This chart provides a link to each state agency responsible for enforcement of state endangered species laws. It also lists a summary of the criteria under the state statutes, the statutory citation, and a link to the US Fish & Wildlife Service's Threatened & Endangered Species System (TESS) database of listed species.
Purpose of the ESA Chart
The purpose of the chart below is to provide readers with a quick research guide for state endangered species acts. The chart is broken down columns that provide information regarding state agencies, listing criteria, prohibited acts, penalties, habitat protection, unique provisions, and the current number of endangered animal species. Each state abbreviation is a link to the state's endangered species laws (note that four states (AL, ND, WV, and WY do not have any related laws)). Another purpose of the chart is to allow a user to compare one state’s endangered species act to another. The chart is not an end all resource; it is designed to aim someone in the right direction. It is to be used with other aspects of the Animal Legal and Historical Center website including the Map of State Endangered Species Laws and the Topic Page for the Federal Endangered Species Act .
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State (Link to Law) |
Agency and Link |
List Criteria |
Illegal Acts |
Penalties |
Habitat Protection |
Unique Provisions |
Number of Animals Listed and link to USFWS TESS database |
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| AL |
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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99 listings
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AK |
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Destruction, drastic modification, severe curtailment of habitat; over-utilization for commercial or sporting purposes; disease or predation; other natural or man-made factors |
Harvest, capture, or propagated injures, imports, exports |
Misdemeanor |
16.20.185 - Land currently under jurisdiction |
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13 listings
AK species list
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AZ |
A native Arizona species wildlife whose population has been reduced due to any cause whatsoever to such levels that it is in imminent danger of elimination |
Penalties for illegally taking, wounding, killing, or possessing |
For each endangered species or trophy animal unlawfully taken results in $8000 fine |
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37 listings
AZ species list |
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AR |
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15-45-304 - Purchase of land for habitat |
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24 listings
AR species list |
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CA |
Resources Agency Department of Fish and Game
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Petition includes population trend, range, distribution, abundance, life history of a species, ability of a species to survive and reproduce |
Import, export, sell, purchase, take, possess |
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Cooperative programs under CA Fish & G 2086 |
Accidental take provision for farms and ranches (CA Fish & G 2087) |
130 listings
CA species list |
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CO |
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Population, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors, and other biological and ecological data |
Taking, possession, transportation, exportation, processing, sale or offering for sale, or shipment |
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The division shall establish such programs including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat |
33-2-105.5-105.7 |
18 listings
CO species list |
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CT |
Department of Environmental Protection
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Destruction or modification, of habitat; over-utilization; disease, predation or competition; the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; other man-made or natural factors |
Take, sell, offer for sale, transport, export |
Violation of act fined not more than $1000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both |
The commissioner may acquire for and on behalf of the state, essential habitat, or interests therein |
An employer who encourages employees to take endangered species can be fined not more than $10000 or imprisoned not more than 1 year or both |
18 listings
CT species list |
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DE |
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Import, transport, possess, sell, offer for sale |
Class A Environmental Misdemeanor |
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7 Del. C.s 602 sale of skins, bodies of certain animals (i.e., polar bear, leopard, red wolf, etc.) prohibited |
17 listings
DE species list |
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FL |
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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Modification, or loss of habitat; over-utilization for commercial, educational or sporting purposes; disease; predation; inadequate regulatory mechanisms; or other natural or man-made factors |
Intentionally kill or wound or intentionally destroy eggs or nest of listed fish or wildlife |
Felony of the 3rd degree; |
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Endangered and threatened |
59 listings
FL species list |
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GA |
Department of Natural Resources
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Based on department inventory of species found to be rare, unusual or in danger of extinction |
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Misdemeanor |
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49 listings
GA species list |
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HI |
Department of Land & Natural Resources - Division of Forestry and Wildlife
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Destruction, modification,or curtailment of habitat; |
Sell, take, offer for sale, deliver, carry, ship, transport or export |
Misdemeanor: 1st offense: fine of $250/up to 1 year imprisonment
2nd offense or subsequent offense w/in 5 years $500/up to 1 year imprisonment
Also, fines of $5000 - 10,000 where acts are intentional or reckless |
HI ST 195D-21 - Habitat Conservation Plans |
Landowner incentive program ( HI ST 195D-23) |
71 listings
HI species list |
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ID |
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36-2402-2405 |
18 listings
ID species list |
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IL |
Department of Natural Resources; Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board
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Destruction, diminution or disturbance of habitat; over-exploitation; predation, pollution or disease; or other manmade or natural factors |
Take, transport, possess, sell, offer for sale, give, or otherwise dispose of ; deliver, receive, carry, transport or ship |
Class A misdemeanor |
IL ST CH 520 10/11 - Acquisition of essential habitat as part of Conservation Program |
Forfeiture of any goods from endangered species subject to seizure (IL ST CH 520 10/8) |
27 listings
IL species list |
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IN |
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Destruction, drastic modification, severe curtailment of habitat; over-utilization for commercial or sporting purposes; disease, pollution, or predation; other man-made or natural factors |
Take, possess, export/import, transport, use, sell or offer to sell, process, or ship |
Class A misdemeanor |
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IC 14-22-34-16 removal, capture or destruction of endangered species upon good cause to alleviate damage to property or protect human life |
27 listings
IN species list |
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IA |
Department of Natural Resources
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Population, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors, and other biological and ecological data |
Take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell or offer to sell, buy or offer to buy, or transport |
Simple misdemeanor |
IA ST 481B.4 - Acquisition of habitat |
Endangered species may be removed or destroyed if a danger to human life or to reduce damage to property (IA ST 481B.8) |
14 listings
IA species list |
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KS |
Department of Wildlife and Parks
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Present or threatened destruction, modification or disturbance of habitat; over-utilization; predation; disease; or other manmade or natural factors |
Export, possess, sell, process, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport or ship |
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The secretary shall establish such programs, including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat |
Threatened or endangered species may be captured or destroyed without a permit by any person in an emergency situation involving an immediate and demonstrable threat to human life. |
13 listings
KS species list |
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KY |
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
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Import, transport, possess, sell, process, offer for sale |
Fine of $100 - $500 and imprisonment of not more than 6 mo. or both |
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33 listings
KY species list |
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LA |
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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Destruction, modification or curtailment of its habitat or range; overutilization; disease or predation; the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or other natural or man-made factors |
Taking, possessing, transporting, exporting, processing, selling or offering for sale |
Class six violation |
The commission may establish such programs, including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat |
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26 listings
LA species list |
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ME |
Dept. of Inland Fishiers and Wildlife |
Destruction, modification, curtailment of habitat; over-utilization for commercial, sporting or educational use; disease or predation; inadequacy of regulatory mechanisms; other man-made or natural factors affecting existence |
Import, export, hunt, take, trap, possess, possess, sell, offer to sell, deliver, carry, transport, ship, feed, set bait, harass, |
Class D or E crime depending on activity and whether done negligently or intentionally |
The commissioner may establish programs as are necessary including the acquisition of land or aquatic habitat |
In the event of a violation of this subchapter, the Attorney General may institute injunctive proceedings to enjoin any further violation |
13 listings
ME species list |
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MD |
Department of Natural Resources
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Destruction, modification, curtailment of habitat; over-utilization for commercial, sporting or educational use; disease or predation; inadequacy of regulatory mechanisms; other man-made or natural factors affecting existence |
Take, transport, export, process, sell, offer for sale, or ship |
Violation of act is a fine of not more than $1000 or imprisonment of not more than 1 year or both |
The Secretary shall establish programs, including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat |
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21 listings
MD species list |
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MA |
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
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The current and foreseeable threats to the population or its habitat; the size of the population; the potential benefits of designation; and current and foreseeable uses of the land. |
Take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale, buy or offer to buy |
Taking/possession: fine not less than $500 dollars, or imprisonment for not more than 90 days or both; 2nd offense fined not less than $5000 and not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for 180 days or both |
The director shall designate significant habitats of endangered or threatened species populations |
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22 listings MA species list |
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MI |
Department of Natural Resources
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Population, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors, other biological and ecological data |
Take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell, offer for sale, buy, offer to buy, receive |
Misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment not more than 90 days, fine not more than $1000 or less than $100, or both |
The department may establish programs, including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat |
Carnivorous animals found on the state list may be removed, captured, or destroyed in emergency situations involving an immediate threat to human life |
15 listings MI species list |
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| MN |
Department of Natural Resources
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Take, import, transport, or sell, or sell or possess with intent to sell an article made from the parts of a wild animal |
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MN ST 84.944 - Acquisition of critical habitat |
MN ST 97A.245 - Reward for information leading to conviction for endangered species offense. |
11 listings
MN species list |
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MS |
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (list only - pdf file)
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Destruction or modification of habitat; over-utilization; disease, pollution, or predation; or other natural or man-made factors |
Take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale or ship, and for any common or contract carrier knowingly to transport or receive for shipment |
Fined $1000 or imprisoned not more than one year or both |
MS ST 49-5-111 Habitat acquisition |
Equipment, merchandise, wildlife, or records seized shall be held pending disposition of court proceedings, and may be forfeited to the state |
38 listings
MS species list |
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MO |
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Importing, transporting, selling, or possession of animals or plants |
Class B Misdemeanor |
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20 listings
MO species list |
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MT |
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Destruction/ drastic modification, of habitat; overutilization; disease, pollution, or predation; other natural or artificial factors |
Take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale or ship. |
Violation is a misdemeanor: |
87-5-108 |
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11 listings
MT species list |
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NE |
Nongame and Endangered Species Program
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Destruction, modification, severe curtailment of habitat; over-utilization; disease or predation; other man-made or natural factors |
Take, possess, process, sell or offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport, ship, or export |
Class I misdemeanor |
NE ST 37-807 - The commission shall establish such programs, including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat or interests therein |
The Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act shall not be construed to apply retroactively to or prohibit importation into this state of wildlife or wild plants which may be lawfully imported into the United States or lawfully taken and removed from another state |
12 listings
NE species list |
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NV |
Department of Natural Resources
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Overexploitation, disease or other factors or its habitat is threatened with destruction, drastic modification or severe curtailment |
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NV ST 503.586 - Translocation or destruction of endangered species found to be destructive |
28 listings
NV species list |
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NH |
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Destruction, modification or curtailment of its habitat or range; overutilization; disease or predation; other natural or man-made factors. However, no species shall be determined as endangered or threatened based solely on rarity of the species |
Export, process, take, possess, deliver, carry, transport, ship, sell or offer to sell |
Misdemeanor |
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Seizure and forfeiture of wildlife, equipment, records or merchandise seized in enforcement of this act |
11 listings
NH species list |
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NJ |
Department of Environmental Protection
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Destruction, drastic modification, severe curtailment of habitat; over-utilization for commercial or sporting purposes; disease or predation; other man-made or natural factors |
Take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale, or ship, and no common or contract carrier shall knowingly transport or receive for shipment |
23:2A-10 amended in 2008 - provides an extensive civil and criminal penalty scheme (max. $25,000 per day civil administrative penalty) |
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Department may institute a civil action for an injunction |
19 listings
NJ species list |
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NM |
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Destruction, drastic modification, severe curtailment of habitat; over-utilization for commercial or sporting purposes; disease or predation; other man-made or natural factors |
Take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale or ship |
Misdemeanor, fined one $1000 or imprisoned for not less than 30 days nor more than one year or both |
17-2-42 - The director shall establish such programs, including programs for research and the acquisition of land or aquatic habitat |
17-2-46 -Conservation officers under the direction of the director may establish checking stations at points along established roads as needed. |
32 listings
NM species list |
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NY |
Dept. of Environmental Conservation |
Species seriously threatened with extinction; species on federal ESA list |
Take, import, possess, transport, sell |
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23 Listings
NY Species List |
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NC |
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Whether any other state or federal agency or private entity is taking steps to protect the species; destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat; over-utilization; disease, predation, or other mortality factors; whether alternative regulatory mechanisms exist; and the existence of other man-made factors |
Take, possess, transport, sell, barter, trade, exchange, export, or offer for sale, barter, trade, exchange or export, or give away for any purpose |
Class 1 misdemeanor |
The Advisory Committee may recommend critical habitat areas for protection or acquisition |
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36 listings
NC species list |
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| ND |
Fish and Game Department |
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8 listings
ND Species List |
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OH |
Department of Natural Resources
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Taking or possession of native wildlife, or any eggs or offspring |
Misdemeanor of the 1st degree |
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24 listings
OH species list |
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OK |
Department of Wildlife Conservation
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Possess, hunt, chase, harass, capture, shoot at, wound, kill, or attempt to take, trap |
Violators shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1000 or jailed not more than 30 days or both |
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18 listings
OK species list |
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OR |
Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Division
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The natural reproductive potential is in danger due to limited population numbers, disease, predation or other natural or human actions; most populations have imminent/active deterioration of their range or primary habitat; over-utilization; existing state or federal programs inadequate to protect the species or habitat |
Take, import, export, transport, purchase or sell, or attempt to take, import, export, transport, purchase or sell |
Class A misdemeanor |
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42 listings
OR species list |
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PA |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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Possess, transport, capture or kill, or attempt, aid, abet or conspire to capture or kill; buy, sell, barter or exchange, or to offer for sale or barter, or to have in possession for sale or barter, or to aid, abet or conspire in the possession, sale, barter or exchange, or to give away |
Misdemeanor of the 3rd or 2nd degree and replacement costs |
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18 listings
PA species list |
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RI |
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
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Buy, sell, offer for sale, store, transport, import, export, or otherwise traffic |
Violator of this act shall be fined no less than $500 nor more than $1000 or imprisoned for no more than 1 year or both |
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20-37-4 - forfeiture provision |
15 Listings
RI species list |
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SC |
Department of Natural Resources
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Destruction, drastic modification, severe curtailment of habitat; over-utilization for commercial or sporting purposes; disease or predation; other man-made or natural factors |
Take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale or ship |
Misdemeanor: fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both and is ordered to pay restitution (2008 amend.) |
The department shall promulgate regulations addressing criteria for designating land as certified management area for endangered species |
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23 listings
SC species list |
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SD |
Department of Game, Fish and Parks
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Population, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors, and other biological and ecological data |
Take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell or offer for sale, buy or offer to buy, nor may a common or contract carrier transport or receive for shipment |
Class 2 misdemeanor |
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34A-8-13 Legislative Approval for reintroduction of species |
10 listings
SD species list |
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TN |
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Destruction, drastic modification, severe curtailment of habitat; over-utilization for commercial or sporting purposes; disease or predation; other man-made or natural factors |
Take, attempt to take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale or ship |
Class B misdemeanor |
The executive director shall establish such programs, including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat |
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69 listings
TN species list |
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TX |
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Destruction, drastic modification, or severe curtailment of its habitat; its overutilization for commercial or sporting purposes; disease or predation; or other natural or man-made factors. |
Capture, trap, take, or kill, or attempt to capture, trap, take, or kill
possess, sell, distribute, or offer or advertise for sale |
1st offense class C Misdemeanor; |
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Three or more persons may petition the department to add or delete species of fish or wildlife from the statewide extinction list. |
65 listings
TX species list |
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UT |
State of Utah Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources
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Take or permit his dog to take: - possess unaccompanied by a valid license, etc. |
Class B misdemeanor |
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18 listings
UT species list |
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VT |
Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Destruction, drastic modification, or severe curtailment of its habitat; its overutilization for commercial or sporting purposes; disease or predation; or other natural or man-made factors. |
Take, possess,or transport |
Fined not more than $1000 for the 1st offense and for subsequent offenses not less than $500 nor not more than $1000 |
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Seizure of species and transfer to a zoological, botanical, educational or scientific institutions |
8 listings
VT species list |
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VA |
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
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Taking, transportation, possession, sale, or offer for sale |
Class 1 misdemeanor |
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51 listings
VA species list |
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WA |
Department of Natural Resources
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Hunts, fishes, possesses, maliciously harasses or kills, maliciously destroys the nests or eggs |
1st violation is 2nd degree gross misdemeanor; 2nd violation is a class C felony if occurs within five years of the date of the prior conviction. |
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If convicted of class C felony, the department shall revoke any licenses or tags used in connection with the crime and order the person's privileges to hunt, fish, trap, or obtain licenses under this title to be suspended for two years. |
WA species list |
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| WV |
Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources
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17 listings
WV species list |
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WI |
Department of Natural Resources
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Wild Animals facing extirpation based upon the best scientific and commercial data available |
Take, transport, possess, process or sell |
Violation for wild animals fined not less than $500 nor more than $2000;
Intentional violation , fined not less $2000 nor more than $5000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both. |
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The court shall order the revocation of all hunting approvals issued to the person under this chapter and shall prohibit the issuance of any new hunting approvals under this chapter for one year (if intentional violation, 3 year revocation) |
11 listings
WI species list |
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| WY |
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15 listings
WY species list |