SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources clarified Thursday that under HB309, residents must now carry a valid hunting, fishing, or combination license to kill spiders, flies, or other “free-roaming non-domesticated fauna” inside their homes.
“A house isn’t a legal exemption,” said DWR spokesperson Trent Call. “If you’re killing wildlife on Utah soil, even if it’s laminate or engineered hardwood, the law applies.”
First-time violators may face a $250 fine and be required to complete an online insect ethics course administered by the state.
Governor Spencer Cox defended the rule, saying, “If you’re going to take a life, yes, even a fly’s, it should be done legally and with respect. This is about conservation.”
The updated rule follows similar licensing requirements already in place for non-hunters entering Utah’s wildlife management areas.
