Please participate in upcoming virtual meetings Information on the changes can be found in the link below below.
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/proposed-rule-change/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=campaign
USARK Florida has been in talks with leadership from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on proposed changes to rules affecting Green Iguanas and Tegus in Florida. FWC is considering expanding the abilities of collectors to take wild Green iguanas and Tegus for sale and export.
Reptile keepers in Florida have requested a program that removes the onerous red tape currently found in FWC rules to create a system that allows for easy capture, transport, sale, and export of these nonnative lizards from the wild in Florida. The rules should be easy to understand and allow opportunities for anyone from the general public to participate. The current Prohibited Species rules have led to population expansions of affected species by preventing their capture out of the wild. It is important to include Tegus in this program, especially considering that wild Tegu populations in Florida are still at lower levels than iguanas and could be more susceptible to impact by collection at this time. Waiting for Tegu populations to further expand before taking measures to combat their spread makes no sense.
Please participate in the upcoming virtual meetings to give input.
From FWC:
FWC seeking feedback on proposed rule changes for nonnnative species
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking feedback from all interested parties on proposed rule change concepts relating to nonnative species. A series of virtual public meetings will be held March 25-29, 2025, to provide the public with information on these concepts and to solicit feedback. Topics discussed will include qualifications for permits to sell green iguanas collected from the wild in Florida, transfer of Prohibited species sales permits, transfer allowances for captured green iguanas, and batch marking wild-caught green iguanas. Other proposed changes that will be discussed include Prohibited species pet permit renewals, caging requirements for juvenile green iguanas or tegus, options for FWC Law Enforcement placement of Prohibited species, and clarification on disallowing importation of Conditional or Prohibited species into Florida for personal use.
Virtual Public Meeting Series #1: The first series of virtual public meetings will cover permit qualifications for sales of wild-caught green iguanas, transfer of sales permits, transfer allowances for captured green iguanas, and batch marking of green iguanas. Content covered in all series 1 meetings is identical and it is not necessary to attend more than one virtual public meeting within the same series. This series will be held on the following dates and times:
Tuesday, March 25, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST
Wednesday, March 26, 6-8 p.m. EST
Saturday, March 29, 1-3 p.m. EST
Virtual Public Meeting Series #2: The second series of virtual public meetings will cover renewals of Prohibited species pet permits, caging requirements for juvenile tegus and green iguanas, placement options for Prohibited species by FWC Law Enforcement, and clarification on importation of Conditional and Prohibited species for personal use. The content covered in all series 2 meetings is identical and it is not necessary to attend more than one virtual public meeting within the same series. This series will be held on the following dates and times:
Thursday, March 27, 1-3 p.m. EST
Thursday, March 27, 6-8 p.m. EST
Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST
The virtual public meetings can be joined via Zoom link. No prior registration is necessary. To learn more about the proposed rule change concepts for nonnative species and the virtual public meetings, please go to Proposed Rule Changes for Nonnative Species | FWC . Comments regarding these topics can be submitted through the Nonnative Species Rule Making Comments form or via email at NonnativeSpeciesRules@MyFWC.com.
