Reptiles & Amphibians - Prohibited Actions and Protections - Minnesota

A person may not possess more than three snapping turtles of the species Chelydra serpentina without a turtle seller's license. Until new rules are adopted under section 97C.605, a person may not take snapping turtles of a size less than ten inches wide including curvature, measured from side to side across the shell at midpoint. After new rules are adopted under section 97C.605, a person may only take snapping turtles of a size specified in the adopted rules.

Citation: M.S.A. § 97C.611.

Subdivision 1. Resident angling license required. In addition to any other license required in this section, a person may not take, possess, or transport turtles without a resident angling license, except as provided in subdivision 2c.

Subd. 2. Turtle seller's license.

(a) A person may not take, possess, buy, or transport turtles for sale; sell turtles; or take turtles for sale using commercial equipment without a turtle seller's license, except as provided in subdivision 2c.

(b) Except for renewals, no new turtle seller's licenses may be issued after August 1, 2002...

Subd. 3. Taking; methods prohibited.

(a) A person may take turtles in any manner, except by the use of:

(1) explosives, drugs, poisons, lime, and other harmful substances;

(2) traps, except as provided in paragraph (b) and rules adopted under this section; 

(3) nets other than anglers' fish landing nets; or

(4) commercial equipment, except as provided in rules adopted under this section...

Subd. 5. Interference with commercial or recreational turtle operations. A person may not:

(1) knowingly place or maintain an obstruction that will hinder, prevent, or interfere with a licensed turtle operation; 

(2) remove turtles, other wild animals, or fish from a floating or submerged trap licensed under the game and fish laws; or

(3) knowingly damage, disturb, or interfere with a licensed turtle operation.

Citation: M.S.A. § 97C.605.

...Subd. 2. License required.

(a) A person may not take or possess frogs without an angling license if the person is required to have an angling license to take fish.

(b) A person may not purchase, possess, and transport frogs for purposes other than bait without a license to purchase, possess, and transport frogs.

(c) A person may not take, possess, transport, and sell frogs for purposes other than bait without a license to take, possess, transport, and sell frogs.

Subd. 3. Taking with cloth screens prohibited. A person may not use cloth screens or similar devices to take frogs.

Citation: M.S.A. § 97C.601.

Subdivision 1. Definition. For the purposes of this section, “wildlife” means any wild mammal, wild bird, reptile, or amphibian.

Subd. 2. Possession. A person connected with a commercial enterprise may not possess wildlife in captivity for public exhibition purposes, except under permit as provided in this section.

Citation: M.S.A. § 97A.041.