State regulations are determined by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
- Alligators can be hunted during the special alligator season which is by Special Permit Only – see the hunting season dates and bag limits rule (220-2-.143-147ER).
- Note: There are additional laws that apply to alligators, they are:
- Alligator Nuisance Control Hunter Regulations (220-2-.95)
- Alligator Farming Regulations (220-2-.96)
- Alligator Protection Regulations (220-2-.97)
It shall be unlawful to take, capture, kill, or attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, sell, trade for anything of monetary value, or offer to sell or trade for anything of monetary value, the following nongame herp species (or any parts or reproductive products of such species) without a scientific collection permit or written permit from the Commissioner, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which shall specifically state what the permittee may do with regard to following species:(220-2-.96)
Amphibians:
Dusky Gopher Frog (Rana capito sevosa)
Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii)
Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis)
Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) (STATE AMPHIBIAN)
Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus)
Red Hills Salamander (Phaeognathus hubrichti)
Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola) (Coastal Plain origin)
Tennessee Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus)Reptiles:
Black Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi)Eastern Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis flagellum flagellum)
Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi)
Florida Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus)
Gulf Salt Marsh Snake (Nerodia fasciata clarkii)
Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus)
Alabama Map Turtle (Graptemys pulchra)
Alabama Red-bellied Turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis) (STATE REPTILE)
Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temminckii)
Barbour's Map Turtle (Graptemys barbouri)Black-knobbed Sawback Turtle (Graptemys nigrinoda)
Escambia Bay Map Turtle (Graptemys ernsti)Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin pileata)
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It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, sell, offer for sale, import, or release any non-indigenous venomous reptile in or into the State of Alabama, except by written permission of a designated employee of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources authorized by the Director of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to issue such permits (220-2-.26)
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It shall be unlawful to collect or offer for sale sell or trade for anything of value any box turtle (Terrapene Carolina), box turtle part or reproductive product except by permit
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It shall be unlawful to collects harvest, possess offer for sale sell or trade for anything of monetary value any common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) or soft shell turtles (Apalone ferox, Apalone muticus muticus, Apalone muticus calvatus, Apalone spiniferus spiniferus, Abalone spiniferus asper) with a carapace length less than eight inches (Except any species protected under this paragraph taken in a live trap by a pond owner or his agent while controlling nuisance animals is exempt but may not be sold or offered for sale or traded for anything of monetary value ).
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It shall be unlawful for any person to take or possess more than ten (10) legally taken turtles per day on the public waters or banks of the public waters of this state. To be in compliance with this law you will need to have a Commercial Turtle Catcher/Dealer/Farmer Permit (220-2.142) which can be obtained through the ACDNR.
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Informational Note: See Section 9-11-269, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to protection of the flattened musk turtle (Sternotherus minor depressus)."
Note: There may be city or county ordinances that restrict or prohibit the keeping of certain types of reptiles and amphibians.
Levels of Protection and Status
Species protected by international, federal, or state laws should be left alone. Disturbing them in any way such as: killing, harassing, collecting, even picking them up, is likely to be in violation of the law.
Hypothetical Occurrence in the State
Hypothetical Occurrence (HYPO) refers to a species that is not verified to occur in the state. A species may be considered to have hypothetical occurrence for one or more of these reasons:
U. S. range maps indicate close proximity to the state.
Observations in the state remain anecdotal and unverified by experts.
All populations are thought to have been extirpated from the state.
International Protection is offered primarily through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Organisms are listed in one of three CITES Appendices with each offering a different level of protection.
CITES
Click here to see the total number of plants and animals protectd by CITES.
You can also browse the CITES Appendices I, II and III by clicking here.
International Status is monitored by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Species of most concern are placed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN also designates a trend for some of these species.
IUCN
For more information on endangered or threatened species click here:
You can also browse the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species by clicking here.
Federal Protection is offered primarily through the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) according to the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Click here for Alabama's entire listing of species on the Federal List for Threatened and Endangered Species or Whose Status is a Concern.
USFWS
For more information on endangered or threatened species, enter a common or scientific name here:
You can also browse the endangered species lists by clicking here.
State Protection is offered primarily through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Click here for Alabama's entire Protected Nongame Species listing.
AL Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
The CWCS defines those wildlife species in greatest need of conservation in Alabama and describes the actions necessary for their restoration.
HYPO = Hypothetical occurrence in the state.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
1 = Protection offered under Appendix I of CITES.
2 = Protection offered under Appendix II of CITES.
3 = Protection offered under Appendix III CITES.
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
- EX = Extinct: A taxon is Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. A taxon is presumed Extinct when exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal, annual), throughout its historic range have failed to record an individual. Surveys should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon's life cycle and life form.
- EW = Extinct in the Wild: A taxon is Extinct in the Wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population (or populations) well outside the past range. A taxon is presumed Extinct in the Wild when exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal, annual), throughout its historic range have failed to record an individual. Surveys should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon's life cycle and life form.
- CR = Critically Endangered: A taxon is Critically Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Critically Endangered (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
- EN = Endangered: A taxon is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Endangered (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
- VU = Vulnerable: A taxon is Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Vulnerable (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
- NT = Near Threatened: A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now, but is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
- LC = Least Concern: A taxon is Least Concern when it has been evaluated against the criteria and does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
- DD = Data Deficient: A taxon is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. A taxon in this category may be well studied, and its biology well known, but appropriate data on abundance and/or distribution are lacking. Data Deficient is therefore not a category of threat. Listing of taxa in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate. It is important to make positive use of whatever data are available. In many cases great care should be exercised in choosing between DD and a threatened status. If the range of a taxon is suspected to be relatively circumscribed, and a considerable period of time has elapsed since the last record of the taxon, threatened status may well be justified.
- NE = Not Evaluated: A taxon is Not Evaluated when it is has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
- I = Increasing
- D = Decreasing
- S = Stable
- ? = Unknown
U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR)
Note: Only species with a moderate or higher status rating are listed below in the Protected and Monitored Species List.
Status Ranks
Crocodilians ADCNR CITES HYPO IUCN USFWS NS
American Alligator
(Alligator mississippiensis)
2 LR/LC SAT Lizards ADCNR CITES HYPO IUCN USFWS NS Coal Skink
(Eumeces anthracinus)
P2 LC G5,S3 Eastern Glass Lizard
(Ophisaurus ventralis)
P3
Eastern Six-Lined Racerunner
(Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus)
P3 Mimic Glass Lizard
(Ophisaurus mimicus)
P2 LC G3,S3 Slender Glass Lizard
(Ophisaurus attenuatus)
P3 Southeastern Five-Lined Skink
(Eumeces inexpectatus)
P2 Snakes ADCNR CITES HYPO IUCN USFWS NS
Black Pine Snake
(Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi)
P1
Corn Snake
(Elaphe guttata guttata)
P3
Eastern Coral Snake
(Micrurus fulvius)
P2 LC G5,S3 Eastern Coachwhip Snake
(Masticophis flagellum flagellum)
P3
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
(Crotalus adamanteus)
P2 LC G4,S3
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
(Heterodon platirhinos)
P3
Eastern Indigo Snake
(Drymarchon couperi)
P1 HYPO LC T G3,S1 Eastern Kingsnake Snake
(Lampropeltis getula getula)
P2 G5,S5
Eastern Milk Snake
(Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)
P3 Florida Green Water Snake
(Nerodia floridana)
P3 Florida Pine Snake
(Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus)
P2 Gulf Salt Marsh Snake
(Nerodia clarkii clarkii)
P3 Mississippi Green Water Snake
(Nerodia cyclopion)
P3 Northern Florida Swamp Snake
(Seminatrix pygaea pygaea)
P2
Northern Pine Snake
(Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus)
P2 G4T4,S3
Pigmy Rattlesnake
(Sistrurus miliarius ssp)
P3 Pine Woods Snake
(Rhadinaea flavilata)
P3 Prarie Kingsnake Snake
(Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster)
P2 LC G5S1,S2
Queen Snake
(Regina septemvittata)
P3 Rainbow Snake
(Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma)
P2 LC G5,S3
Red Milk Snake
(Lampropeltis triangulum syspila)
P3 Southern Hognose Snake
(Heterodon simus)
P1 VU C1+2aC(i) G2,SH Speckled Kingsnake Snake
(Lampropeltis getula holbrooki)
P2 G5,S5 Turtles ADCNR CITES HYPO IUCN USFWS NS Alabama Map Turtle
(Graptemys ouachitensis)
P3 Alabama Red-bellied Turtle
(Pseudemys alabamensis)
P1 E G1,S1 Alligator Snapping Turtle
(Macrochelys temminckii)
P2 3 VU A1cd G3G4,S3 Barbour's Map Turtle
(Graptemys barbouri)
P2 LR/NT G2,S2 Black-knobbed Sawback Turtle
(Graptemys nigrinoda)
P3
Eastern Box Turtle
(Terrapene carolina carolina)
P4 2 LR/NT Escambia Map Turtle
(Graptemys ernsti)
P3 Flattened Musk Turtle
(Sternotherus depressus)
P2 VU B1+2c T G2,S2 Florida Softshell Turtle
(Apalone ferox)
P3
Gopher Tortoise
(Gopherus polyphemus)
P2 VU A1 acde T G3,S2
Green Sea Turtle
(Chelonis mydas)
P1 EN A2bd E,T G3,S1 Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
(Lepidochelys kempii)
P1 CR A1ab E G1,SZN (Dermochelys coriacea)
Leatherback Sea Turtle
P1 E G3,SZN Loggerhead Sea Turtle
(Caretta caretta)
P1 EN A1abd T G3,S1 Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin pileata)
P1 G4,T3,S1S2 Ouachita Map Turtle
(Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitensis)
3 Razor-backed Musk Turtle
(Sternotherus carinatus)
P2 G5,S1 Frogs ADCNR CITES HYPO IUCN USFWS NS Gopher Frog
(Rana capito)
P1 NT G3,S2 Little Grass Frog
(Pseudacris ocularis)
P2 LC G5,S1 Mississippi Gopher Frog
(Rana sevosa)
P1 CR B1 ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v);c2a(iii) NT G1,Sh Ornate Chorus Frog
(Pseudacris ornata)
P3 Oak Toad
(Bufo quercicus)
P3 Pine Barrens Treefrog
(Hyla andersonii)
P2 G4,S2 River Frog
P2 LC G5,S1 Wood Frog
(Rana sylvatica)
P3 LR/LC(S) Salamanders ADCNR CITES HYPO IUCN USFWS NS Black Warrior Waterdog
(Necturus alabamensis)
P2 EN B2ab(iii) G2,S2 Dwarf Salamander
(Eurycea quadridigitata)
P3 LR/LC(S)
Eastern Hellbender
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis)
P1 G4,S2 Eastern Tiger Salamander
(Ambystoma tigrinum)
P3 Flatwoods Salamander
(Ambystoma cingulatum)
P1 HYPO VU A2c T G2G3,S1 Greater Siren
(Siren lacertina)
P3
Green Salamander
(Aneides aeneus)
P2 NT G3G4,S3
Mole Salamander
(Ambystoma talpoideum)
P4 LR/LC(S) Ocoee Salamander
(Desmognathus ocooe)
P3 Red Hills Salamander
(Phaeognathus hubrichti)
P2 EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) T G2,S2 Seepage Salamander
(Desmognathus aeneus)
P2 NT G3G4,S2 Small-mouthed Salamander
(Ambystoma texanum)
P3 Southern Dusky Salamander
(Desmognathus auriculatus)
P1 LC G5,SU Southern Red Salamander
(Pseudotriton ruber vioscai)
P3 Southern Redback Salamander
(Plethodon serratus)
P3 LR/LC(S) Tennessee Cave Salamander
(Gyrinophilus palleucus palleucus)
P2 VU B2ab(iii,v) G2G3,S2