Alligator Snapping Turtle Macroclemys temminckii
Common Map Turtle Graptemys geographica
Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) Sternotherus odoratus
Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina serpentina
Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina carolina
Eastern River Cooter Pseudemys concinna concinna
Eastern Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum
Eastern Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera spinifera
False Map Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica
NATIVE SPECIES
Kentucky
SUMMARY OF KENTUCKY TURTLE LAWS
Nauti-Lass Ponds & Critters, Inc.
pet turtles turtle facts types of turtles baby turtles for sale
COMMERCIAL
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1. Five (5) or fewer individuals of each species of native reptile or amphibian may be taken year round for personal use without a permit. A
fishing license is required.
2. Only Snapping turtles (except alligator snapping turtles) and softshell turtles may be taken year round by trap or any of the same
methods legal for taking rough fish species. Commercial fishing gear may not be used to take turtles. A hunting license is required when
taking turtles by gun or by bow and arrow. Otherwise a fishing license is required.
3. Any species other than Snappers or Softshells caught in traps must be immediately released.
TAKING FROM THE WILD
POSSESSION
1. There is no limit on the number of captive bred individuals of each species possessed by a commercial captive wildlife permit holder.
However, the permit holder may not possess more than five (5) wild-caught individuals of each species.
2. A commercial captive wildlife permit shall be required for a person to sell, offer to sell, trade, or barter native wildlife. A person shall not
buy, sell, offer to buy or sell, or trade or barter native wildlife obtained from the wild; only captive-bred native wildlife may be
commercially offered.
1. Up to five (5) individuals of each species of native reptile or amphibian may be taken year round from the wild, or legally obtained from a
breeder, and possessed for personal use without a permit.
2. There is no limit on Common Snappers or Softshells
3. A non-commercial captive wildlife permit required for persons wishing to possess, but not sell more than the quantities mentioned above
4. No permit is required to hold reptiles with a color morphology that is distinctly different from the wild type of the same species of reptile.
5. A wildlife transportation permit shall be obtained for all shipments of wildlife (native or exotic) prior to receiving a shipment of wildlife,
importing wildlife into Kentucky or transporting wildlife into and through the state to a destination outside of Kentucky.
6. Possession of Alligator Snapping Turtles is unlawful
7. A person shall not possess native wildlife that was not legally acquired or buy, sell, offer to buy, offer to sell, trade or barter native
wildlife obtained from the wild.
8. A person shall not buy, sell, possess, import, or release any aquatic species not native or established in Kentucky waters, except a person
may buy, sell, import, or possess aquarium species but shall not release the species into Kentucky waters
Hieroglyphic River Cooter Pseudemys concinna hieroglyphica
Midland Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta marginata
Midland Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica mutica
Mississippi Map Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii
Mississippi Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis
Ouachita Map Turtle Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitiensis
Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans
Southern Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta dorsalis