Taking your pet snake across the border?

[BAZ]

A friend of mine is moving to Washington DC and wants to take her ball python with her. Does anyone here know about what she needs to do in terms of getting it there?

Who would she need to contact for the paperwork required to take a pet snake over?

What is the best way to fly the snake down there and what does she need to do so it doesnt freeze in the plane ride over?

If anyone has experience with this sorta thing please contact me.

Cheers

Baz
:)

[TheLionsShare]

I would imagine that she would have to contact CITES and get paperwork from them (I could be wrong, but they are Appendix II).. From what I've heard, you don't have to declare animals crossing the boarder, unless they are protected in either where you're headed or where they're going, or if they are protected by CITES..

[Stockwell]

Baz, she'll need a CITES appendix 2 export permit.
This will be issued by the appropriate office of the Canadian Wildlife Service near her place of residence.
The permit will need to be validated by a Canada customs agent at the point of export, whether this be at an airport or border crossing.
If she has family or a friend that can take delivery in the US, then that person shall be listed as the foreign consignee on the export permit.
Wildlife shipments are generally done through designated ports.
Here's a link to the USF&W listing of designated ports.
I think Baltimore is the port that would be used for DC
http://international.fws.gov/animals/wildlifeport.html

[justinO]

on the Canadian CITES website, there's a FAQ about bringing pets (including snakes) over the border.... it's easy and not too much paperwork if she wants to do it legit.

sorry I don't have the exact link, but it's on here somehwere:
CITES Canada Website (http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca/)

Jessy

[Stockwell]

http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca/eng/sct3/infonotes_e.cfm?ID=5

"What if it is a family pet?
The permits described above must be obtained before you import or export your pet. If you intend to take your pet into, through, or out of Canada temporarily, you can apply to the Canadian CITES Management Authority for a CITES Temporary Movement Certificate or a Certificate of Ownership if you intend to frequently take your pet across international borders. See the Information Note Exotic Pets for further details. "