Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In Georgia we can have a native venomous snake without a permit. But we can not have a native non venomous snake. This is law is really messed up and should be changed. I propose that we do what California does with the hunting/fishing licenses. If you are from Georgia and would like to have to have this law changed contact me via email. We all know that folks come in from different states and take wildlife back with them to their home state. So this law is broken all the time. I am willing to try to get some petitions and even go the captial to talk about this if I have enough peoples support. it may take me few days to get back to you cuz I am going to be out of town but I will email everyone back who emails me.

thanks for your time,

john

One of the big problems we have in Georgia is that we don't have any active Herp Societies. We really have no organization to voice our opinions and desire through, and no real lobby. I think there are enough herpers in Georgia to get some of these laws amended or repealed, but we have to got organized and make ourselves heard.

Most states have somewhat sane laws regarding keeping and breeding indigenous species. You are allowed to catch a certain number with a hunting license, maybe another permit allows you to breed them and sell the offspring but not the wild-caught adults...those make sense. Not Georgia. In Georgia, you cannot keep a Corn Snake. No Corn Snake..no matter what the origin, no matter the morph, nor can you keep an Eastern Kingsnake, a Florida Kingsnake, a Northern Pine Snake or a Southern Pine Snake. If it's non-venomous and indigenous to Georgia, you can't keep it. The only reason for that is that the DNR doesn't want to have to:
#1..hire people that are qualified to identify snakes and verify their origin.
#2..go to the trouble of issuing the permits, verifying origins, etc.
It's just much simpler to say "No indigenous snakes." One of the excuses they will put up is that they don't want people releasing snakes into the wild. Gimme a break. How much trouble do other states really have with people releasing Albino Corn Snakes? Until recently, it was illegal in Georgia to own a Ferret. The pet lobby got that one repealed.

Once a year, the DNR has a meeting to discuss changes for the upcoming General Assembly. Every year we have the opportunity to go and try to change some of these laws. Every year they don't hear it because not enough people show up. If we had an active Herp Society we could voice our needs and the Society could work with the DNR to write the amendments and structure the new regulations and maybe we could get somewhere.

I agree with you 100%. I belive they are enough people here in Ga but theres not alot of Herpetological Clubs. They are some in Athens and Atlanta. Do you think the law could be changed if there was a petition created and that they was enough names one it. I would like to put together a small herp club in my area.
It would be free of charge. And you could bring your snakes as long they are in a cage and non venmous. I have nothing against venomous snakes just dont want anyone getting hurt or sued if one escaped at a meeting and bit someone.

Yeah, what we need really is a statewide society with regional chapters. I've been talking with another fairly large-scale breeder about this for a few months now. The problem is that it's such a big undertaking that one or two people can't organize it. You need a team of people that are willing to work on it and devote some time to it.

E-mail me if you are interested in helping organize something for your area. We will try to put something together that is statewide and will give us some voice. It just too difficult to get a bunch of separate organizations to coordinate on anything. Much easier with several chapters under one umbrella.

Well, at least we're allowed to have the albino corn snake. No normals though. Actually, I think it's just that as long as it has red eyes, it's ok. No field collecting here...NOTHING. If I want to field collect, I have to go out of state. I'm all for captive bred and everything, but I have an affinity for small woodland snakes...and I don't know of anyone who breeds ringnecks or redbelly snakes. Not to mention you can't own anything venomous, crocodilians, or anacondas of any kind (kind of frustrates me because I love yellow anacondas...). Well, this coming monday, either I'm going somewhere in Jersey to just look for some snakes, or take a bit of a road trip to collect a couple small woodland species. Back to Georgia though (sorry for my ranting) maybe it's time for someone to actually start a herp society there. Or even better, how about someone get a national one going? (If there is one already...I'd love to hear about it).
-----
1.1 Albino Nelson's Milks
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.0.1 Albino Corn
0.1 Mex Mex
0.1 Northern Blue Tongue
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
0.0.1 Cuban Tree Frog

There are national herp societies. They tend to deal less with the individual herper and his needs and more with scientific research and taxonomy issues. A really good one is SSAR.

That's understandable. But we do need something to help out our hobby as well as the scientific research.
-----
1.1 Albino Nelson's Milks
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.0.1 Albino Corn
0.1 Mex Mex
0.1 Northern Blue Tongue
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
0.0.1 Cuban Tree Frog

I belive there is enough people in GA to get the laws changed. The only problem is getting it organized. The pet store industry would probably support the change of the laws. I am working on putting together a small free herp club in northwest GA. Hopefully when I start the club more will form in my state like it. And maybe someday there will be enough clubs in Ga to change the messed up laws.

Yeah, I think the pet people would get behind it. They are losing out on a lot of sales, after all Corn Snakes are the number 1 selling pet snake in the world.

Kingsnakes, milk snakes, gartersnakes, green tree frogs, and some box turtles are always popular too. I think if we get organized enough that some of the laws could someday be changed here in Georgia. Salamanders and newts are also popular too.

I work in the reptile area of a pet shop, and the biggest sellers for us are corn snakes, garter snakes, kingsnakes, ball pythons, red-tail boas, any sort of colorful or 'cute' frog (with the exception of mantellas and dart frogs), anoles, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, skinks, and tarantulas. We also have a high number of requests for chameleons, but when they come in, no one ever buys them.
-----
1.1 Albino Nelson's Milks
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.0.1 Albino Corn
0.1 Mex Mex
0.1 Northern Blue Tongue
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
0.0.1 Cuban Tree Frog

Well, at least we're allowed to have the albino corn snake. No normals though. Actually, I think it's just that as long as it has red eyes, it's ok. No field collecting here...NOTHING. If I want to field collect, I have to go out of state. I'm all for captive bred and everything, but I have an affinity for small woodland snakes...and I don't know of anyone who breeds ringnecks or redbelly snakes. Not to mention you can't own anything venomous, crocodilians, or anacondas of any kind (kind of frustrates me because I love yellow anacondas...). Well, this coming monday, either I'm going somewhere in Jersey to just look for some snakes, or take a bit of a road trip to collect a couple small woodland species. Back to Georgia though (sorry for my ranting) maybe it's time for someone to actually start a herp society there. Or even better, how about someone get a national one going? (If there is one already...I'd love to hear about it).
-----
1.1 Albino Nelson's Milks
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.0.1 Albino Corn
0.1 Mex Mex
0.1 Northern Blue Tongue
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
0.0.1 Cuban Tree Frog