Section 885.50  Herptile Scientific Collection Permit Application

a)         Any person who wishes to do research on, take or salvage non-listed Illinois herptiles must obtain and possess a valid Herptile Scientific Collection Permit (HSCP) from the Department. The HSCP will permit, for strictly scientific purposes, the capture, marking, handling, banding or collection (including hide, skin, bones, teeth, claws, nest, eggs or young) of any of the herptiles not protected under federal law or the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act [520 ILCS 10], but now protected under the Herptiles-Herps Act.  Any collections made must be for permanent donation to bonafide public or state scientific, educational or zoological institutions.  There is no fee for this permit.  Any person who is under the direct control of the applicant, or who is employed by or under control of the applicant and will be assisting with the activities authorized under a HSCP must be listed in the permit application.

b)         To be eligible for an HSCP for scientific research or salvage, the applicant must:

1)         be at least 18 years of age;

2)         be engaged in scientific research, which may include, but is not necessarily limited to, research sponsored by universities, colleges or scientific institutions; and

3)         have public or state scientific, educational or zoological institutions available that will take any voucher herptiles that are collected.

c)         To be eligible for an HSCP for salvage and subsequent rehabilitation of injured herptiles, the applicant must:

1)         be at least 18 years of age;

2)         have held a salvage permit from the previous year or submit a reference statement from a licensed veterinarian, zoological curator, conservation police officer or an DNR wildlife resources, natural heritage or fisheries biologist, as appropriate, stating that the applicant has experience in treating and handling wild herptiles and has facilities available to treat, care for and produce self-dependent herptiles for release to the wild; and

3)         have public or state scientific, educational or zoological institutions available that will take voucher and/or permanently disabled herptiles. 

d)         Application for an HSCP can be found on the Departments website (www.dnr.illinois.gov) and shall be made on forms 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.

e)         HSCPs will be issued by the Department provided the applicant has met the eligibility requirements of this Section and the application form has been completed.

f)         Collecting on Department-owned, -managed and -leased properties, including but not limited to, collecting in State Parks or Conservation Areas, Nature Preserves or Land and Water Reserves may require additional permits, pursuant to Section 6 of the State Parks Act [20 ILCS 835], Section 23 of the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act [525 ILCS 30], and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 110.70, 4000.570, 4000.580 and 4010.260.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 10413, effective July 31, 2025)