List of Controlled Alien Species

The B.C. government is regulating possession of exotic animals that pose the greatest threat to health and safety. There are roughly 1,200 controlled alien species designated in B.C.

This list is for convenience of reference only. Review the Controlled Alien Species Regulation for the official list of legislated controlled alien species.

• All Controlled Alien Species (PDF)
• Prohibited Amphibians (PDF)
• Prohibited Aquatic Invasive Species
• Prohibited Birds (PDF)
• Prohibited Mammals (PDF)
• Prohibited Reptiles (PDF)
• Restricted Reptiles (PDF)

Subspecies

All subspecies within the species listed in the Controlled Alien Species Regulation are also considered to be controlled alien species. For example, the following animals are controlled:

• Dwarf reticulated python, a subspecies of reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
• Burmese python, a subspecies of Indian python (Python molurus)
• Dingo, a subspecies of grey wolf (Canis lupus)

Hybrids

Hybrid animals and fish are considered to be controlled alien species if they have an ancestor within four generations that is also designated as such in the Controlled Alien Species Regulation.

Fish

As of December 18, 2012, the possession, breeding, shipping and release of listed live fish species under Schedule 3 of the Controlled Alien Species Regulation became prohibited in B.C.

The B.C. government provided a six-month amnesty period from January 9, 2017 to July 9, 2017 to help people come into compliance with this change. The amnesty period has now ended.

Reptiles

Not all species of reptiles are on the controlled alien species list.

In 2009, changes to the Controlled Alien Species Regulation were made to address certain species in the Boidae (boa) and Pythonidae (python) family of snakes. In 2012, changes were made to address certain species in the Varanidae (monitor) family of lizards.

Prohibited Reptiles

“Prohibited” controlled alien species cannot be bred, transported or possessed without a permit, nor can they be released under any circumstance.

The following species are considered prohibited under B.C. law:

• Prohibited Boidae
  • All species of anaconda (Eunectes spp.)
  • Cuban boa (Epicrates angulifer)
• Prohibited Pythonidae
  • Amethystine python (Morelia amethistina)
  • Boelen’s python (Morelia boeleni)
  • Seram scrub python (Morelia clastolepis)
  • Australian scrub python (Morelia kinghorni)
  • Oenpelli python (Morelia oenpelliensis)
  • Indian pythons (Python molurus)
  • Burmese Python (Python bivittatus)
  • Southern African rock python (Python natalensis)
  • Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
  • African rock python (Python sebae)
• Prohibited Varanidae
  • Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
  • Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus)
  • Perentie Monitor (Varanus giganteus)
  • Variegated Monitor (Varanus varius)
  • Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)
  • Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis)
  • Crocodile Monitor (Varanus salvadori)

To view the full list of prohibited reptiles, please see Prohibited Reptiles (PDF).

Restricted Reptiles

“Restricted” controlled alien species cannot be released under any circumstances, but can be bred, transported or possessed without a permit if they are:

• Snakes less than three metres from the tip of tail to the end of the snout
• Lizards less than two metres in length from the tip of the tail to the end of the snout

Once any individual reptile listed below gets bigger than three metres (snakes) or bigger than two metres (lizards), a permit must be applied for, and be granted, authorizing the possession and transportation of the species individual.

The following species are considered restricted under B.C. law:

• Restricted Boidae
  • Madagascan ground boa (Acrantophis madagascariensis)
  • Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor)
• Restricted Pythonidae
  • Papuan python (Apodora papuana)
  • Black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus)
  • Woma (Aspidites ramsayi)
  • Australian brown python (Liasis fuscus)
  • Water python (Liasis mackloti)
  • Australian olive python (Liasis olivaceus)
  • Carpet python (Morelia spilota)
• All Varanidae other than prohibited Varanidae