Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there! A friend and I will be making a 14-hour cross-country trip from Athens (Georgia) to Wisconsin, followed shortly by a 9-hour drive from Wisconsin to Ontario. Accompanying us on this long haul is a 3-year-old ball python.

I'm worried about two things: car travel, and crossing the border. Any advice on either would be wonderful. What would be best to keep the snake in on the drive? A duffelbag? A pillowcase in a styrofoam cooler? Will the snake be fine for the entire length of the car trip so long as his temperature is kept fairly constant?

Anyone who's had a long haul with a snake in the car, how do you do it?

Providing he isn't exposed to high temps or low temps, he shoudl be fine. I advise not feeding him during the trip and a couple days before you start the trip. A securely tied pillow case (tied with a knot) packed in a box securely (so teh pillow case won't be sliding around) should be fine. Don't leave in the car if it's sunny or very hot out as he can cook very fast. Same if it's cold out as well. If stopping in a restaurant along teh way or hotel, you can keep the pillow case inside a big purse or anywhere that is secure and not likely to receive bumps or exposure to uncomfortable temperatures (or to be recognized as a snake in a bag by the public).

Crossing the border can be tricky. There are no laws banning ball pythons that I am aware of in Ontario. The provincial laws have nothing against them and I suspect most municipal by-laws are fine. It would be a good ideal to pull up the CITIES information on ball pythons which state they are not on the restricted list, and good reference material to show teh border guard ball pythons are not venomous etc. and be open about having one. Calling border control ahead of time to ask about transporting a non-protected/banned/restricted/etc snake across border should give you information on any papers you will need. Deffinitely get the snake examined by a vet and a clean bill of health will be useful as well.

There are laws in oshawa and smaller cities where any constrictor is banned. In pickering, Toronto, scarbourough, and ajax I know for sure there is no laws against it ... just be sure not to get caught with it because they will confiscate it.