Pet Reptiles in VI

Best advice, sell or give the snake away, it will cause far less hassle than trying to get it
in.

Strangely, the regulations I have seen don't seem to discriminate between different types of animals, except that some species of birds have special requirements.

I will tell you that bringing my dog here was as simple as checking a piece of luggage. In fact, NO ONE either in Miami or in STT even asked to see the supposedly required documents such as a Certificate of Health and Rabies vaccine. I had everything in order, but I never even took the papers out of my briefcase.

I'm sure someone who has been here longer might know more about your little friend's requirements, but generally rules and regulaitons are pretty loose here.

Now getting him back into the States if you ever decide to do that may be a completely different matter.

this snake is extremely important to me... i don't want to leave him. stt, where would be the easiest place to get a copy of rules and regulations? customs was one worry of mine, but I was also concerned about USVI regulations on owning exotic animals... for example, here in california, you need to have a valid fishing license to own kingsnakes, and there are specifications on how many you can have and it depends on if they are california kings or etc and yada yada yada... some places have weird laws

I really don't know--maybe the VI dept of agriculture?

Islander probably can direct you.

Hello,

Fish and Wildlife might be the ones with the info - I will give them a call tommorrow and see what I can find out.

--Islander

Thanx Islander, I really appreciate this....

I called Fish and Wildlife - and was given a contact person Donna Griffen. However I called back after leaving a message and she still wasn't in so asked the person who answered what the requirements are for bringing in a snake. They said they are the second step in the chain and as stt had suggested Agriculture was the first step. I never spoke to Donna Griffen so I am not sure what she does. So I called Agriculture and was transfered to the Vet who was most helpful. Her name is Dr. Bradford - she said give her a call and she will fax you the forms.

You have to get a health certificate for the snake from a vet, just like those for dogs and cats ect.

You have to fill out the forms sent to you that include information on species, address where its at and a local address where you are coming from/where the snake is now. She said you must have a local address in the VI where you are bringing the snake to. Phone numbers, dates the snake will travel, if its a pet ect. You will need to mail the forms back with $15 - that is the processing fee. The form will be reviewed at argriculture then sent over to fish and wildlife where they review it and the species ect ect and send it back to argriculture for final approval and you get your permit to bring the snake in. Call Dr. Bradford at (340)774-5182

Good Luck.

--Islander

Post Edited (03-10-04 15:01)

As a woman who tried (successfully, amazingly enough) to fly a live scorpion jalfwayacross the US, I strongly suggest you also check with the airline you'll be taking. Many (including US Air, which is what I flew) only allow cats and dogs to be taken as carry on items -- and they mean it. No rabbits, no ferrets, nothing cute and furry but those two species will make it to the passenger cabin. I was able to check my scorpion as cargo, but had to assume the risk that she (a pregnant she at that) was flying in a non-climate controlled environment. The airlines won't accept mammels as cargo between May 15 and September 15 because of climate concerns re: overheating -- they may not accept your little friend the milksnake either.depending on what time of year you will be traveling.

Good luck -- I would hate to have to leave any of my animal companions at home either.

The HipCrip

thank you for all your help..... sorry it's taken me so long to reply; it's finally spring break. Islander, thank you for finding all of that out for me. I think it's amazing that you take that kind of time out of your life to seek answers to the questions people on this message board have... you've been really helpful.