Puerto Rican Tarantulas/Laws

[NYCspiderGuy]

My friend is checking online now, but I wanted to ask if anyone knows the story for tarantula aquisition/ repatriation from
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Be going there from NY soon, and want to know legal status on buying and bringing home T's, as well as any interesting species I might look for while there.
Any ideas?
Anything else I should know - besides the general risk of wild caught animals?
Thanks for any advice you can give me -

 

[T-Harry]

As far as I know only Brachypelmas are protected by law (WA II) and therefore are not allowed to be collected. But I'm not sure whether you're allowed to import any T's or other animals into the US because of pest control. When I'm visiting the US for vacation I'm not allowed to bring in any organic products like food or plants.
I'll suggest to buy any T's at home prefferably from a breeder and not any collected ones.

 

[KennethM]

Pr

I believe that one needs to have permits, anything that has to do with permits, feds, always leads to trouble so I wouldn't recommend it, there are enough captive bred species in the US.

 

[cryptly]

There are all sorts of permits you need to get to import wild animals to the US, not to mention all sorts of fees. It would be much less costly, time consuming and frustrating to simply make a purchase from a reputable dealer.

There are no laws against finding wild T's and bringing home pictures of them.

 

[NYCspiderGuy]

There are no laws against finding wild T's and bringing home pictures of them. [/QUOTE]


Thanks for the input everyone... I guess I will limit myself to collecting digital T's...with my camera.
But try to stop me from hiking all over Vieques looking for native subjects!
I'll post if I find any willing models.

"Smile, baby! You look FABULOUS! Give me LEGS!!!"

 

[billymac]

Have a great time, Puerto Rico is a great place to warm up from this miserable winter...I wish I had been into T's when I was there....dang it.

 

[Scylla]

Fyi

Puerto Rico does not allow export of their wildlife.