python on the loose!

[Nikos]

such incidents can hurt the hobby....

http://www.wnbc.com/news/2454442/detail.html

 

[Code Monkey]

The guy who packed that snake should be pounded into the nearest fence post hole and covered with cement. All it's going to take is a couple of incidents like this within the attention span of your average senator and our hobby will cease to exist. People are already hopping up and down about how we don't screen our cargo enough. What happens when everything has to be radiation sterilized and X-rayed before it can be shipped? If the morons keep it up, that day will come.

 

[Valael]

Just out of curiousity, how WOULD you ship a 7 foot python through the mail?

It seems like you'd need an awfully strong (hard) container to keep them in.

 

[Ravnos]

Its not legal to ship one through the mail, and UPS/FedEx/Airborne all have company policies against it... but generally, proper bagging, foam packing, something soft for cushioning and a good sturdy box are all that is needed.

To legally ship, one has to go through US Air or Delta and in that case, you actually have to build a wooden shipping crate which has to have a box inside of it - and the animal contained within that box via bagging or delicups or whatever depending on size. They are a much better, safer and faster method of transport, but cost easily twice as much.

Rav

 

[Phillip]

UPS Fedex and Airborne will ship snakes if you set up an account for that purpose. You have to be upfront however and they don't technically do it unless you set up an account for that very purpose.

Phil

 

[Wade]

Originally posted by Ravnos
To legally ship, one has to go through US Air or Delta and in that case, you actually have to build a wooden shipping crate which has to have a box inside of it - and the animal contained within that box via bagging or delicups or whatever depending on size. They are a much better, safer and faster method of transport, but cost easily twice as much.

Rav

Wait...for all snakes? Is this new? I've heard of these requirements for venomous snakes before, is there a simmilar requirement for large snakes?

I work at a nature center and we have recieved many snakes via UPS, from Glades Herp, packed in styrofoam boxes inside cardboard boxes. These were not 7 foot pythons, however.

Wade

 

[Jakob]

At least they didn't kill it and call it a "20 foot deadly, spitting cobra"

Jake

 

[Ravnos]

It is illegal to ship snakes through USPS. UPS/Fedex/Airborne Express/Purolator and I'm sure other couriers, all have company policies against the general public shipping snakes via them. Like Phil said though, if you have a commercial account and they know what you're shipping - generally they don't care. While I still don't think they don't exactly support it, they figure if you're a commercial customer you're giving them enough business to warrant the slim risk of one getting loose. I too have gotten many snakes via UPS - and I think it is just largely their ignorance that has allowed it to go on. Now that it has hit the news I bet they will start cracking down more and we'll see it more and more difficult to ship snakes. Even Delta stopped allowing the shipment of snakes unless you were a verified customer (I don't know if this is still in effect). Which entailed some paperwork, and sometimes proof of what your business activities were.

Rav

 

[Wade]

I was specifically refering to the wooden crate requirement. I've never heard of using that for anything other than venomous snakes, so I was asking if there's a simmilar requirement for large snakes.

Wade

 

[Ravnos]

Its a requirement for air cargo, to my knowledge. The way they pack and stack, I wouldn't trust anything less.

Rav

 

[Phillip]

Actually Delta stopped all overnight shipments unless you are a verified customer after the 911 incident.

And as I said before if you are a customer with an account both UPS and Fedex will accept them and have no problem with it. The wodden crates are only required on hots.

Phil

 

[Gillian]

kuhRISST!
Thank you CM; you're right. This is all it takes. Before we know it, we'll be forced to have expensive permits to keep these wonderful animals, all due to stupid ----- likes the moron who shipped that snake.
Yes, these are exotic animals. I have safely handled many snakes, and never been hurt. However, if a snake "paranoid" person finds a snake going free range in the back of their truck, they could raise a seriously harmful stink.
Hmm..Las Cruces, hmm? I should pay the moron a visit..

 

[Vayu Son]

><

Hi

It is nothing new that there are certain irresponsible parties involved in the herp/rachnid community. If I was a shipping official, I would be less than please to find a burmese on my truck, especially if i kept children or any other pets around.

-V