Michigan Venomous Laws

I am trying to compile a reference for MI hot keepers regarding local "exotic" laws. i.e. County, Township, City...

If you have information to contribute, please post it on the "USA State Issues" section, which is all the way at the bottom of the page that lists all the forums; sub-category "Michigan"

I am posting this here because it seems that not too many people are aware of the "USA State Issues" forum. Hopefully I won't incur the wrath of the forum gods for posting this here.

Due to very well publicized irresponsibility on the part of several venomous reptile owners in the state over the past calender year, it is has come to my attention that there are very serious rumblings in the state capitol concerning the authoring and passage of laws to either greatly restrict or prohibit the private citizens of the state from possessing venomous reptiles.

As much as I feel that I should have the right to keep them and as much as I know that I am an experienced and competent handler, I also feel that due to how many people have chosen to own animals that they were not capable of safely keeping and in some instances, jeopardized the life of others, including their families, I have mixed emotions and am starting to feel as though the best thing for the animals as well may be to keep people from keeping them. I have seen more sick and dead venomous snakes in my life then should ever have died mainly from a combination of people buying/selling/owning animals that they are afraid of and not capable of properly caring for combined with a lack of veterinary care as most vets do not work on reptiles and most that will work on reptiles will not work on venomous ones. We even had a death by venomous snake bite in the state a few months ago, which is the first I can recall in decades here.

Perhaps if the state would adopt a permit situation with guidelines that required the potential owner to proove their experience and qualifications and provide references similar to what states like Florida have done, then I could get behind that. But as it stands we can all thank a few thoughtless and careless people for the unfavorable spotlight, piles of negative goverment and media attention as well as the impending loss of more of our liberties.

Evan, there are a couple things I wanted to ask you, but we better take this discussion to the "USA State Issues - Michigan" section.

I lived In Mich, you cannot have venomous of any kind is the city of Canton or it,s township. That is in Wayne County. Also The city of Detroit.