All reptiles and amphibians native to Indiana, such as this
box turtle, are protected by law
My daughter found a turtle while out on a walk. Can she keep it?
All reptiles and amphibians native to Indiana are protected by law.
Box turtles cannot be collected from the wild at any time. Certain species of frogs, lizards, salamanders, snakes, toads or turtles on the state or federal endangered species list also may not be taken at any time. You can find a listing of protected reptiles and amphibians on the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Web site at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/endangered/regs.htm.
Species identified as game animals may be collected from the wild with a hunting or fishing license, as long as you obey bag limits and season dates and use legal trapping methods. An individual with a valid hunting or fishing license may take game frog and turtle species from a DNR property where hunting or fishing is authorized.
Non-game reptiles and amphibians may not be taken from any DNR property without a scientific purposes license.
Game turtles include the common snapping turtle, smooth softshell turtle, and the spiny softshell turtle. The daily bag limit for game turtles is 25, singly or in aggregate. The possession limit for game turtles is 50 turtles. Season for game turtles is open year-round. Game turtles may be taken by legal sport fishing methods, by hand, by gaff or by a trap, net or other mechanical device that has no opening below the surface of the water.
Game frogs include the bullfrog and green frog. The daily bag limit for game frogs is 25, singly or in aggregate. The possession limit for game frogs is 50 frogs. Season for game frogs occurs from June 15 to April 30. Game frogs may be taken with gig or spear with a head not more than three inches in width and a single row of tines; longbow and arrow; club; hands alone or pole or hand line with not more than one hook or artificial lure attached. Game frogs also may be taken with a .22 caliber firearm, as long as the projectiles discharged from the barrel of the firearm are birdshot.
The possession limit for non-endangered, non-game species is four, with the exception of the eastern box turtle. Collected species may not be sold. It is illegal to sell any reptile or amphibian native to Indiana regardless of its origin. Indiana residents over the age of 17 must have a valid hunting or fishing license in possession while collecting species of reptiles and amphibians from the wild. All non-resident adults and most non-resident youth must possess a non-resident annual hunting license.
We’re having problems with raccoons damaging our house. What options are available for us
A resident landowner or tenant may take beaver, mink, muskrat, long-tailed weasel, red fox, gray fox, opossum, skunk, gray squirrel, fox squirrel or raccoon that is discovered damaging property. You must report the taking of the animal to a conservation officer within 72 hours.
If the animal is caught and released, it must be released in the county of capture. It is illegal to release nuisance wildlife on state properties or onto any property without the property owner’s permission.
Landowners may take coyotes at any time on the land they own. They also may provide written permission for others to take coyotes on their land at any time.
You may choose to contact a wildlife removal service to assist you. The State of Indiana licenses several individuals who provide commercial nuisance wildlife removal. A listing of these services can be found online at www.entm.purdue.edu/wildlife/wild.htm or by calling the Wildlife Conflict Information Hotline at 800-893-4116. The hotline will also be able to provide many helpful tips on how to deter nuisance wildlife from damaging your property.
To submit a question to Ask a CO, email OI@dnr.IN.gov or write to Outdoor Indiana, Ask a Conservation Officer, 402 W. Washington Street, Suite W255B, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
