Minnesota Administrative Rules

CHAPTER 6256, FROGS AND TURTLES

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

FROGS

6256.0050 DEFINITION OF FROGS.

"Frogs" means the following species:

A.

northern cricket frog (Acris crepitans);

B.

Cope's gray tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis);

C.

gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor);

D.

spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer);

E.

chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata);

F.

bull frog (Rana catesbeiana);

G.

green frog (Rana clamitans);

H.

pickerel frog (Rana palustris);

I.

northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens);

J.

mink frog (Rana septentrionalis);

K.

wood frog (Rana sylvatica);

L.

American toad (Bufo americanus);

M.

great plains toad (Bufo cognatus);

N.

Canadian toad (Bufo hemiophrys);

O.

plains leopard frog (Rana blain);

P.

southern leopard frog (Rana utricularia);

Q.

pig frog (Rana grylio); and

R.

river frog (Rana becksheri).

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 recreational turtle license and an angling license or acting under Minnesota Statutes, section 97C.605, subdivision 2c, paragraph (a), clause (4). The following turtle species may be taken: western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). A person possessing turtles or turtle eggs under this part must also comply with other state and federal laws that regulate these activities.

Subp. 2.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 2a.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 2b.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 3.

[Repealed, 28 SR 629]

Subp. 4.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 5.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 6.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 7.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 8.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 9.

Size limits.

Individuals are restricted to taking and possessing sizes of turtles as specified in items A and B. The turtle size is determined by measuring the top shell length (carapace, not including the curvature) from above the neck to above the tail.

A.

Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) must be greater than 12 inches in shell length.

B.

Western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) must be between four and 5-1/2 inches, inclusive, in shell length.

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 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.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97C.605

History:

18 SR 83; 23 SR 348; 28 SR 629; 28 SR 1127; 32 SR 1039; 48 SR 1143

Published Electronically:

July 24, 2024

6256.0600 CLOSED TURTLE SEASONS.

Subpart 1.

Snapping turtles.

A person may not take snapping turtles during the months of May and June.

Subp. 2.

[Repealed, 48 SR 1143]

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97A.045; 97C.605

History:

22 SR 292; 28 SR 629; 48 SR 1143

Published Electronically:

July 24, 2024

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 up to 40 turtles of each species requested if:

A.

the turtles or gravid turtles are not available for purchase;

B.

the commissioner determines that wild populations of the requested species can sustain the harvest; and

C.

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.

Subp. 8.

Inspection and enforcement.

Inspection of the facility and enforcement of this part shall be conducted according to Minnesota Statutes, section 17.4984, subdivision 6.

Subp. 9.

Record keeping.

Record keeping for the propagation of turtles must comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 17.4984, subdivision 7.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 17.4997; 97C.605

History:

28 SR 629; 48 SR 1143

Published Electronically:

July 24, 2024