Reptiles and Amphibians
Prohibited Species
You may not harvest alligator snapping, box, or razor-backed musk turtles for commercial
purposes. You may not harvest any of the following for any purpose in Louisiana:
Salamanders (Tiger, Southern red backed,
Webster’s, Mud, and Red)
Louisiana pine snake
Gopher tortoise
Sea turtles (Green, Hawksbill, Kemp’s
ridley, Leatherback, and Loggerhead)
Ringed sawback turtle
Dusky gopher frog
Black pine snake
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
Legal Collection Methods
You may not remove nests or animals tending their nests. You may not use gasoline to
flush animals from hiding places. You may not destroy natural habitat while searching for
animals.
You must mark traps or other capture devices with your name, address, and license number
if you leave them unattended. You must check them daily.
You must place turtle traps in a way that leaves enough area above the waterline for
turtles to breathe. You must mark them with the words “turtle trap”. They must have one
or more horizontal throat. You may not possess finfish while turtle trapping. You may not
use any trap or net to harvest diamondback terrapins; you may only take diamondback
terrapins by hand.
You may take frogs using any visible light and mechanical devices known as frog catchers
or with devices that puncture the skin such as gigs and spears. You may not carry a firearm
while hunting/taking frogs at night.
Closed Seasons and Areas
You may not harvest bullfrogs or pig frogs/grunters during April and May. You may not take
diamondback terrapins from April 15 to June 15.
You may not collect reptiles and amphibians for commercial purposes from any WMA or
state wildlife refuge.
Size/Possession Limits
Bullfrogs: must be at least 5 inches long*
Pig frogs/grunters: must be at least 3 inches long,
measured
from the tip of the muzzle to the posterior end of
the body between the hind legs. A permitted owner
(or authorized representative) of a privately-owned
waterbody may take undersized frogs from their privatelyowned waterbody and sell them for stocking other
waterbodies.
Diamondback terrapins: must be at least 6 inches long on
the plastron (bottom shell plate)
Green anoles: must be at least 1-3/4 inches snout-vent
length or 5 inches overall length
Turtle eggs: no harvest of turtle eggs, except for red-eared
slider eggs
Contact: Jeff Boundy, 225.765.2815, jboundy@wlf.la.gov
Additional Licenses and Permits
If you:
You must have a/an:
Fees and notes:
Gather reptiles and amphibians for sale
Reptile and Amphibian Collector License $25 resident/$10 resident under age 16, $200 nonresident
Buy, acquire, or handle for resale or sell any
native reptiles or amphibians, including
those reared in captivity, in Louisiana
Reptile and Amphibian Wholesale/Retail
Dealer License
$105 resident, $405 nonresident. Nonresidents may instead purchase a Three-Day Reptile
and Amphibian Wholesale/Retail Dealer’s License ($75; valid for three consecutive days).
Licensed wholesale/retail seafood dealers are exempt from this license.
Operate commercial transport vehicles
and load, unload, or transport reptiles or
amphibians
Reptile and Amphibian Collector License,
Reptile and Amphibian Wholesale/
Retail Dealer License, OR Reptile and
Amphibian Transport License
Transport License: $30/vehicle resident, $120/vehicle nonresident; transferable between
vehicles. Only licensed reptile and amphibian collectors or wholesale/retail dealers may
purchase. Individuals holding transport licenses may not buy/sell reptiles or amphibians
unless buying on behalf of the dealer to whom the transport license was issued and
transporting purchases back to them.
Regulations for commercially collecting reptiles
and amphibians apply to native lizards, snakes,
turtles, frogs, salamanders, and related species.
They do not apply to alligators.
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Prohibited Species
You may not harvest alligator snapping, box, or razor-backed musk turtles for commercial
purposes. You may not harvest any of the following for any purpose in Louisiana:
Salamanders (Tiger, Southern red backed,
Webster’s, Mud, and Red)
Louisiana pine snake
Gopher tortoise
Sea turtles (Green, Hawksbill, Kemp’s
ridley, Leatherback, and Loggerhead)
Ringed sawback turtle
Dusky gopher frog
Black pine snake
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
Legal Collection Methods
You may not remove nests or animals tending their nests. You may not use gasoline to
flush animals from hiding places. You may not destroy natural habitat while searching for
animals.
You must mark traps or other capture devices with your name, address, and license number
if you leave them unattended. You must check them daily.
You must place turtle traps in a way that leaves enough area above the waterline for
turtles to breathe. You must mark them with the words “turtle trap”. They must have one
or more horizontal throat. You may not possess finfish while turtle trapping. You may not
use any trap or net to harvest diamondback terrapins; you may only take diamondback
terrapins by hand.
You may take frogs using any visible light and mechanical devices known as frog catchers
or with devices that puncture the skin such as gigs and spears. You may not carry a firearm
while hunting/taking frogs at night.
Closed Seasons and Areas
You may not harvest bullfrogs or pig frogs/grunters during April and May. You may not take
diamondback terrapins from April 15 to June 15.
You may not collect reptiles and amphibians for commercial purposes from any WMA or
state wildlife refuge.
Size/Possession Limits
Bullfrogs: must be at least 5 inches long*
Pig frogs/grunters: must be at least 3 inches long,
measured
from the tip of the muzzle to the posterior end of
the body between the hind legs. A permitted owner
(or authorized representative) of a privately-owned
waterbody may take undersized frogs from their privatelyowned waterbody and sell them for stocking other
waterbodies.
Diamondback terrapins: must be at least 6 inches long on
the plastron (bottom shell plate)
Green anoles: must be at least 1-3/4 inches snout-vent
length or 5 inches overall length
Turtle eggs: no harvest of turtle eggs, except for red-eared
slider eggs
Contact: Jeff Boundy, 225.765.2815, jboundy@wlf.la.gov
Additional Licenses and Permits
If you:
You must have a/an:
Fees and notes:
Gather reptiles and amphibians for sale
Reptile and Amphibian Collector License $25 resident/$10 resident under age 16, $200 nonresident
Buy, acquire, or handle for resale or sell any
native reptiles or amphibians, including
those reared in captivity, in Louisiana
Reptile and Amphibian Wholesale/Retail
Dealer License
$105 resident, $405 nonresident. Nonresidents may instead purchase a Three-Day Reptile
and Amphibian Wholesale/Retail Dealer’s License ($75; valid for three consecutive days).
Licensed wholesale/retail seafood dealers are exempt from this license.
Operate commercial transport vehicles
and load, unload, or transport reptiles or
amphibians
Reptile and Amphibian Collector License,
Reptile and Amphibian Wholesale/
Retail Dealer License, OR Reptile and
Amphibian Transport License
Transport License: $30/vehicle resident, $120/vehicle nonresident; transferable between
vehicles. Only licensed reptile and amphibian collectors or wholesale/retail dealers may
purchase. Individuals holding transport licenses may not buy/sell reptiles or amphibians
unless buying on behalf of the dealer to whom the transport license was issued and
transporting purchases back to them.
Regulations for commercially collecting reptiles
and amphibians apply to native lizards, snakes,
turtles, frogs, salamanders, and related species.
They do not apply to alligators.
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