Minnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
Minnesota Administrative Rules
CHAPTER 6256, FROGS AND TURTLES
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
| Part | Title |
|---|---|
| FROGS | |
| 6256.0050 | DEFINITION OF FROGS. |
| 6256.0100 | ALLOWED TIMES FOR TAKING FROGS. |
| 6256.0200 | SIZE LIMITS FOR LEOPARD FROGS AND BULL FROGS. |
| 6256.0300 | PERMITS FOR IMPORTING FROGS. |
| 6256.0400 | REPORTS, RECORDS, AND INSPECTIONS TO TAKE FROGS FOR NONBAIT. |
| TURTLES | |
| 6256.0500 | TAKING TURTLES. |
| 6256.0600 | CLOSED TURTLE SEASONS. |
| 6256.0900 | TURTLE PROPAGATION. |
FROGS
6256.0050 DEFINITION OF FROGS.
"Frogs" means the following species:
Statutory Authority:
MS s 97C.601
History:
23 SR 348
Published Electronically:
June 11, 2008
6256.0100 ALLOWED TIMES FOR TAKING FROGS.
Frogs may only be taken between sunrise and sunset, except as otherwise permitted.
Statutory Authority:
MS s 97C.601; and others at 19 SR 6
History:
19 SR 484
Published Electronically:
June 11, 2008
6256.0200 SIZE LIMITS FOR LEOPARD FROGS AND BULL FROGS.
Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) and bull frogs (Rana catesbeiana) must be more than six inches long when taken or possessed for purposes other than bait.
Statutory Authority:
MS s 97C.601; and others at 19 SR 6
History:
19 SR 484; 23 SR 348
Published Electronically:
June 11, 2008
6256.0300 PERMITS FOR IMPORTING FROGS.
Live frogs may not be imported for purposes other than bait, unless authorized by a specific permit issued by the commissioner.
Statutory Authority:
MS s 97C.601; and others at 19 SR 6
History:
19 SR 484
Published Electronically:
June 11, 2008
6256.0400 REPORTS, RECORDS, AND INSPECTIONS TO TAKE FROGS FOR NONBAIT.
All licensees and permittees who have taken frogs for purposes other than bait must report activities of the previous license year, on forms provided by the commissioner, before relicensing.
All licensees and permittees who take or possess frogs for purposes other than bait must keep a record book that includes the number or weight of each species of frog acquired by taking or purchase and sold, the name and address of each purchaser and seller, and the date of each transaction. These records must be kept current within 48 hours of a transaction.
Statutory Authority:
MS s 97C.601; and others at 19 SR 6
History:
19 SR 484
Published Electronically:
June 11, 2008
TURTLES
6256.0500 TAKING TURTLES.
Subpart 1.
Scope.
This part applies to individuals possessing a turtle seller's, turtle seller's apprentice, or recreational turtle license or an angling license. The following turtle species may be taken: western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii), snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), and spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera). A person possessing or selling turtles or turtle eggs under this part must also comply with other state and federal laws that regulate these activities.
Subp. 9.
Size limits.
A turtle seller, turtle seller's apprentice, or recreational turtle licensee or a person harvesting turtles under an angling license is restricted to taking and possessing sizes of turtles as specified in items A to C. The turtle size is determined by measuring the top shell length (carapace, not including the curvature) from above the neck to above the tail.
Subp. 10.
Turtle nests and eggs.
A.
A person may not collect turtle eggs from natural nests, except under a permit issued by the commissioner.
B.
A person with a turtle seller's license may not possess or sell turtle eggs, except as provided in item C. A person must have an aquatic farm license with a turtle endorsement or a private fish hatchery license with a turtle endorsement to possess or sell turtle eggs, as allowed by federal law, or to keep turtles for propagation.
C.
A person with a turtle seller's license may take the eggs from legally harvested gravid turtles and must place the eggs back into man-made nests in the wild within 48 hours of taking the eggs.
Statutory Authority:
MS s 97C.605
History:
18 SR 83; 23 SR 348; 28 SR 629; 28 SR 1127; 32 SR 1039
Published Electronically:
November 30, 2023
6256.0600 CLOSED TURTLE SEASONS.
Subpart 1.
Snapping turtles.
A person may not take snapping turtles during the months of May and June, including persons harvesting turtles for personal use under an angling or recreational turtle license and persons harvesting turtles under a commercial netting, turtle seller's, turtle seller's apprentice, aquatic farm, or private fish hatchery license.
Subp. 2.
Spiny softshells.
A person shall not take spiny softshells from June 1 to July 15, including persons harvesting turtles for personal use under an angling or recreational turtle license and persons harvesting turtles under a commercial netting, turtle seller's, turtle seller's apprentice, aquatic farm, or private fish hatchery license.
History:
22 SR 292; 28 SR 629
Published Electronically:
June 11, 2008
6256.0900 TURTLE PROPAGATION.
Subpart 1.
Licensee with turtle endorsement.
A person with an aquatic farm license with a turtle endorsement or a private fish hatchery license with a turtle endorsement shall sell, obtain, possess, transport, and propagate turtles and turtle eggs according to subparts 2 to 9.
Subp. 2.
Turtle endorsement application.
A licensee who is requesting a turtle endorsement must submit an application, on forms provided by the commissioner, to the address on the form. An application must include the species of turtle, location of rearing and incubation facilities, and site diagram with turtle containment descriptions. The commissioner shall send applications for a turtle endorsement to other state and federal agencies that regulate turtles for review.
Subp. 3.
Application of other law.
A person propagating turtles under this part must meet the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, sections 17.46 to 17.4999, and other state and federal laws that regulate the possession, processing, and sale of turtles and turtle eggs.
Subp. 4.
Out-of-state sources.
Turtles and turtle eggs may not be obtained outside of the state unless the commissioner approves the species and source. The commissioner may apply more stringent requirements to turtles and eggs or sources of turtles and eggs from outside the state than are applied to turtles and eggs and sources of turtles and eggs from within the state to protect Minnesota's natural resources.
Subp. 5.
Acquisition of brood stock.
A licensee shall apply for a permit to harvest adult turtles from the wild for brood stock. The commissioner shall issue a permit to the licensee to take from the wild, by use of commercial gear, up to 40 turtles of each species requested if:
C.
the commissioner determines that wild populations of the requested species can sustain the harvest; and
D.
a permit to harvest turtle brood stock from the wild has not been issued to the licensee for the species requested in the last three years.
Game and fish laws and rules relating to daily limits, seasons, and methods apply to the taking of turtles pursuant to a permit issued under this subpart.
Subp. 6.
Containment.
The turtle propagation facility must be an artificial pond, or other artificial containment structure, that has a system to prevent the escape of turtles into the wild. The commissioner shall conduct an inspection of the facility prior to licensing to determine compliance with this subpart.
Subp. 7.
Disposal.
Disposal of live turtles, turtle offspring, viable eggs, carcasses, and eggs that did not hatch must be in compliance with other state and federal laws that regulate such disposal.
Statutory Authority:
MS s 17.4997
History:
28 SR 629
Published Electronically:
June 11, 2008
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Revisor of Statutes