• Live Animals: Other than the exceptions noted here, eBay does not allow sales of live animals or pets on eBay. eBay allows sales of tropical fish and domestic (i.e. not exotic) aquatic snails, provided the seller has the proper Federal (APHIS PPQ) - see Form 526 info below) and/or State permit(s) that allows for movement across State lines (and/or for importation into the U. S.), and provided that the seller guarantees in the listing that the animals will be packaged safely, and shipped via next day delivery.
  
  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service allows five species of snails to be imported and sold as escargot: Cantareus apertus (Helix aperta), Cryptomphalus aspersus (Helix aspersa), Eobania vermiculata (Otala vermiculata), Helix pomatia, and Otala lactea; and requires their importation to take place through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York where identifiers will confirm the identity of live snails.

  eBay also permits the sale of hatching eggs provided the seller only offers domestic shipping within the U.S.
  
  

• Stuffed Birds: With a few specific exceptions (see below), mounted ("stuffed") specimens of any wild birds, parts of any wild bird, or the nests or eggs of any wild bird are not permitted on eBay. Exceptions:
  
  

  • Mounted specimens of captive-bred, properly marked Mallard ducks may be sold if the seller clearly states in the item description that the specimen was captive bred. No other captive-bred native waterfowl species may be sold without permits obtained from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sale or barter of legally hunted wild waterfowl and migratory game birds, including (but not limited to) ducks, geese, snipe, woodcock, cranes, and doves, is prohibited by federal law.

  • Mounted specimens or parts of legally hunted upland game birds, which include quail, turkey, pheasant, and grouse, may generally be listed on eBay if not listed or sold in violation of the state wildlife laws of the states of the buyer or seller.

  • Mounted specimens, feathers, and eggs of captive-bred, non-endangered non-native birds such as ostriches, emus, exotic pheasants, Mandarin ducks, guinea fowl, peafowl, and most parrots may be listed on eBay if not listed or sold in violation of state or local laws applicable to the buyer or seller.

• Animal pelts and skins: Animal parts, including pelts and skins from endangered species (such as leopards, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars, sable antelopes, mountain zebras, and Hartmann mountain zebras) may not be sold in interstate commerce and therefore are not permitted on eBay. Animal pelts and skins from non-endangered species (for example, non-protected species of zebras, coyotes) may generally be listed on eBay, if not in violation of the seller's specific state laws. However, because prohibited by federal law, no sales of any item that contains cat or dog fur will be allowed. Please contact USFWS to file declarations on all non-domesticated animal products. Please note that if the species is not stated in the listing, eBay will use its discretion when determining if the item is from an endangered species.

• Other Animal Parts: Endangered or protected species, or any part of any endangered or protected species may not be listed on eBay.

• Bear Products: Bears and bear products (for example, bear teeth, claws, and rugs) are not permitted on eBay.

• Mountain Lions: Products that contain any part from a mountain lion may not be listed on eBay.

• Marine Mammal Products: Marine mammal products, including but not limited to, sea otter, whales (baleen and ivory), porpoise, dolphins, and seals, generally may not be listed for sale unless the animal part has been first transformed into an authentic Alaskan Native article of handicraft or clothing. The export/import of marine mammals typically requires CITES as well as other state and/or federal permits. Users should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or National Marine Fisheries Service before importing or exporting marine mammal products.

• Ivory: Sellers of items on eBay.com containing any type of ivory may only offer and ship such items to purchasers within the United States and must be legally able to sell the item domestically under all applicable laws and regulations. eBay works closely with international and domestic law enforcement authorities, including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to ensure that all sales of ivory products on eBay comply with applicable laws. Due to the endangered or protected status of many species from which ivory is harvested around the world, the sale of ivory products is highly regulated by a complex set of regulations, treaties and laws. Only sellers who are legally able to possess and sell the items they wish to sell are permitted to list ivory items on eBay.

  Depending on the particular origin and status of your item, you may need to obtain a permit or other certification from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to legally sell the item. By listing your ivory item on eBay you are certifying that you legally possess the item and are legally able to sell it in the United States. Should the United States Fish and Wildlife Agency or any other law enforcement agency contact eBay regarding an investigation into the illegal sale of an ivory item on eBay.com, we will fully cooperate with those authorities in a manner consistent with our Privacy Policy.

  eBay members residing in the United States are prohibited from bidding on or purchasing ivory items listed on eBay sites outside the United States; eBay members from outside the United States are prohibited from bidding on our purchasing ivory items listed on eBay.com. Violation of this policy may result in actions ranging from a warning to limitation on selling privileges to referral of the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

  Several federal and state laws in the U.S. cover the sale, possession, import and export of ivory, and sellers should familiarize themselves with these statutes and seek information from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and their state wildlife regulatory agency prior to listing any ivory item on eBay:

  • Endangered Species Act: 16 USC 1531-1544 - Generally prohibits the import, export, possession, and sale of species listed as endangered or threatened in interstate or foreign commerce. Includes statutory implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).

  • African Elephant Conservation Act: 16 USC 4201-4244 - Generally restricts the import and export of African Elephant ivory.

  • The Lacey Act: 16 USC 3371-3378 - Generally prohibits the import, export, transport, sale or purchase of fish or wildlife taken or possessed in violation of State, Federal, Indian Tribal or foreign wildlife law.

  Many states in the US also have laws covering the trade of ivory products, so sellers should check those statutes as well. For example, the California Penal Code contains sections covering the sale of ivory products in California.

  Several international organizations also provide information about the trade of ivory products that may be helpful, such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and their About Me page, and the World Wildlife Fund(WWF).

• Internal Organs of Animals: Internal organs of animals (for example, bear gall bladders) may not be listed on eBay.

• Products made from "tortoise shell" or other turtle products: eBay will not permit the sale of any item made, in whole or part, from any part of a species of turtle or tortoise identified as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This includes items that appear from the listing to be made from genuine turtle or tortoise shell, such as guitar picks, jewelry, jewelry boxes, hair combs, and other products.

  Sellers that list items claimed to be made of genuine turtle or tortoise shell must identify the species from which the item was made. eBay realizes that users commonly use the phrase "tortoise shell" to describe items that have a particular design resembling a tortoise shell, and that many "tortoise shell" products are actually made out of plastic, glass, or a composite material. These items are permitted on eBay. However, to avoid confusion, listings of such "faux" tortoise shell items should clearly state that the item is not made of "genuine" tortoise shell.

  At one time, it was lawful to make jewelry, glasses, boxes, and other items using genuine turtle/tortoise shell. However, many turtle and tortoise species are now designated as either threatened or endangered, and therefore protected by federal and international law, including the 1973 Endangered Species Act.

• Animal Traps: Due to varying legal regulations, certain types of animal traps are not permitted for sale on eBay. This includes:

  • Steel Jaw Leghold Traps without offset jaws, with a spread of 5 ½ inches or larger.

  • Traps with teeth that are 5 ½ inches or larger.

US Fish & Wildlife Service: Please be aware that there are several federal and international laws regulating the import and export of all wildlife, including those species listed above, particularly for commercial purposes. In accordance with federal laws, any person importing wildlife or wildlife products into the United States or exporting wildlife or wildlife products from the United States, is required to have applied for and procured a federal import/export license from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. All wildlife and wildlife products must be declared to that agency for inspection prior to import or export and may only be imported or exported through designated ports. Failure to do so may result in criminal prosecution. Users with questions about, migratory birds, endangered animals, endangered marine life, live insects or mollusks or other questionable items in this area should contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Office, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or state wildlife regulatory agency.

Snails & Slugs: For questions concerning any movement of live snails, consult USDA's Web page Agricultural Permits for Snails and Slugs. eBay also allows sales of lobsters, crabs and other similar items that are live when sold but intended for human consumption, as well as crickets and worms used as bait or feeder food for pets. All live herbivorous insects other than crickets require a Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Form 526 permit for importation or movement across state lines. Consult the APHIS Permit Services Web site for instructions on obtaining and filing PPQ Form 526.

Migratory Birds: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the sale or barter, in whole or in part, of virtually all bird species native to the United States, including (but not limited to) hawks, eagles, owls, shorebirds, seabirds, wading birds, songbirds, hummingbirds, and legally hunted migratory game birds such as ducks, geese, and cranes. Native American items containing feathers or other parts of protected species are not exempt from the provisions of the Act and may not be listed on eBay. For complete lists of species, see the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's list of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

CITES: Animals that are not threatened or endangered may still be regulated by the USFWS under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Animals protected under CITES require permits to cross international borders. This includes many butterflies and some beetles included in dried insect display mounts (see CITES list of species), and may require USFWS Form 3-200-3.

USFWS Import/Export Licenses: All importers and exporters of wildlife must file with the USFWS a completed Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife (Form 3-177). Contact your nearest USFWS port for declaration procedures. All exporters of wildlife within the United States must also obtain a USFWS Import/Export License. All U.S. importers of wildlife who are importing wildlife for sale, offer for sale, or to solicit sale, must obtain a USFWS Import/Export License.

California: California law places restrictions on the commercial sale of items made from parts of some non-protected species, including elephants, zebras, alligators and crocodiles. Sellers who list items in California should review the California Penal Code Section 639-653.1and ensure that their sales comply with that law.

eBay urges its sellers and buyers to comply with all governmental laws and regulations. Since the sale of live animals and wildlife products is in some cases prohibited, highly regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers are restricted in their listing of them on eBay.