Animals and wildlife products policy

Allowed in some situations

• Crickets, worms, or other herbivorous insects as long as they're intended to be used for bait or food for pets

• Hatching eggs from some animals, including endangered or threatened species, migratory birds, snakes, or turtles

• Shellfish, such as crabs and lobsters, to be used as food

• Snails or slugs, but only those that are known as domestic aquatic snails and the following 5 types that you can eat (usually called escargot):

  • Helix aperta or Cantareus apertus (usually called burrowing snails)

  • Helix aspersa or Cryptomphalus aspersus (usually called small grey snails)

  • Helix pomatia (usually called apple snails, Burgundy snails, lunar snails, or Roman snails)

  • Otala lactea or Helix lactea (usually called milk snails, Spanish snails, or vineyard snails)

  • Otala vermiculata or Eobania vermiculata (usually called vinyala, mongeta, or xona)

• Tropical fish. Be sure to check if permits are required.

Not allowed

• Animals that aren't listed above, such as:

  • Endangered or threatened species

  • Migratory birds, including cranes, ducks, eagles, geese, hawks, hummingbirds, owls, shorebirds, seabirds, songbirds, and wading birds. See the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for a complete list of protected birds.

  • Noxious insects

  • Pets

  • Sharks, including small aquarium sharks

Allowed in some situations

• Non-endangered or threatened animal pelt or skin. This includes things made from certain types of zebras and coyotes. When listing these items, be sure to:

  • Contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and file declarations on all non-domesticated animal products.

  • State the species in your listing and product description.

  • Follow applicable laws.

• Listings and products for any part, pelt, or skin from an animal listed on CITES Appendix II cannot offer international shipping.

Not allowed

• Any part, pelt, or skin from an endangered or threatened species or any species listed on CITES Appendix I. Examples include but are not limited to: elephants, rhinoceros and tigers.

• The sale of pelts or items which include the fur from domesticated cats or dogs.

Allowed

• Fish traps

• Live traps

• Mouse traps

• Other humane traps

Not allowed

• Bear traps (regardless of size)

Allowed

• Flora from non-endangered or threatened species may generally be listed on eBay if not in breach of local laws or eBay's Plants and seeds policy.

• Artificially propagated plants.

Allowed in some situations

• International trade in specimens of Appendix II species may be authorised if an export permit or re-export certificate is granted.

Examples: Cristobal, palisander, rosewood, sandalwood, fire corals, almost all orchids, caci.

Not allowed

• Species listed under Appendix I of the CITES

Allowed in some situations

• Hunting or fishing trips as long as sellers meet all of these requirements:

  • Sellers either need to provide the necessary licenses and permits for their buyers, or tell buyers to obtain them beforehand. You'll need to be clear about this information in your listing and product descriptions.

  • Follow local laws and regulations on hunting or fishing activities, including hunting in approved areas and weapon restrictions.

  • There can't be a guarantee of a successful hunt.

Not allowed

• Canned hunts (usually involving fenced-in animals) aren’t allowed because they guarantee a successful hunt. We consider this a form of selling live animals, which is prohibited on eBay.

Allowed in some situations

• Bone from non-ivory–producing animals (such as bison, buffalo, and oxen) as long as the species is clearly stated in the listing and product descriptions

• Cultured, man-made, or vegetable ivory as long as the listing and product descriptions specify what the item is made of

• Fossilized mammoth teeth or bone as long as they are listed in the Fossils category. Fossilized mammoth tusks are still prohibited.

Not allowed

• Items made from ivory

• Bone from animals that produce ivory, including elephants, walruses, and whales

• Fossilized ivory or mammoth tusk

Allowed in some situations

• Authentic Alaskan Native clothing or crafts made from marine mammals like sea otters or seals, although the items can't contain any ivory. Be sure to specify these details in your listing and product descriptions.

Not allowed

• Items made from marine mammals regardless of when the product was made

Allowed

• Mounted Mallard ducks or other waterfowl that were captive-bred

• Eggs, feathers, parts, or specimens from captive-bred game birds such as a grouse, pheasant, quail, or turkey

Not allowed

• Migratory bird eggs, feathers, nests, parts, or specimens. Examples of birds include cranes, ducks, eagles, geese, hawks, hummingbirds, owls, shorebirds, seabirds, songbirds, and wading birds. See the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for a complete list of protected birds.

• Native American items with feathers or other parts of protected birds.

Allowed in some situations

• Manufactured turtle or tortoise shell products from non-endangered or threatened species. Be sure to specify the species in your listing and product descriptions.

• Tortoise shell–colored items (such as combs, eyewear, handbags, jewelry pocket knives, and shoes) made of plastic or another man-made material. Be sure to specify what the item is made of in your listing and product descriptions.

Not allowed

• Items made from endangered or threatened turtles or tortoises

Not allowed

• Bear products such as rugs, as well as bear parts—including those from polar bears—such as claws, gall bladders, or teeth. Alaskan Native clothing or crafts with anything from a bear also can't be listed.

• Animal organs, or animal corpses that contain organs