Are Hognose Snakes Legal In Colorado
Many states don't consider most rear-fanged snakes to be venomous by their legal definitions. Also, according to this page on the State of Colorado website, it's legal to own up to four Western Hognose Snakes, provided you own twelve or fewer total restricted species animals. You are not allowed to own, gift, buy, sell or trade captive bred Heterodon nasicus (Western Plains Hognose) in the state of Colorado without a license.
**** ALERT **** We recently learned that as of July 2025 you are unable to legally own any Hognose snakes within Denver City/county? (unsure) limits. Legal non-mammals: You are legally allowed to own up to four of the following species: Plains spadefoot toad Woodhouse's toad Western chorus frog Painted turtle Sagebrush lizard Tree lizard Side. Western hognose snake Heterodon nasicus Such reptiles and amphibians and their progeny may only be disposed of by gift or as authorized by the Division of Wildlife.
hognose snake for sale colorado - Columbus Koonce
Hello! I currently live in Colorado and was planning to get a Hognose snakes in the near future. I just learned through a reddit post that there are some pretty specific laws about Hognose snakes, and after reading through a bunch of forums and seeing that almost all of them are 2+ years old I decided to read through the Colorado wildlife regulations myself. Did the legality recently change.
Venomous exotic snakes of the families Viperidae, Atractaspididae, Elapidae, and Colubridae, except for hognose snakes Genus Heterodon Exemptions include AZA institutuions, municipal zoos, research universities, or permitted circuses. Hello, So I have done extensive research on the laws in place here in Colorado on owning and breeding Western Hognose snakes. I'm hearing a bunch of mix stories and I'm sure I'll hear some mixed ones on here too.
Colorado Snakes Western Hognose (Heterodon nasicus) - Colorado Herping
I've even spoken with a Parks and Recreational License Officer about it and she didn't. The goal with this petition is to get Colorado Parks and Wildlife to adjust or change the laws pertaining this specific species of snake, so Colorado reptile shops and snake enthusiasts have the right to own, breed, and sell captive bred Western Hognose snakes. If you're a fan of reptiles and snakes, you can legally collect these native Colorado species to add to your collection.
Basically Colorado law says you cannot possess, sell, trade, or buy venomous snakes without proper zoological licenses. The law also says you can keep up to 6 native species of snakes on aggregate.
