Moving with Pets and Plants

You might wish to call the Agriculture Dept. to see if you can take a slip or cutting.

Thank you...I will. I wish I could shove it all in a shipping container but that wouldn't work. I'll give them a call.

You might also check airline's website for information.
On Custom's declaration you have to declare plants, fruits, etc.
Sometimes they're taken away.

Also bear in mind that your plant may well not survive here. I wasted a lot of money in my early years here importing shrubs which should have thrived in our zone but which keeled over and croaked in short shrift. The restrictions on bringing plants in are minimal - taking them OUT of the territory is the much bigger issue.

As far as your dogs are concerned there are numerous threads here on the procedure to follow (find via the search engine) as well as information in the pulldown menus top of this page. No idea about the turtle but it should be easy enough to do a search on its importation.

i was under the impression you could travel with plants as long as they were not in dirt??
pets can travel in cargo under certain conditions. some breeds can not travel on some carriers

Oh, forgot about the turtle.
The Agriculture Dept. and airline should be able to give you that info.
One of the forum members brought his goldfish to STX not too long ago.

There are restrictions on transporting pets/dogs in cargo during summer months. They don't due to high temperatures.
I noticed you mentioned your move to St. Croix would be in the next few months. If you're not here prior to end of April, you may not be able to get your dogs in cargo and have to wait until temps come back down in October/November unless they're small enough to fly with you in cabin. Airlines also have breed restrictions, especially with brachiocephalic breeds.

You're also going to need to take your pets to vet within 10 days of travel for their paperwork.

Good luck.

We moved from southern California with 2 large adult dogs: An Akita, and, a Rottweiler/Chow mix.
We took a NON STOP flight from LAX to SJU. 7+ hour flight.
Then, we chartered a PIPER plane to STX.
At the time (10 years ago), NO airline would fly 2 large dogs on the same aircraft from SJU to STX.
Good luck!

i was under the impression you could travel with plants as long as they were not in dirt??

There are certain restrictions exiting the USVI into the US, not entering the USVI from the US mainland. I've purchased soil-potted plants from mainland suppliers with no problem and of course all the nurseries here do likewise.

You might also check airline's website for information.
On Custom's declaration you have to declare plants, fruits, etc.
Sometimes they're taken away.

You don't do a customs declaration coming into the VI (from the US)...just going out. Doesn't mean the plant is legal, but I've seen people get on planes with flower bouquets. Seems like a cutting, without dirt, would be the same thing.

No more Customs forms going it any more.

No more Customs forms going out any more.

was this recently?

No more Customs forms going out any more.

was this recently?

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2015/09/24/customs-discontinues-forms-vi-airports

I've brought plants from the states to STX...once, three potted succulents to be precise. Kept them in a paper bag under the seat from LAX to Miami to STX. No problems. Also have brought cuttings from Boston in plastic bags. All were succulents, and have all thrived in the VI.

I didn't fill out a Custom's form this past December. Realized it after plane took off.

I brought back two Dwarf Crepe Myrtle plants in my suitcase. The night before my early flight I removed mathematics from the soil, shook off most of the soil and wrapped them in very wet newspaper. I then put in the plastic bag for dirty cloths they had in the motel room and tied with string. They were dormant then and laid flat in my suitcase. I didn't plant them for days and now I have two healthy plants budding on my deck! No need to declare them.

If you took live plants out without first checking to see if they were legally able to be taken then that's not a good thing. There are sound reasons for certain plants being on the no-export list. Soil contaminated by local insects can be hazardous to the environment to which it's taken. Precisely why certain plants have to be inspected and treated by the Department of Agriculture before transshipment.

"Plants in soil cannot be taken to the mainland, but many of our fruits can. Feel free to call the Department of Agriculture at 340-778-1696 with any questions."

ot, that is good to know. it was what i had heard. glad it is not the case