Gila Q

[gargoyle]

I can't find any related information on how legal or illegal having a Gila in Ontario is? Can someone clarify this for me? If they are legal does anyone know of breeders? I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to these questions but figured it doesn't hurt to ask, maybe someone has an answer for me!

[rwg]

It's regulated by municipality. You have to check your local by-laws. For what it's worth, they are prohibited in Ottawa.

other Roy

[gargoyle]

Currently there are no regulations that mention any lizards being banned just certain snake species and families! I was pretty sure at one point someone told me that they were banned by a provincial law though?

[HeatherRose]

Does it say anything about venomous snakes and lizards?

[gargoyle]

Ok I"ve looked over the bylaw thouroughly. It only states that keeping venomous snakes is banned..

Are there any of these available in Ontario, or Canada?

[CamHanna]

I believe that Don Patterson (http://www.kingsnake.com/donpatterson/gila.html) in BC is working with them. He doesn't update his site often so the info on the page may be outdated.

As far as I know there is no provincial legislation for Heloderma. They are protected in the US as an endangered species but that has no bearing on their legality in Ontario.

Cam

[DragnDrop]

Originally posted by gargoyle
Currently there are no regulations that mention any lizards being banned just certain snake species and families! I was pretty sure at one point someone told me that they were banned by a provincial law though?

Which city are we talking about? Most of the bigger ones have their bylaws online.

Originally posted by HeatherRose
Does it say anything about venomous snakes and lizards?

Excerpt from the PDF file at Ottawa Municipal By-laws - Animal Care and Control (http://www.city.ottawa.on.ca/city_services/bylaws/municipal_bylaws/index_en.shtml)

Schedule "B" in the Ottawa By-laws:

SCHEDULE “B”
PROHIBITED ANIMALS

11. Reptiles (Reptilia)
(a) all Helodermatidae (gila monster and Mexican bearded lizard);
(b) all front-fanged venomous snakes, even if devenomized, including, but not limited to,
(i) all Viperidae (viper, pit viper),
(ii) all Elapidae (cobra, mamba, krait, coral snake),
(iii) all Atractaspididae (African burrowing asp),
(iv) all Hydrophiidae (sea snake), and
(v) all Laticaudidae (sea krait).
(c) all venomous, mid- or rear-fanged, Duvernoy-glanded members of the family Colubridae, even if de-venomized,
(d) any member or hybrid offspring of the family Boidae, including but, not limited to the common or green anaconda and yellow anaconda, save and except members of the family Boidae reaching an adult length of no greater than two (2) meters,
(e) any member of the family Pythonidae, including but, not limited to the African rock python, the Indian or Burmese python, the Amethystine or scrub python, save and except members of the family Pythonidae reaching an adult length of no greater than two (2) meters,
(f) any member of the family Varanidae, including but, not limited to the white throated monitor, the water monitor, the Komodo monitor or dragon, the Bornean earless monitor, the Nile monitor, the crocodile monitor, save and except members of the family Varanidae reaching an adult length of no greater than one (1) meter,
(g) any member of the family Iguanidae, including the green or common iguana,
(h) any member of the family Teiidae, including but not limited to the golden, common or black and white tegu,
(i) all members of the family Chelydridae, including snapping turtle and alligator snapping turtle,
(j) all members of the order Crocodylia, including, but not limited to alligator, caiman and crocodile,
(k) all other snakes that reach an adult length larger than three meters, and
(l) all other lizards that reach an adult length larger than two meters.


Looks like Gilas are out. And for that matter, a lot of (most?) colubrids too, even hognosed
snakes.

[gargoyle]

Chatham-Kent is the municiapality!

[DragnDrop]

The website you'll want to check is at http://www.chatham-kent.ca/default.htm
Look for the by-laws and download the PDF file.

[gargoyle]

Yes like I said I have already done this, and the animal by-law that is currently being used (or any for that matter) is not on the site, you have to request it from the office! I was a part of finalizing the bylaw that is in or will be in effect in Chatham kent so I am very familiar with the municipal end of things, my question was intended to find out Provincial and Federal level laws regarding this subject! Thank you though!

[gargoyle]

Anyways, does anyone know of anybody breeding these in Ontario? Probably not, but figured I'd ask!