Can't help you here either. USFWS interstate commerce acquisition permits like Rob said are pretty easy to get assuming you follow the directions closely. As for local permits, it's best to call Illinois FWS up and ask them. Over here in New Jersey, we need permits for all reptiles every year excluding a couple (ie. Boa constrictors-don't ask why, I don't know). It's $15 a year to renew the hobbyist permit. The indigos I can keep can either be placed on a New Jersey hobbyist permit or a scientific holding permit. Best you clarify this with Illinois FWS instead of depending on this forum. Also check if their are any specific City/Town ordinances on keeping reptiles. I've had a very bad experience with the Dept. of Health/Dept. of Environmental Conservation about ten years ago with not knowing NYC (where I lived at the time) banned all boids under "America's Mayor," Rudy Giuliani. I had 6 police cars from DEC and 2 from DPH in front of my house because of the highly illegal ball pythons I was keeping.

If you need help with the federal USFWS interstate commerce permit, I received mine this year and you can use my application as a template and tweak it for your own needs. The reason it takes so darn long is that it has to be mailed to Atlanta FWS (despite what the application says) which then forwards it to field biologist Cameron Shaw at Florida FWS (don't ask why-I don't know) to review. Cameron then goes over the application and approve/disapproves it and it goes back to Atlanta FWS to be mailed back to the applicant. Cameron is usually pretty good about approving the application. If you're missing something, he'll e-mail/call you and will not outrightly deny the permit. Hope this helps a bit.

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