Importing Animals into the USA

[Kurzix]

well I hope this is a better place for this info...seeing as I don;t think too many people really read the show info, and certainly no one posts there. so here is what I have learned so far.

IF you are importing into the USA from Canada via Michigans borders, you need to contact the the Tunnel, Bridge or ferry, you will be using. IE Ambassader Bridge, Blue Water Bridge, etc.

Since I will be using the Blue Water Bridge, I found them on the Michigan Department of transportation's web site

http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9618_11070-22065--,00.html

thats the site specificly for the Blue Water Bridge, but other crossing are easily found from there.

I then called the number for U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and they told me for live animals I need to call a Dr Brown, who is the Vet in charge. His hours are 8:30am to 4:00pm EST. And I will be contacting him tomorrow. REmember all this is only if you intend to use the Blue Water Bridge from Sarnia, Ontario to Port Huron, Michigan

I will update this as I get more info Stay tuned

[mice4you]

You will also need to contact US Fish & Wildlife. They have a form 3-177(?) that they normally require to be filled out. If it is a personal pet, there usually is not a big problem however if it is a commercial shipment, they do require an import/export permit and a designated permit exemption permit

Hope this helps

[Syst3m]

This is all tooooo Confusing... I just want to bring a snake across the border.....

[Kurzix]

It would just be a personal pet or two or three... no need to get your head swimming with forms and what not until I have a chat with good ole Dr. Brown tomorrow lol

But to anyone from Canada bringing a Number of animals across for a show, I would guess that mice4you is correct...I'll even ask that tomorrow...if I remember

[Kurzix]

Well I did find out for corn snakes there is really no problem. We have to have a declarations form and get it to them 72 hours before we schedual an appointment to have the animals exhamined. The only border crossing that will handle the reptiles is the ambassador bridge. this procedure applies to non-CITES animals. for the CITES animals, you have to pull a permit beforehand, and the permit is...I beleive the guy said $90...mighta been $95 USD. then its basiclly the same as a non-cites crossing. Sigh....soo much for getting a BRB in toronto

[AzR@k]

a BRB should not be a problem...it should be the same as a corn.u can also do it this way dont declare the snakes.just say u are visitng a friend or family they dont need to know what u got..i used to do this all the time i purchased a dog in the states and crossed the border with it.and they didnt know.

[rattekonigin]

Azr@k, the only problem with your suggestion is if they pull one of their "random searches" and find a bunch of snakes in the car, then there'd be BIG trouble...and the fines, possible imprisonment, etc., that follows wouldn't be worth if for the 90$ a CITES permit supposedly costs.

[reverendsterlin]

not to mention negative possible press, us herpers never get the hey you do a great job from the media but the poacher, abuser, idiot, illegal owner, or whom ever negative gets plenty of press and hysterical restrictions go through with ignorant support of non-herpers to help protect the community from those 'bad snakes and their irresponsible owners'. Always best to stay legal.

[Kurzix]

I'll be honest I want to stay legal...but those thoughts do cross my mind....but then again I've been subjected to alot of searches

[Syst3m]

not declare? Yea right. I've been in legal trouble before with the border from my work (dirty sons of *****es) And I don't need any legal trouble with the border of my own. I like being able to cross the border freely when ever I chose since it is only about 10 minutes from my house.