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shipping lizards and tarantulas

T

thegeckobarn

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Can I ship lizards (mostly leopard geckos) legally with UPS? If so, how do I go about doing so? Can I just put "live harmless lizard" on the box and it'll be ok? Or are there steps to take?

Also....what about shipping tarantulas through USPS? Same questions.

Thank you,
~Crystal Light
 
We have a letter of exception to ship lizards through UPS. All we did at the time (2001) was fill out their contact us form online expressing our desire to ship with them. They called and we answered some questions over the phone and two weeks later we had the letter from them. At the time you had to have a daily pick up from them but I believe they have waived that requirement. I don't know their ruling on tarantulas but that should get you pointed in the right direction and started.
 
Shipping tarantulas through the USPS is not legal. Seeing as it is not allowed by nearly every shipper, I think it is one of those "you can't hold us liable" issues. In other words, "we'll look the other way, but if it dies, too bad for you."

http://www.usps.com/judicial/1980deci/7-135.htm

It is an old case, but I believe it is still the leading case on the matter.

Botar
 
I ship via UPS and we got the authorization letter just a few months ago. I was worried that when I started to do some real selling that they would suddenly tell me no like I've heard so many horror stories about. You should be able to call you're local office and tell them you're interested in shipping leopard geckos, they'll have no idea what it is and take a few days looking into the species (rolls eyes). We got the letter within about two weeks. I know they no longer require daily pick ups, but they do require that you have a valid UPS account. If for some reason you have a problem with your local rep, e-mail this person:
Stephanie Berenguer
UPS CORPORATE
Hazardous Materials
Atlas 5-490-4575
Phone (404) 828-4575
Email: [email protected]

and ask for a "Request determination form to ship live animals" is what my rep called it.
Here is a copy of mine (obviously not formatted the same, but the questions apply):

Request for Determination To Ship Live Animals

Complete this form and send to Corporate Business Development for approval. Customers may not
ship live animals without written approval from UPS


Date: _______________________ Region/District:______________________________________

UPS Representative: _________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________ Fax: _______________________________

Shipper’s Name: __________________________________________________________________
Company Name: _________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Shipper Number: _____________________________ Phone: ____________________________

Species (Names - Common and Specific): ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Quantity of animals per container: ___________________

Description of package to be shipped:

Materials used: __________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Size (inches): Length _________ Width _________ Depth __________

Interior: _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Important details that UPS should know about the species: _____________________________________________________________________________

Then just fax it back and they'll send out the letter. It was fairly painless but did take some time. Now for scorpions, I wouldn't even mention it and if they ask tell them it's a leopard gecko =). Hope that helps!


Brian Skibinski
Milwaukee Reptiles
http://www.milwaukeereptiles.com
 
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