250 R.I. Code R. § 250-RICR-40-05-3.7 - General Prohibitions

A. Possession of Wild Carnivores. All exotic and native wild animals and hybrids of the order Carnivora for which there is no USDA conditionally licensed or unconditionally licensed rabies vaccine are expressly prohibited from importation or possession without the issuance of a valid permit by the Department. Possession is restricted to bona fide researchers, USDA licensed exhibitors authorized to possess animals of this order for short-term exhibition purposes, and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) certified facilities.

B. Possession of Non-Human Primates. All exotic wild animals of the order Primates are expressly prohibited from importation or ownership without the issuance of a valid permit by the Department. Possession is restricted to bona fide researchers, USDA licensed exhibitors authorized to possess animals of this order for short-term exhibition purposes and AZA certified facilities.

C. Possession of Native Wildlife. All native wild animals are expressly prohibited from importation or ownership without the issuance of a valid permit by the Department. Possession is restricted to the Department, the USFWS, AZA certified zoos and aquariums, research institutions and researchers involved in approved bona fide research or project as determined by the Director, and USDA licensed exhibitors authorized to possess animals for short-term exhibition purposes. See § 3.17 of this Part for a listing of native species.

D. Possession of Red Eared Slider Turtles. No person other than a bona fide researcher, or a licensed pet shop and their transportation carriers shall import any Red Eared Slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans). All persons other than a bona fide researcher, or a licensed pet shops and their transportation agents are prohibited from possessing Red Eared Slider turtles unless they are kept indoors as pets in a manner that will prevent their escape or liberation into the wild. Keeping of these animals in any type of outdoor enclosure is prohibited. Pet shops that sell Red Eared Slider turtles must:

1. Notify all purchasers of these turtles that they must keep them indoors and in a manner that will prevent escape or liberation into the wild; and,

2. Keep for a period of a minimum of three (3) years from the date of sale, a register of all persons who purchase these turtles to include the purchaser's name, address, telephone number, date of purchase, signature, and a statement that purchaser acknowledges that the animal must be kept indoors and in a manner that will prevent escape or liberation into the wild.

E. Possession of Mute Swans or their Eggs. The importation or possession of Mute Swans (Cyngus olor) or their eggs is expressly prohibited.

F. Possession of Mudpuppies. The importation or possession of Mudpuppies (Necturus spp. ) is expressly prohibited.

G. Possession of American Bullfrog. The importation or possession of bullfrogs ( Lithobates catesbeianus) is expressly prohibited, except for flesh that is cooked or frozen and intended for human consumption.

H. Possession of Exotic Amphibian Species. No person other than a bona fide researcher, or a licensed pet shop and their transportation carriers shall import any species of exotic amphibians. All persons other than a bona fide researcher, or a licensed pet shops and their transportation agents are prohibited from possessing any species of exotic amphibians unless they are kept indoors as pets in a manner that will prevent their escape or liberation into the wild. Keeping of these animals in any type of outdoor enclosure is prohibited. Pet shops that sell exotic amphibians must;

1. Notify all purchasers of these animals that they must keep them indoors and in a manner that will prevent escape or liberation into the wild; and,

2. Keep for a period of a minimum of three (3) years from the date of sale, a register of all persons who purchase these amphibians to include the purchaser's name, address, telephone number, date of purchase, species purchased, signature, and a statement that purchaser acknowledges that the animal must be kept indoors and in a manner that will prevent escape or liberation into the wild.

I. Possession of Wild or Feral Swine. The importation or possession of any swine for any purpose other than the commercial raising of swine for breeding associated with agricultural purposes, for use as meat producing animals raised in an agricultural setting, for pet ownership, or for biomedical research is prohibited. The intentional liberation of such an animal is punishable under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-26 Abandonment of Animals.

Notes

250 R.I. Code R. § 250-RICR-40-05-3.7

Amended effective 7/11/2021