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How to get a Burmese

blackandblue_lulu

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I understand there is a law that keeps traders from selling Burmese pythons outside of states. So my question is, if no one in my state has any, or the Morph I desire, how do I go about getting one?​

Can someone tell me a little bit more about this law? My guess is they wanted to prevent people from releasing them, which is not helping considering now those people can't sell them to people who may take them out of state.

legal stuff... so complicated. :shrug01:

When I finally get a big enough living space, this is my final goal in the reptile hobby to work with Burmese.
 
Under the current law, burmese pythons cannot be shipped our carried across state lines...so, basically, if you can't find the burm morph you want within your state; you're SOL.
Choosing to bypass that law could carry pretty stiff penalties; and authorities are watching for it. Frankly, I think most people would be pretty uncomfortable even talking about it in a buyer/seller context - there's no telling who's really at the other end of that email/text/phone call...why risk getting nailed?
 
Thank you very much SPJ.

“All too often individuals who traffic in these types of animals find that they can no longer care for them and release them into the wild. Once there they become dangerous predators that have the potential to kill humans. This operation prevented this from happening.”


These are ignorant people... just like everyone else who is frightened of snakes for no reason.

:/ this is really upsetting. Why not just set up a system to send them to a conservation site in their natural habitat (better more effective ways of irresponsible pet owners to get rid of them). They shouldn't bash on the experienced pet owners who are trying to make a living off their love for these creatures. If they are really that worried about selling them, issue permits.

People jump to retarded conclusions that have no deep research.
 
So, your suggestion is to send the unwanted burmese pythons back to SE Asia (aka"their natural habitat")?

The case SPJ referenced was violation of NY State law, unless there was something I missed (or he linked to an article other than the one of which I am thinking). The law that concerns you is Federal.
 
So, your suggestion is to send the unwanted burmese pythons back to SE Asia (aka"their natural habitat")?

The case SPJ referenced was violation of NY State law, unless there was something I missed (or he linked to an article other than the one of which I am thinking). The law that concerns you is Federal.

I pointed out the state level penalties.
The federal ones would be even worse.
It's not worth trying to get a burm if you cannot get it in your own state.
 
So, your suggestion is to send the unwanted burmese pythons back to SE Asia (aka"their natural habitat")?
.

Sure. It's just an idea, I was speaking, maybe they need to brainstorm more constructive ways of dealing with the situation. I respect the law, it's just sometimes I wish they would try harder.
 
I pointed out the state level penalties.
The federal ones would be even worse.
It's not worth trying to get a burm if you cannot get it in your own state.


I will just have patience. If they are here, obviously they aren't going any where. I'll find a dealer eventually.

So if someone needs to move they cannot carry it over the state lines even then?
 
It's part of the way the law was done - burmese pythons are one of a small group of snakes that was designated as Injurious Wildlife. There's plenty to read on the subject here, so I'm not going to launch a thorough explanation.
 
How do they enforce the law on folks who move to another state (if they drive there)? Not talking burm breeders or large burm collections, more just the average one or two snake burm owner. Could that person not just say they purchased the snake in state if somehow they ever got questioned about it down the road after their move? If they get caught at the state border with it during the move then yeah they cant use that excuse, but it seems like a pretty hard thing to enforce if someone just moves with their pet to another state and never mentions it came from another state. Years later if it came up on the radar how would the authorities truly know if you haven't ever said anything that says otherwise. Unless they require burm owners to show proof of purchase for its whole life and if proof of purchase is not provided that makes it illegal regardless if it was bought in state or out? Just curious thinking's in my head here.
 
Could that person not just say they purchased the snake in state if somehow they ever got questioned about it down the road after their move?

Depends why they are questioning. If something happens and the burm gets out and eats the neighbor's Yorkie, there may be some complaints, and the questions might go a little deeper and be expanded for example, to ask the name of the person you bought the critter from.

Or the person you bought it from might have subsequent issues with you and turn you in. Or they might see your smuggle as an opportunity to make a little cash for themselves by threatening to turn you in. Or an ex might turn you in just for the joy of it.

Evasion sounds easy. It isn't and can come back to bite you and the community in ways that you might not foresee right now.
 
If you live near other people, that's a really big animal to hide forever. Even in the upper crust neighborhoods, there's always someone who delights in making sure all of their neighbors are behaving properly. If you live out in the sticks, and raise your own rodents, then, if nothing ever went wrong, you may never get caught. Of course, if you live out in the sticks, you could get away with just about anything if you're careful enough. Forgive my nerdiness, but perhaps the fact that's it's illegal should be enough to stop you. Just a thought.

Noelle
 
If you live near other people, that's a really big animal to hide forever. Even in the upper crust neighborhoods, there's always someone who delights in making sure all of their neighbors are behaving properly. If you live out in the sticks, and raise your own rodents, then, if nothing ever went wrong, you may never get caught. Of course, if you live out in the sticks, you could get away with just about anything if you're careful enough. Forgive my nerdiness, but perhaps the fact that's it's illegal should be enough to stop you. Just a thought.

Noelle

But you know in our society that's definitely not the case. Just seems like a reactionary law that depends on the keeper messing up or being told on, which I rather doubt is going to deter the masses if they are set upon getting one.
 
"seems like a reactionary law " "I rather doubt is going to deter the masses"

You are probably correct in the fact that some people don't agree with this law and are not goig to follow it. I am one who doesn't agree with it, but I keep good records of the animals I have obtained before and after the ban. At least keep some Email exchanges or a receipt to show who you did the exchange with within your home state.

Hopefully it will get reversed, but in the meantime we as a community need to be cautious and not attract unneccesary attention with the media.

I can see the headline already
Smuggled Burmese Python Terrorizes Neigborhood.

We don't need any more bad publicity and it is best to deal within the law.

Jacob
 
Absolutely Jacob, on all points/thoughts. I just worry how many will truly do so. I hate seeing the media smear us all as freaks in every news story practically. And this is another law that practically sets up our hobby to take more hits like that. You know the reptile industry does not always attract the most stand up type of folks. I wish it were not the case, but we have a decent sized population of jackasses that will drag us down with them over these type of regulations that they will seek to skirt around thinkin they wont ever get caught. And it just makes me bummed, and worried.
 
The media has really screwed us over. I had a 11 ft Albino Burm over my shoulder standing if front of my house one day. BTW that's the last time I will do that. Within 2-3 minutes cars were stopping, starring and blocking others. Soon as the attention built up, I just went inside and figure the context isn't right. Nothing wrong or illegal with doing that, but people are scared to death of what they don't understand. We as a community(at least the responsible side) understand there are risks involved with handling large or venomous snakes and we accept those risks. But, as long as we are responsible, only the keeper is ever in harms way, and that is how it should be. I understand the reasoning behind the Lacey act, But don't agree with it. Restricting transport between state will not help with them as an invasive species, period... Responsible keeping with proper locking enclosures and rooms/buildings is the only way to properly keep them. They do get big and Burm Bites/Constrictions can be pretty bad or in the extremely rare case lethal.

Back to the main point though. If a person decided to keep a couple of them after transporting them illegally, attention would probably not be caught unless there was as accident or someone who said something to the authorities

thansk,

Jacob
 
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