The Lacey Act (pdf) is a law that dates back to 1900 and is one of the oldest wildlife-related laws on the books. Under the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42), the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to regulate the importation and transport of species, including offspring and eggs, determined to be injurious to the health and welfare of humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife resources of the U.S.  Wild mammals, wild birds, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, and reptiles are the only organisms that can be added to the injurious wildlife list. 

Species listed as injurious may not be imported or transported between States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the U.S. by any means without a permit issued by the Service. Permits may be granted for the importation or transportation of live specimens of injurious wildlife and their offspring or eggs for bona fide scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes.

An injurious wildlife listing would not prohibit intrastate transport or possession of that species within a State, where those activities are not prohibited by the State. 

• Current list of Injurious Wildlife Species
• Species evaluations on the web:
  
  • Constrictor Snakes
  • Black carp
  • Silver and Largescale silver carp
  • Boiga snakes
  • Bighead carp
• General injurious wildlife evaluation process (pdf)
• For import information, please visit the Service’s Law Enforcement page.
• For permit information, visit the Service’s Division of Management Authority page.
• Fact Sheet: Injurious Wildlife - A Summary of the Injurious Provisions of the Lacey Act (2MB pdf)

Invasive Species Prevention: Keeping Risky Aquatic Species Out of the United States The Service’s Fisheries and Habitat Conservation program is working with the industries that trade in live, nonnative species and with the States (through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies) on voluntary ways that they can help to prevent importation without affecting their commerce.  Read more . . .   Photo: John Casselman

Injurious Wildlife Species Evaluations available on the Web: