Tapia92
New member
I’m in the Bay Area California looking for any native species rattlesnakes. Preferably Western DB,s or speckled. Thanks for any info.
Not according to what fish and game told me, you CAN sell non albinos however you must have a rattlesnake permit and the propagation permit regardless if CB or not I was informed they must be red eyed albino to not require a permit to sell. Also that link is by California Herps not the actual CA. fish and game website where you can literally see the rattlesnake permit and propagation permit.****TAKE NOTICE***
Just to chime in, but some false information is being spread here. lets NOT spread urban legend.
It is NOT UNLAWFUL to sell captive bred indigenous species in California, nor do they have to be albino.
Also, no permit is required to receive or trade or sell captive bred rattlesnakes in California,
If you wish to catch WILD indigenous rattlesnakes in California, one need not ossess a valid FISHING LICENSE. Yes, you read that right.
You are allowed no more than two in possession of any one species of wild caught rattlesnakes.
Below is the law posted by CA-DF&WS
California Laws Regarding Reptiles and Amphibians
californiaherps.com
Not according to what fish and game told me, you CAN sell non albinos however you must have a rattlesnake permit and the propagation permit regardless if CB or not I was informed they must be red eyed albino to not require a permit to sell. Also that link is by California Herps not the actual CA. fish and game website where you can literally see the rattlesnake permit and propagation permit.
Also the “to catch wild rattlers, one needs not possess a valid fishing license?” This is extremely false you most certainly do require a valid fishing license to catch them in CA. the only thing you said that is correct is being able to own two per species without a permit (except C. Ruber)
Don’t shoot the messenger brother!
The DFG hard copy states the same thing.
As far as what individual game wardens will say or not say runs just like the average beat cop knows about law in general, if they don’t know, they will make something up as to not sound obtuse. (The only reason I know that is I’m a recently retired California peace officer)
But no, there is no license or permit required at all for the taking of rattlesnakes. You are however correct that the C. Ruber *IS* restricted. This is due (their claim) loss of their limited known habitat and encroaching conditions as to remaining limited habits that by real estate development. But they aren’t going ti do much of anything at all as far as protecting the habitat, only prevent us from wild capture of them. Which makes me suspect their furthered lack of vision when they could have asked US to participate in voluntary breeding and wild release programs with incentives.
Caveat! It is widely *propagated* that a fishing license is needed to take rattlesnakes. THAT is NOT codified in California law however, it’s likely you will get hemmed up until the DA bounces the case. You won’t be the first guy to catch a case because a warden wasn’t fully abreast onTHAT law.
I say this because I’ve been doing thing a little longer then many, yet not trying to arrogantly show you the buttons on my tail. *wink*
I’ve just been around in herping a cool minute.
You are also correct in that I used Cali-herps website to cite the source, only because they did the better job of copying the regs from DFG and posting it to their page.
And I do agree with you that every herper should and must arm themselves with up to the moment regulations pertaining to taking and possession of rattlesnakes id you think they are wonky about reptiles, you should see how they have made a legal nightmare for ferret lovers! (They’re outright illegal)
Again, please don’t shoot the messenger, I’m merely interjecting some fact to dispel the smoke in the room. I hate to see someone dissuaded from not keeping for a lack of valid information, versus being an ethical gatekeeper in a desire to keep a guy alive by dissuading him or her do to valid medical risk.
And there you have it, brother.
I also say THIS: I’m NOT an “expert” on the topic, but I’m really close. I do know what I know, and am just trying to be “helpful”.
Lastly, I’d prefer someone obtain a captive bred HOT, than take one from the wild when possible, for the same reasons we all share.
If I came out as a “know-it-all”, that was not my intent. I just wanted to arm the rest with fact over fiction. Does this come across better?
I was not informed this by a warden I was directly told this by the lead head of fish and game in Sacramento, Ca. AND by the sanctuary run by Joel Almquist where fish and game send any illegally kept animals to. And as I stated these laws can be found directly on the Ca. Fish And Game website where you can see the UPDATED AND CURRENT restrictions of what you can and cannot do and the propagation permit to breed and sell natives regardless of cbDon’t shoot the messenger brother!
The DFG hard copy states the same thing.
As far as what individual game wardens will say or not say runs just like the average beat cop knows about law in general, if they don’t know, they will make something up as to not sound obtuse. (The only reason I know that is I’m a recently retired California peace officer)
But no, there is no license or permit required at all for the taking of rattlesnakes. You are however correct that the C. Ruber *IS* restricted. This is due (their claim) loss of their limited known habitat and encroaching conditions as to remaining limited habits that by real estate development. But they aren’t going ti do much of anything at all as far as protecting the habitat, only prevent us from wild capture of them. Which makes me suspect their furthered lack of vision when they could have asked US to participate in voluntary breeding and wild release programs with incentives.
Caveat! It is widely *propagated* that a fishing license is needed to take rattlesnakes. THAT is NOT codified in California law however, it’s likely you will get hemmed up until the DA bounces the case. You won’t be the first guy to catch a case because a warden wasn’t fully abreast onTHAT law.
I say this because I’ve been doing thing a little longer then many, yet not trying to arrogantly show you the buttons on my tail. *wink*
I’ve just been around in herping a cool minute.
You are also correct in that I used Cali-herps website to cite the source, only because they did the better job of copying the regs from DFG and posting it to their page.
And I do agree with you that every herper should and must arm themselves with up to the moment regulations pertaining to taking and possession of rattlesnakes id you think they are wonky about reptiles, you should see how they have made a legal nightmare for ferret lovers! (They’re outright illegal)
Again, please don’t shoot the messenger, I’m merely interjecting some fact to dispel the smoke in the room. I hate to see someone dissuaded from not keeping for a lack of valid information, versus being an ethical gatekeeper in a desire to keep a guy alive by dissuading him or her do to valid medical risk.
And there you have it, brother.
I also say THIS: I’m NOT an “expert” on the topic, but I’m really close. I do know what I know, and am just trying to be “helpful”.
Lastly, I’d prefer someone obtain a captive bred HOT, than take one from the wild when possible, for the same reasons we all share.
If I came out as a “know-it-all”, that was not my intent. I just wanted to arm the rest with fact over fiction. Does this come across better?
I was not informed this by a warden I was directly told this by the lead head of fish and game in Sacramento, Ca. AND by the sanctuary run by Joel Almquist where fish and game send any illegally kept animals to. And as I stated these laws can be found directly on the Ca. Fish And Game website where you can see the UPDATED AND CURRENT restrictions of what you can and cannot do and the propagation permit to breed and sell natives regardless of cb
No I just don’t believe in misinforming people based off a link someone found and know finding the legit information is by going off the actual fish and game website where you can literally see the propagation permit and what it entails. It wouldn’t surprise me if a warden is misinforming keepers to get them caught either.Ok, I can see you’re bent on perpetuating this. I believe you’re missing the part about that applies to the commercial operations of such. As an individual collector, this doesn’t apply.
And since you want to obviously want to fight about it, and go off half cocked with half truths and erroneous information, YOU DO YOU, but when you come out charging like a bull with bullshit, well, it if what it is.
But don’t lie to people and name drop. You look foolish.
A permit is required to buy or sell natives and yes that does exist that is what the propagation permit is for in California this applies to wild caught and cbb only red eyed albinos may be purchased or sold without a permitAwe crap, I’m sorry. I’ve misread
Your post and was snotty. My bad.
Brother, we’re not talking about propagating in the commercial sense. That’s a different set of regulations, especially in regard to venom extraction and commercial enterprise. But for a guy buying a rattlesnake, no licenses are permits are required as none exist, that was the point I was trying to get across.
Sorry I was a grump, I simply misread what you said.
I can be an ATROX sometimes.![]()