on January 1, 2008.  ROCs require a $100 annual permit for personal possession, and any ROC that is 2 inches or greater in diameter must be permanently identified by a microchip (also called a PIT tag).  Microchips can be implanted by local veterinarians who work with nonnative species.  Any person who possesses an ROC that is 2 inches or greater in diameter before January 1, 2008 will have until July 1, 2008 to get their animal microchipped.  Any ROC greater than 2 inches in diameter purchased after January 1, 2008 will need to be microchipped immediately.  The following are the Reptiles of Concern:

1. Burmese python (Python molurus)
2. African rock python (Python sebae)
3. Amethystine python (Morelia amethystinus)
4. Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
5. Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
6. Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) directed staff Thursday Dec 10th, 2009 to implement an executive order immediately that will allow reptiles of concern to be turned over to authorized reptile of concern permit holders with no questions asked. Reptile Clan Rescue holds an ROC license for all ROCs, so if you have one you wish to relinquish, please contact us at 407-374-8010 or scott@reptilerescue.info.

If you wish to get your own ROC license, you can do so by filling out the following forms:

• Application to Possess Reptiles of Concern - http://myfwc.com/docs/Permits/Permits_VenRepApp0809.pdf
• Personal Use Questionnaire - http://myfwc.com/docs/Permits/Permits_Class3Q.pdf
• Captive Wildlife Critical Incident Disaster Plan - http://myfwc.com/docs/Permits/Permits_DisasterPlan.pdf

The fee for an ROC license is $100. Once you have filled out the forms, you must send them to:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
P.O. Box 6150
Tallahassee, FL
32314-6150

You must fill out a questionnaire for each Reptile of Concern you wish to possess. The fee is the same no matter how many ROCs you wish to own. The PIT tags can be inserted into your reptiles by a vet, or you can do it yourself. They are available from various reptile suppliers.

Caging and Other Requirements

The following information is from the FWC's document entitled "Possession, Transportation, Exhibition and Caging Venomous Reptiles and Reptiles of Concern" which can be downloaded at

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=7516353&type=1&file=68A-6.007.doc

Facility requirements: All persons licensed to keep, possess, or exhibit reptiles of concern shall provide safe, secure and proper housing for said reptiles in cases, cages, pits or enclosures. It shall be unlawful for any person whether licensed or not to keep, possess, or exhibit any venomous reptile or reptile of concern in any manner not approved as safe, secure and proper by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Reptiles of concern shall be kept in cages, cases, pits or enclosures of the following specifications:

Cage may be constructed of a variety of materials including: plate glass of at least one-quarter inch thickness, break-resistant plastic of similar strength, concrete reinforced with wire, sheet metal, molded fiberglass, plywood or interlocking lumber that has been treated to be impervious to moisture and is not less than one-half inch in thickness, or other materials which provide equivalent stability and security against escape and unauthorized intrusion. Cages and doors to cages shall be sealed. The doors of each cage shall be securely locked by a device operated by a key, combination, key card or other locking device approved by the commission to prevent unauthorized intrusion.

A room or out building may contain reptiles of concern in cages that are not locked provided that such a room or out building is locked by a device operated by a key, combination, key card or other locking device approved by the Commission to prevent unauthorized intrusion, is inaccessible to unauthorized personnel, is constructed and maintained as to be escape-proof, and has been inspected and approved as conforming to these rules by Commission personnel prior to use. Any out building so used must be of strong construction with concrete or other suitable flooring and securely anchored to the ground. Such building shall be clearly posted at point of entry with a sign stating "Danger - Dangerous Reptiles."

Inspection: Reptiles of concern held in captivity are subject to inspection by commission personnel. Commission personnel shall determine whether the said reptiles are securely, properly and safely housed. In the event that the reptiles are not safely housed, commission personnel shall report the situation in writing to the person possessing such reptiles. Failure of the possessor to correct the situation within 30 days after such written notice shall be grounds for revocation of the license or permit.

Disaster and Critical Incident Plans: Applicants for permits to possess reptiles of concern in captivity shall document in writing a course of action to be taken in preparation for disasters or critical incidents. Such course of action shall be documented on the Captive Wildlife Critical Incident/Disaster Plan form FWCDLE_619 mentioned above. This form shall consist of two parts. Part A of form FWCDLE_619 shall be submitted at the time of initial application or renewal; and Part B shall be retained on file at the facility location and be made available for inspection upon request of Commission personnel.

Additional information about Reptiles of Concern can be found at the FWC's Captive Wildlife page at http://myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Rules_CaptiveCategories.htm