REGULATIONS
Vol. 37 Iss. 7 - November 23, 2020

TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Chapter 30
Final Regulation

REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Department of Wildlife Resources is claiming an exemption from the Administrative Process Act pursuant to § 2.2-4002 A 3 of the Code of Virginia when promulgating regulations regarding the management of wildlife.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-30. Definitions and Miscellaneous: Importation, Possession, Sale, Etc., of Animals (amending 4VAC15-30-40).

Statutory Authority: §§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2021.

Agency Contact: Aaron Proctor, Regulations Coordinator, Department of Wildlife Resources, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228, telephone (804) 367-8341 or email aaron.proctor@dwr.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments clarify the exception for grass carp and add an exception relating to the possession and transport of Alabama bass.

4VAC15-30-40. Importation requirements, possession, and sale of nonnative (exotic) animals.

A. Permit required. A special permit is required and may be issued by the department, if consistent with the department's fish and wildlife management program, to import, possess, or sell those nonnative (exotic) animals listed [ below in the following table ] and in 4VAC15-20-210 that the board finds and declares to be predatory or undesirable within the meaning and intent of § 29.1-542 of the Code of Virginia, in that their introduction into the Commonwealth will be detrimental to the native fish and wildlife resources of Virginia.

AMPHIBIANS

Order

Family

Genus/Species

Common Name

Anura

Bufonidae

Rhinella marina

Cane toad*

Pipidae

Hymenochirus spp. Pseudohymenochiris merlini

African dwarf frog

Xenopus spp.

Tongueless or African clawed frog

Caudata

Ambystomatidae

All species

All mole salamanders

BIRDS

Order

Family

Genus/Species

Common Name

Psittaciformes

Psittacidae

Myiopsitta monachus

Monk parakeet*

Anseriformes

Anatidae

Cygnus olor

Mute swan

FISH

Order

Family

Genus/Species

Common Name

Cypriniformes

Catostomidae

Catostomus microps

Modoc sucker

Catostomus santaanae

Santa Ana sucker

Catostomus warnerensis

Warner sucker

Ictiobus bubalus

Smallmouth* buffalo

I. cyprinellus

Bigmouth* buffalo

I. niger

Black buffalo*

Characidae

Pygopristis spp.
Pygocentrus spp.
Rooseveltiella spp.
Serrasalmo spp.
Serrasalmus spp.
Taddyella spp.

Piranhas

Cobitidae

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

Oriental weatherfish

Cyprinidae

Aristichyhys nobilis

Bighead carp*

Chrosomus saylori

Laurel dace

Ctenopharyngodon idella

Grass carp or white amur

Cyprinella caerulea

Blue shiner

Cyprinella formosa

Beautiful shiner

Cyprinella lutrensis

Red shiner

Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Silver carp*

Mylopharyngodom piceus

Black carp*

Notropis albizonatus

Palezone shiner

Notropis cahabae

Cahaba shiner

Notropis girardi

Arkansas River shiner

Notropis mekistocholas

Cape Fear shiner

Notropis simus pecosensis

Pecos bluntnose shiner

Notropis topeka (= tristis)

Topeka shiner

Phoxinus cumberlandensis

Blackside dace

Rhinichthys osculus lethoporus

Independence Valley speckled dace

Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis

Ash Meadows speckled dace

Rhinichthys osculus oligoporus

Clover Valley speckled dace

Rhinichthys osculus ssp.

Foskett speckled dace

Rhinichthys osculus thermalis

Kendall Warm Springs dace

Scardinius erythrophthalmus

Rudd

Tinca tinca

Tench*

Cyprinodontiformes

Poeciliidae

Gambusia gaigei

Big Bend gambusia

Gambusia georgei

San Marcos gambusia

Gambusia heterochir

Clear Creek gambusia

Gambusia nobilis

Pecos gambusia

Peociliopsis occidentalis

Gila topminnow

Gasterosteiformes

Gasterosteidae

Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni

Unarmored threespine stickleback

Gobiesociformes

Gobiidae

Proterorhinus marmoratus

Tubenose goby

Neogobius melanostomus

Round goby

Perciformes

Channidae

Channa spp.
Parachanna spp.

Snakeheads

Cichlidae

Tilapia spp.

Tilapia

Gymnocephalus cernuum

Ruffe*

Elassomatidae

Elassoma alabamae

Spring pygmy sunfish

Percidae

Crystallaria cincotta

Diamond darter

Etheostoma chermocki

Vermilion darter

Etheostoma boschungi

Slackwater darter

Etheostoma chienense

Relict darter

Etheostoma etowahae

Etowah darter

Etheostoma fonticola

Fountain darter

Etheostoma moorei

Yellowcheek darter

Etheostoma nianguae

Niangua darter

Etheostoma nuchale

Watercress darter

Etheostoma okaloosae

Okaloosa darter

Etheostoma phytophilum

Rush darter

Etheostoma rubrum

Bayou darter

Etheostoma scotti

Cherokee darter

Etheostoma sp.

Bluemask (= jewel) darter

Etheostoma susanae

Cumberland darter

Etheostoma wapiti

Boulder darter

Percina antesella

Amber darter

Percina aurolineata

Goldline darter

Percina jenkinsi

Conasauga logperch

Percina pantherina

Leopard darter

Percina tanasi

Snail darter

Scorpaeniformes

Cottidae

Cottus sp.

Grotto sculpin

Cottus paulus (= pygmaeus)

Pygmy sculpin

Siluriformes

Clariidae

All species

Air-breathing catfish

Ictaluridae

Noturus baileyi

Smoky madtom

Noturus crypticus

Chucky madtom

Noturus placidus

Neosho madtom

Noturus stanauli

Pygmy madtom

Noturus trautmani

Scioto madtom

Synbranchiformes

Synbranchidae

Monopterus albus

Swamp eel

MAMMALS

Order

Family

Genus/Species

Common Name

Artiodactyla

Suidae

All Species

Pigs or Hogs*

Cervidae

All Species

Deer*

Carnivora

Canidae

All Species

Wild Dogs,* Wolves, Coyotes or Coyote hybrids, Jackals and Foxes

Ursidae

All Species

Bears*

Procyonidae

All Species

Raccoons and* Relatives

Mustelidae

All Species

Weasels, Badgers,* Skunks and Otters

(except Mustela putorius furo)

Ferret

Viverridae

All Species

Civets, Genets,* Lingsangs, Mongooses, and Fossas

Herpestidae

All Species

Mongooses*

Hyaenidae

All Species

Hyenas and Aardwolves*

Felidae

All Species

Cats*

Chiroptera

All Species

Bats*

Lagomorpha

Lepridae

Brachylagus idahoensis

Pygmy rabbit

Lepus europeaeous

European hare

Oryctolagus cuniculus

European rabbit

Sylvilagus bachmani riparius

Riparian brush rabbit

Sylvilagus palustris hefneri

Lower Keys marsh rabbit

Rodentia

All species native to Africa

All species native to Africa

Dipodidae

Zapus hudsonius preblei

Preble's meadow jumping mouse

Muridae

Microtus californicus scirpensis

Amargosa vole

Microtus mexicanus hualpaiensis

Hualapai Mexican vole

Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli

Florida salt marsh vole

Neotoma floridana smalli

Key Largo woodrat

Neotoma fuscipes riparia

Riparian (= San Joaquin Valley) woodrat

Oryzomys palustris natator

Rice rat

Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola

Key Largo cotton mouse

Peromyscus polionotus allophrys

Choctawhatchee beach mouse

Peromyscus polionotus ammobates

Alabama beach mouse

Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris

Southeastern beach mouse

Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis

St. Andrew beach mouse

Peromyscus polionotus phasma

Anastasia Island beach mouse

Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis

Perdido Key beach mouse

Reithrodontomys raviventris

Salt marsh harvest mouse

Heteromyidae

Dipodomys heermanni morroensis

Morro Bay kangaroo rat

Dipodomys ingens

Giant kangaroo rat

Dipodomys merriami parvus

San Bernadino Merriam's kangaroo rat

Dipodomys nitratoides exilis

Fresno kangaroo rat

Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides

Tipton kangaroo rat

Dipodomys stephensi (including D. cascus)

Stephens' kangaroo rat

Perognathus longimembris pacificus

Pacific pocket mouse

Sciuridae

Cynomys spp.

Prairie dogs

Spermophilus brunneus brunneus

Northern Idaho ground squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis

Mount Graham red squirrel

Soricomorpha

Soricidae

Sorex ornatus relictus

Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew

MOLLUSKS

Order

Family

Genus/Species

Common Name

Neotaenioglossa

Hydrobiidae

Potamopyrgus antipodarum

New Zealand mudsnail

Veneroida

Dreissenidae

Dreissena bugensis

Quagga mussel

Dreissena polymorpha

Zebra mussel

REPTILES

Order

Family

Genus/Species

Common Name

Crocodilia

Alligatoridae

All species

Alligators, caimans*

Crocodylidae

All species

Crocodiles*

Gavialidae

All species

Gavials*

Squamata

Colubridae

Boiga irregularis

Brown tree snake*

CRUSTACEANS

Order

Family

Genus/Species

Common Name

Decapoda

Cambaridae

Cambarus aculabrum

Cave crayfish

Cambarus zophonastes

Cave crayfish

Orconectes rusticus

Rusty crayfish

Orconectes shoupi

Nashville crayfish

Pacifastacus fortis

Shasta crayfish

Procambarus sp.

Marbled crayfish

Parastacidae

Cherax spp.

Australian crayfish

Varunidea

Eriocheir sinensis

Chinese mitten crab

B. Temporary possession permit for certain animals. Notwithstanding the permitting requirements of subsection A of this section, a person, company, or corporation possessing any nonnative (exotic) animal, designated with an asterisk (*) in subsection A of this section, prior to July 1, 1992, must declare such possession in writing to the department by January 1, 1993. This written declaration shall serve as a permit for possession only, is not transferable, and must be renewed every five years. This written declaration must include species name, common name, number of individuals, date or dates acquired, sex (if possible), estimated age, height or length, and other characteristics such as bands and band numbers, tattoos, registration numbers, coloration, and specific markings. Possession transfer will require a new permit according to the requirements of this subsection.

C. Exception for certain monk parakeets. A permit is not required for monk parakeets (quakers) that have been captive bred and are closed-banded with a seamless band.

D. Exception for parts or products. A permit is not required for parts or products of those nonnative (exotic) animals listed in subsection A of this section that may be used for personal use, in the manufacture of products, or used in scientific research, provided that such parts or products be packaged outside the Commonwealth by any person, company, or corporation duly licensed by the state in which the parts originate. Such packages may be transported into the Commonwealth, consistent with other state laws and regulations, so long as the original package remains unbroken, unopened and intact until its point of destination is reached. Documentation concerning the type and cost of the animal parts ordered, the purpose and date of the order, point and date of shipping, and date of receiving shall be kept by the person, business, or institution ordering such nonnative (exotic) animal parts. Such documentation shall be open to inspection by a representative of the Department of [ Game and Inland Fisheries Wildlife Resources ].

E. Exception for prairie dogs. The effective date of listing of prairie dogs under subsection A of this section shall be January 1, 1998. Prairie dogs possessed in captivity in Virginia on December 31, 1997, may be maintained in captivity until the animals' deaths, but they may not be sold on or after January 1, 1998, without a permit.

F. Exception for snakehead fish. Anglers may legally harvest snakehead fish of the family Channidae, provided that they immediately kill such fish and that they notify the department, as soon as practicable, of such actions.

G. Exception for feral hogs. Anyone may legally trap feral hogs with written permission of the landowner, provided that any trapped hogs are not removed from the trap site alive and are killed immediately.

H. Exception for grass carp. Anglers may legally harvest grass carp of the family Cyprinidae only from public waters of the Commonwealth, except from department-owned or department-controlled lakes, provided that anglers. It is unlawful to harvest grass carp from any public inland lake or reservoir. Anglers taking grass carp must ensure that harvested grass carp are dead.

I. Exception for Alabama bass. Anglers may possess live Alabama bass of the family Centrarchidae only on the body of water from which the fish were captured, provided that the angler does not live transport these fish outside of the body of water from which the fish were captured. Anglers may only release live Alabama bass back into the body of water from which the fish were captured. Anglers may legally harvest Alabama bass provided that the anglers ensure all harvested Alabama bass are dead.

J. All other nonnative (exotic) animals. All other nonnative (exotic) animals not listed in subsection A of this section may be possessed, purchased, and sold; provided, that such animals shall be subject to all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, including those that apply to threatened/endangered species, and further provided, that such animals shall not be liberated within the Commonwealth.

VA.R. Doc. No. R21-5906; Filed October 28, 2020