Colorado River Emergency Closure
Effective immediately, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has issued an emergency closure for all public access and downstream recreation on the Colorado River starting at James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita and extending to the Utah state line. This closure is necessary for firefighter and public safety due to the Snyder Fire currently burning in McInnis Canyon. Learn more.
Ornate tree lizard at Lathrop State Park
Living with Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) stance on owning wildlife is informed by conservation, with the goal of maintaining Colorado’s unique ecosystem and protecting native animals.
Colorado wildlife law generally prohibits the importation, live possession, sale, barter, trade, or purchase of any species of wildlife native to Colorado (33-6-109, 33-6-113, 33-6-114 C.R.S.). In addition, these same laws restrict or prohibit the importation and possession of exotic (non-native) wildlife (33-6-109(4), C.R.S.); and noncommercial (pet) possession of regulated mammals has been prohibited by CPW regulations since 1983.
In Colorado, you can NOT remove an animal from the wild with the following exceptions with licensing. CPW offers the following licensing that allow wild-caught wildlife to be held in live possession:
On July 1, 2026, a new law that targets wildlife trafficking takes effect in Colorado. This law implements Senate Bill 25-168, making it illegal to knowingly possess, sell, transport, import, or export illegally obtained wildlife for monetary gain. This applies whether the person knew or should have known the wildlife was obtained illegally. The law covers not only native Colorado wildlife but also wildlife species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The law substantially enhances the penalties under existing statutes for wildlife trafficking crimes. It also requires Colorado Parks and Wildlife to actively investigate commonly trafficked wildlife to improve targeted law enforcement efforts. Additionally, the law grants the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission the authority to suspend wildlife licenses held by those convicted of a wildlife trafficking violation.
The species covered by CITES are listed in three appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.
Annually, the international wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars, involving hundreds of millions of plant and animal specimens. Products from this trade include food items, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, medicines, and novelty items for tourists. Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species are high. The trade in these species, together with other factors such as habitat loss, can heavily deplete populations and even bring some species close to extinction.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. CITES aims to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants is legal, sustainable, traceable, and does not threaten the survival of species in the wild.
CITES regulates international trade in wild animal and plant specimens based on a system of permits and certificates. It covers export, re-export, import, and landing from the high seas of live and dead animals, plants, and their parts and derivatives, including any processed products. Many species in the trade are not endangered, but this agreement to ensure the trade's sustainability will safeguard these resources into the future.
You can get the license on CPW Shop (under Go Hunting & Fishing, Resident Herpetofauna)
Purchase a licenseLearn more about license requirements and species you can collect.
Learn moreSome animals sold commercially are considered domestic species or exotic wildlife. CPW has created several categories of animals and wildlife that you may own, import, propagate, or sell without a CPW license. These include:
For the purposes of CPW regulations, “Tropic/Subtropic Region” is defined as the region between 26.0 degrees north latitude and 26.0 degrees south latitude.
Any species of wildlife that is not specifically listed in Chapter W-11 as Domestic or Unregulated or in Chapter W-07 as Appendix A or Appendix B, the species is regulated wildlife and a CPW license is required. CPW will not issue a license for private possession (eg pet) of regulated wildlife. For commercial purposes, CPW offers licensing for Zoological Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Commercial Wildlife Parks.
Live animals may never be released into the wild. Introducing live animals into the Colorado ecosystem can have devastating consequences. Exception: Release of privately owned game birds (limited to Gambel’s, Scaled or Bobwhite Quail, Ring-neck pheasant, Grey Partridge, Chukar, or Mallard Duck. Restrictions apply – see CPW Regulation Chapter W-00, #009.
You do not need a license from CPW to own any of the animals on the domestic list or unregulated species list. Please contact your city/county to see if the animal is allowed where you live. These animals must comply with regulations of the state agriculture and health departments that deal with public and animal health.
From CPW Regulation Chapter W-11, #1103, A – Domestic List:
From CPW Regulation Chapter W-11, #1103, B – Unregulated Wildlife:
CPW Regulation Chapter W-00, #008 has a list of prohibited species.
This is a list of species that have been researched to determine if it is Domestic, Unregulated, Regulated, or Prohibited.
If you are inquiring about a specific species and you do not see it on the list, please email your inquiry with common and scientific name to [email protected].
You do not need a license from CPW to own any of the animals on the domestic list or unregulated species list. Please contact your city/county to see if the animal is allowed where you live. These animals must comply with regulations of the state agriculture and health departments that deal with public and animal health.
From CPW Regulation Chapter W-11, #1103, B:
This is a list of species that have been researched to determine if it is Domestic, Unregulated, Regulated, or Prohibited.
If you are inquiring about a specific species and you do not see it on the list, please email your inquiry with common and scientific name to [email protected].
You do not need a license from CPW to own any of the animals on the domestic list or unregulated species list. Please contact your city/county to see if the animal is allowed where you live. These animals must comply with regulations of the state agriculture and health departments that deal with public and animal health.
From CPW Regulation Chapter W-11, #1103, A:
From CPW Regulation Chapter W-11, #1103, B:
CPW Regulation Chapter W-00, #008 has a list of prohibited species.
This is a list of species that have been researched to determine if it is Domestic, Unregulated, Regulated, or Prohibited.
If you are inquiring about a specific species and you do not see it on the list, please email your inquiry with common and scientific name to [email protected].
You do not need a license from CPW to own any of the animals on the Appendix A or Appendix B list. Please contact your city or county where you live to see if local regulations apply for the animal. These animals must comply with regulations of the state agriculture and health departments that deal with public and animal health.
Appendix A species may be possessed, propagated (bred), sold, purchased or transported without a license or documentation.
To keep any Appendix B species, you do not need a license, but you must keep proper documentation of each individual animal. Documentation can be the form of a receipt or bill of sale, a donation certificate, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (used for importation), or reasonable evidence that the animal was captive bred (such as good photographs):
Invasive species are species that are released and become established outside of their native range. Colorado’s cold winters help keep many non-native species, such as those from the tropics, from establishing. However, Colorado has already seen bullfrogs (native to the eastern U.S.) and red-eared sliders (turtles native to the southeastern U.S.) establish statewide.
A person may possess, transport or export, but not propagate nor import, a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) taken from the wild in Colorado. Once you take a red-eared slider from the wild, you may not release it.
Colorado’s Herpetofauna Regulations allow for unlimited collection of bullfrogs and red-eared sliders from the wild. Bullfrogs may not be kept alive, but red-eared sliders can. You may not release or propagate either these species.
Help us prevent establishment of invasive species by rehoming all captive herps responsibly.
This is a list of species that have been researched to determine if it is Domestic, Unregulated, Regulated, or Prohibited.
If you are inquiring about a specific species and you do not see it on the list, please email your inquiry with common and scientific name to [email protected].
Tiger Salamander in grass
Herpetofauna refers to all amphibians and reptiles, sometimes called “herps.” Colorado is home to 77 species of native herpetofauna (18 amphibians and 59 reptiles). All herps in Colorado are:
You may temporarily possess (hold) any wild herpetofauna in Colorado for the purpose of identification or photography, while following the guidelines and exceptions below:
Colorado residents may collect species listed in Appendix C from the wild after passing an education course and purchasing a Resident Herpetofauna Collection and Possession License. Please contact your city or county to ensure the animal is permitted where you live. These animals must comply with regulations of state agriculture and health departments that handle public and animal health.
You can get the license on CPW Shop (under Go Hunting & Fishing, Resident Herpetofauna)
Purchase a licenseYou may capture and transport these species within Colorado with a valid Resident Herpetofauna Collection and Possession License. License holders may collect from 4 individuals/year (4 individuals of 1 species, 1 individual each of 4 different species) or 12 total (3 individuals of 4 different species; 12 individuals of same species collected over 3 years; 12 individuals of 12 different species collected over 3 years).
This is a list of species that have been researched to determine if it is Domestic, Unregulated, Regulated, or Prohibited.
If you are inquiring about a specific species and you do not see it on the list, please email your inquiry with common and scientific name to [email protected].
If the license holder can no longer care for the animal, native species from Appendix C can be rehomed to a person with a valid Resident Herpetofauna Collection and Possession license or to an approved facility. Intentional propagation is not allowed. Progeny refers to individuals that were collected from the wild while pregnant.
Person to Person: The original license holder should submit a report that confirms they are relinquishing the animal. The new license holder (recipient) needs to report the animal so that the transfer can be tracked.
Approved Facility: An approved facility is a licensed animal shelter or pet animal rescue.
Herps can be found in every habitat in the state, from the eastern plains to the high mountain forests and western deserts. Many species have evolved specific adaptations to live in extreme environments. Wood frogs literally freeze solid when they hibernate but survive by raising their blood sugar, which keeps the insides of their cells from freezing. If a predator catches a tiger whiptail lizard by the tail, the lizard can “drop” its tail. The abandoned tail twitches and distracts the predator while the rest of the lizard escapes.
Habitat, such as rocks and logs, offer the specific temperature and moisture conditions many herps require to survive.
Collector disinfecting gear after handling herps
As global trade and interest in herps has grown, the risk of introducing and transmitting diseases has increased as well. Diseases can be introduced through the pet trade, when animals in captivity are released into the wild, or when animals in the wild are handled or moved.
People inadvertently facilitate spread of bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic pathogens to herps. Just a few examples include:
Learn the basics and importance of cleaning and disinfection for herps.
After handling herps:
Everything that comes in contact with herps or the water needs to be clean!
If you find evidence of disease in a herp population, you can contact the following resources.
The wildlife disease experts with the Herp Disease Alert System and U.S. Geological Survey work with state and federal natural resources agencies to investigate concerns or observations.
Make a reportIf you observe a large die-off of amphibians or reptiles, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife at: 303-297-1192 Or [email protected]
Share records on iNaturalist to help us learn! Researchers, herpetologists, and naturalists outside of CPW are encouraged to use this project to submit data to CPW for inclusion into the Reptile and Amphibian database, once the data has been verified.
Importing Wildlife
Despite other states allowing various species of wildlife for private possession, Colorado does not allow private possession of exotic animals/wildlife, unless specifically authorized by CPW regulation.
If any animal/wildlife is not specifically listed above as allowable without a license (Chapter W-11 either Dometic List or Unregulated Species list, or Chapter W-07 either Appendix A or Appendix B), that species is NOT allowed to be imported or possessed in Colorado.
Specifically, species such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and monkeys are specially prohibited for possession in Colorado. Even if another state allows private possession (with or without a license) that possession is not allowed in Colorado. This includes interstate transport/travel.
Import of any aquatic wildlife species or raptor into Colorado requires a CPW Importation license – available online.
