Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a) A Herptile
Special Use Permit is required of any resident who commits to conducting at
least 6 educational programs per calendar years, for which he or she is seeking
to possess any venomous reptile or other special use herptile species,
including, but not limited to, any crocodilian, Komodo dragon or crocodile
monitor lizard, pursuant to Articles 10, 20 (Crocodilians) and 25 (Monitor
Lizards) of the Act, unless exempted under Section 110-5 of the Act. An
application for a Herptile Special Use Permit must file an application with the
Department on a form provided by the Department. Information items requested on
application forms will include, but are not limited to: name, address, phone
number, list of herptile species to be requested for that permit. These forms
may be submitted via email at DNR.HerpPermit@illinois.gov, or hardcopy
applications may be mailed to IDNR, Herptile Permits, One Natural Resources
Way, Springfield IL 62702. A period of 60 days should be allowed for the
Department to receive and approve permits. Unless otherwise exempted by the
Department, prior to any person obtaining a Herptile Special Use Permit, the
following criteria must be met:
1) Applicants
must be at least 18 years of age and complete all portions of the permit
application form. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
2) Each applicant must submit payment for
each application. The nonrefundable annual fee for a residential Herptile
Special Use Permit shall be $250 per permittee.
3) The requirements of Article 60 of the Act
(Herptile Special Use Requirements) must be met.
4) The venomous or special use herptile
species applied for must be included in the approved list in Section 10-20,
20-5 or 25-5 of the Act.
5) Unless
otherwise exempted, proof of the liability insurance or surety bond required by
Section 60-5 of the Act shall be provided and maintained during the term of the
permit.
b) In addition
to completing a permit application form provided by the Department, the
applicant must submit:
1) an outline of the
educational program to be presented. Every educational program shall include
information on the status of the special use herptiles being displayed or
utilized and an explanation of the legal acquisition of the
specimens;
2) a list of all similar
programs conducted by the applicant during the 2 years preceding the
application for a Herptile Special Use Permit, including estimates of the
number of persons attending each presentation;
3) a statement as to how the possession of
the specimens or products of special use herptiles by the applicant will
enhance the welfare of the species involved;
4) a description, including photographs, of
the facilities intended for use in holding the special use herptile species;
and
5) a verified statement that
any special use herptiles will be obtained legally.
c) A permit for special use herptiles may be
issued if the applicant meets the following criteria:
1) unless exempted (see Section
885.110(b)
), the credentials and required hours of experience of the applicant indicate
training and experience that will assure the applicant has the ability to
conduct the proposed programs;
2)
the program promotes the survival of the special use herptile species and its
natural habitat;
3) the program
promotes understanding of the ecological needs of natural populations of the
species;
4) the program promotes
understanding of the role of the special use herptile species in its natural
environment;
5) the applicable
nonrefundable fee has been submitted (see subsection (a)(2));
6) unless otherwise exempted, the permit
holder has obtained the amount of liability insurance applicable to the number
of special use herptiles (see Section 885.150(b)(3));
7) the facilities to be used to house special
use herptile species are shown to meet the standards defined in Section
885.160; and
8) a pre-inspection of
the proposed facilities has been conducted and the Department has approved the
facility.
d) Issuance,
modification or denial of a permit shall be at the sole discretion of the
Department. Permits may be denied for previous herptile-related violations of
the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act or 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1070
(Possession of Specimens or Products of Endangered or Threatened Species).
Other grounds for denial of permits include, but are not limited to:
interfering with or obstructing an ongoing investigation, illegal activity
involving any herptile-related violations, and misleading or false statements
made to the Department or any of its employees.
