Rosy Boa Question

[Ackieman]

Hi all. My wife and I moved here to AZ about 2 months ago and we're loving it here! I have a question about AZ laws. We have a Whitewater Rosy Boa and I was wondering if I can legally own that snake here in Az. I'm a little fuzzy on what types of rosies are native here. Are the Rosies found in S. Cal the same as the ones out here?

Thanks,
Chris and Eva

[Kerwin Ross]

In Arizona there are no regulations or laws that govern rosy boas that originate from outside of Arizona. Although it is obvious that a Whitewater Rosy Boa IS NOT from Arizona, I would keep a receipt from the person you got it from that indicates that. You can buy/sell/trade/breed/sell babies all you want with no limits.

There are locations in Arizona where Rosy Boas occur and the take limit is 2/year with a possession limit of 4, no matter what the Arizona locale. In other words, one person CAN NOT have 4 from Bagdad locale and 4 from Kingman locale. Four Arizona Rosy Boas is a single person possession limit.

You must have a General Hunting license to go look for them. You DO NOT need a General Hunting license to be in possession of Arizona snakes, but are still bound by the possession limit. Let's say that you lived in another state and had 20 Arizona Rosy Boas (legal where you lived) but then moved to Arizona. You could only bring with you - 4.

Kerby...

[JJFeldner]

so I shall endeavor to answer the other half. Here in AZ we have two boas. We have the Desert which is essentially what you have from Whitewater, L.t. gracia, but then we also have the Mexican, L.t. trivirgata. I would venture to say you could collect 4 of each. Also, some people call the desert boa from AZ L.t. arizonae but that's kind of pushing taxonomy a bit. See http://www.reptilesofaz.com/Snakes-Subpages/h-l-trivirgata.html

[Ackieman]

I guess we should be safe to keep and breed her then.

Chris and Eva

[Ackieman]

In your post you stated that you need a hunting license to "go look for reptiles". I was at the DGF office last week and I asked them if I needed a license to look for reptiles and photograph them,not take any from the wild. They told me I DO NOT need a license to look and photo,but you do need one to keep anything. Thought I'd clear that up a little.

Thanks,
Chris and Eva

[Kerwin Ross]

If you are looking for snakes and have NO snake equipment and just a camera, then I'm sure you are fine, although NOT ALL AZ G&F Field Officer's agree with that - and that is a fact! If you have a snake hook , snake container, etc.. then you need a license.

Kerby...

[MRC]

Kerby is right I stopped to take a picture of a Gila my vehicle was searched and my hunting license was checked, however i had nothing in possession at the time. It's alot easier to just pick one up they are cheap, you never know maybe you will find the find of a life time, be a bummer not to have a license.

[Kestrel]

In your post you stated that you need a hunting license to "go look for reptiles". I was at the DGF office last week and I asked them if I needed a license to look for reptiles and photograph them,not take any from the wild. They told me I DO NOT need a license to look and photo,but you do need one to keep anything. Thought I'd clear that up a little.

Thanks,
Chris and Eva

Yeah.. really have to be careful, even if you're just photographing.. I've heard loads of stories about fish and game going after people disturbing wildlife even with just a camera..

[Cmpyrrhus]

If any person is in the act or engaging in manipulating, molesting, or ‘chasing’ an animal, it seems that your simply in need of a license. A license is not only needed for take of an animal, but pretty much for anything but clearly looking or simply photographing. Even if your intentions are not to collect, I would get that license.

[KingEvil]

i believe this is the link to the application? .pdf format:

http://tinyurl.com/3zmlg