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| TURTLE LAWS OF NJ |
| LINDA BOUNO of NJ Fish & Wildlife Contact: (908)-735-5450 |
| For questions, comments and inquiries, send an e-mail to: chrisleone@gardenstatetortoise.com |
IMPORTANT-It is an all too common mistake for people to assume that keeping, breeding and/or
selling turtles in the state of New Jersey is ILLEGAL. Throughout the years, rumors have spread
mainly due to misleading information about New Jersey's laws regarding turtles and tortoises. I have
created this particular page to help straighten things out a bit and to properly inform to others the truth
regarding this matter. Unfortunately many of the tri-state's wildlife laws have changed drastically
attributed to the disappearance of several wild populations native to this area of the United States.
Illegal collection for the pet trade, road mortality and habitat destruction have led to these changes
and it has made individual state laws become rather confusing. In the state of New Jersey, it is
completely LEGAL to keep and breed native species of turtles. A hobbyist permit that is obtainable
from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, is required to do so and for $10 a year you may keep an
unlimited number of animals at your residence. This includes the Eastern Box turtle, Spotted turtle,
Northern Red Bellied turtle, Northern Diamondback terrapin, Red Eared slider, Common Musk turtle,
Eastern Mud turtle, Northern Map turtle, Eastern Spiny Soft shelled turtle and even the threatened
North American Wood turtle. This excludes the endangered Bog turtle.The Eastern painted turtle as
well as the Common Snapping turtle DO NOT require any kind of permit to be possessed in NJ.
Residents of this state may also obtain an ANIMAL DEALER/WHOLESALE LICENSE permit from the
Division of Fish and Wildlife to be able to sell turtles legally here. However, turtles and tortoises
CANNOT be sold WITHIN the state of NJ. All transactions must be made to individuals residing
outside of the state. Trades and giveaways are however permitted inside the state. Whether you are
applying for just a hobbyist permit or an Animal Dealer License so you can sell, you must be able to
prove that the animals you are acquiring have NOT BEEN COLLECTED IN THE WILD, especially from
New Jersey. All turtles and tortoises obtained must come with a receipt to show proof that the animal
came from a source where it was not collected but bred in captivity. Make sure to ask questions when
purchasing from anyone and be firm about getting a receipt to show proof. Below I will include a link
to NJ Fish and Wildlife if you are interested in learning more and I will also leave a number to directly
reach Linda Bouno who is the Principle Biologist for The Exotic and Non Game Species department
of NJ Fish and Wildlife service. Please follow the law! NJ is one of the last states in the North East
that still allows us to keep these amazing creatures!
selling turtles in the state of New Jersey is ILLEGAL. Throughout the years, rumors have spread
mainly due to misleading information about New Jersey's laws regarding turtles and tortoises. I have
created this particular page to help straighten things out a bit and to properly inform to others the truth
regarding this matter. Unfortunately many of the tri-state's wildlife laws have changed drastically
attributed to the disappearance of several wild populations native to this area of the United States.
Illegal collection for the pet trade, road mortality and habitat destruction have led to these changes
and it has made individual state laws become rather confusing. In the state of New Jersey, it is
completely LEGAL to keep and breed native species of turtles. A hobbyist permit that is obtainable
from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, is required to do so and for $10 a year you may keep an
unlimited number of animals at your residence. This includes the Eastern Box turtle, Spotted turtle,
Northern Red Bellied turtle, Northern Diamondback terrapin, Red Eared slider, Common Musk turtle,
Eastern Mud turtle, Northern Map turtle, Eastern Spiny Soft shelled turtle and even the threatened
North American Wood turtle. This excludes the endangered Bog turtle.The Eastern painted turtle as
well as the Common Snapping turtle DO NOT require any kind of permit to be possessed in NJ.
Residents of this state may also obtain an ANIMAL DEALER/WHOLESALE LICENSE permit from the
Division of Fish and Wildlife to be able to sell turtles legally here. However, turtles and tortoises
CANNOT be sold WITHIN the state of NJ. All transactions must be made to individuals residing
outside of the state. Trades and giveaways are however permitted inside the state. Whether you are
applying for just a hobbyist permit or an Animal Dealer License so you can sell, you must be able to
prove that the animals you are acquiring have NOT BEEN COLLECTED IN THE WILD, especially from
New Jersey. All turtles and tortoises obtained must come with a receipt to show proof that the animal
came from a source where it was not collected but bred in captivity. Make sure to ask questions when
purchasing from anyone and be firm about getting a receipt to show proof. Below I will include a link
to NJ Fish and Wildlife if you are interested in learning more and I will also leave a number to directly
reach Linda Bouno who is the Principle Biologist for The Exotic and Non Game Species department
of NJ Fish and Wildlife service. Please follow the law! NJ is one of the last states in the North East
that still allows us to keep these amazing creatures!
