Question regarding Snake travel

[Cobra Commander]

Long story short, I have always wanted a snake..but have never owned one. I'm not sure what kind I am set on, since I want all of them, except a Burmese. Now, I live in the UK but am an American Citizen. I am separating from the Military, and am going to get a job here in the UK, for 3 years. After that I would like to move back to the U.S.

Can you bring a snake with you on a plane? Snakes on a plane i know, but I really want a snake, and i already know that i will get attached, and won't be able to get rid of it after 3 years..

Would it be safe for the snake? Would it be allowed through customs?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[pitbulllady]

I honestly don't know the answer to that one. I know that the US does not have a quarantine on reptiles, but as far as the airlines is concerned, I guess that it would depend on the individual airline whether they allow snakes as either carry-on or cargo. I know that CITES species would not be able to be carried across international borders, and this would include all members of the Boa constrictor genus and species. Even if an airline's policy today would allow you to carry or ship a small snake, in three years that could change. I would actually just advise you to wait until you return to the US, and cross your fingers that it will still be legal to own ANY kind of snake over here when you do.

pitbulllady

 

[Cobra Commander]

I honestly don't know the answer to that one. I know that the US does not have a quarantine on reptiles, but as far as the airlines is concerned, I guess that it would depend on the individual airline whether they allow snakes as either carry-on or cargo. I know that CITES species would not be able to be carried across international borders, and this would include all members of the Boa constrictor genus and species. Even if an airline's policy today would allow you to carry or ship a small snake, in three years that could change. I would actually just advise you to wait until you return to the US, and cross your fingers that it will still be legal to own ANY kind of snake over here when you do.

pitbulllady

So basically, I need to stay away from Boa's, and pray that the U.S. doesn't outlaw owning any snakes.

I will grab a picture in a few weeks of the snake that I am hoping to get in the future. I am pretty sure that it is a banded corn snake or rat snake with colors running vertically, that is red, black and yellow. Not the coral, but it looks the exact same, except the two colors being switched.

Thanks for the advice PBL!

 

[pitbulllady]

So basically, I need to stay away from Boa's, and pray that the U.S. doesn't outlaw owning any snakes.

I will grab a picture in a few weeks of the snake that I am hoping to get in the future. I am pretty sure that it is a banded corn snake or rat snake with colors running vertically, that is red, black and yellow. Not the coral, but it looks the exact same, except the two colors being switched.

Thanks for the advice PBL!

The snake you are describing is one of the Milk Snakes, relatives of the King Snake, in the same genus.

The thing is, even if you ARE allowed to bring the snake on a plane and into the US, the cost of doing so will most likely far, far exceed the actual cost or monetary value of the snake. I don't know about Milk Snake prices(or reptile prices in general) in the UK, but I'm sure that the breeder base is wider for that type of snake in the US, which means that you can probably get one for much less once you return here, that is, IF it's still legal. Milks are Corns probably will be, but anything larger is really under the gun here now on a national basis, and the smaller species are next unless someone manages to reign in the HSUS. They have made it their priority to destroy the reptile industry and animal-based agriculture here in this country. The freedom that YOU signed up to protect is being stripped away from us at an alarming rate back home.

pitbulllady

 

[proper_tea]

Can you bring a snake with you on a plane?

Have you seen the movie "Snakes on a Plane"?

I think that should be enough reason for you why you shouldn't try it... that guy at the end of the movie was totally not qualified to land that thing... scary!!!

(j/k)

P.S. read the "Turtle in the Trash" thread for info on bringing reptiles on planes

 

[Jaymz Bedell]

you would be better off waiting till you are back on u.s. soil first. live animals require a lot to import into this country. expensive permits, customs/usda inspections, proper transport boxes. all of this will exceed the value of a single animal, especially one, atleast in this country, that is considered common and inexpensive. sneaking the snake on the plane or trying to brown box ship it into this country is considered smuggling and is punishable with fines and possible jail time. this would also fuel the fire for those trying to ban the ownership of reptiles, it paints a bad picture of the reptile keeping community as a whole. it is not inexpensive or easy to bring animals into the country unfortunately.