Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Currently, Illinois does not ban burms. Some believe that a snake over six feet long is illegal in Illinois, but a quick search of the Illinois Dangerous Animal Act will dispute this myth. It only outlaws "dangerous reptiles" . What is a dangerous burmese? I think it depends on the owner.I previously owned two burms over 17 feet long and 160 lbs each. I would not consider them dangerous because I took the proper precautions. Each snake was housed in a 12' x 4' x4' securely locked cage. I always handled them with a friend and would not allow them out in the general public. The snake's cages were also housed in a secure room with a locked door. although I don't own them any more (they died at the old age of 17)I believe they were not dangerous ( but boy were they messy). Most new burm owners have no idea what it takes to care for an adult snake or how to. As a result , they don't take the proper precautions and that is when an accident happens. I believe burms, retics and anacondas will be illegal to own in the next few years in Illinois. This is in response to a few irresponsible owners whose snakes bite, mame , or kill a human or beloved family pet. I ask all burm owners to be responsible and help give reptile owners ammunition against restricting certain species.

You qouted the law and that was this, "dangerous reptiles", this is left up to interpritation. So you may not see it that way (and ou thought means nothing in law) but the person who does not know reptiles does (usually the law). So, with that said and the sizes your snakes are, if someone saw them they could take them from you because its not our interpritation but theirs. I was told about this law a couple years ago, and advised the same thing. Although it does not spell it out, it does give them an outlet to make them outlawed. So, I do not think the will change what they stated. Also, my other questions is why would they do it in a few years and not right now if they thought it to be a threat? Just playing a different role for discussion purposes.

So, please discuss away.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

Actually, in Illinois any constricting snake in excess of 14ft is considered life-threatening based on case law going back to 1980. This law is enforced on any owner who is not in a protected class pursuant to the Illinois Dangerous Animal Act (ie vet, zoo, education/scientific organization, licensed shelter). The six foot limit is an Illinois Dept of Agriculture regulation for IDA licensed businesses such as pet shops which prohibits the sale of any snake six feet or longer. Since Illinois law enforcement and other animal handling organizations hear of the IDA rule, they enforce that limit in error.

Individual communities have their own restrictions including the complete banning of constrictors (for ex: Oak Park, IL) which includes any size snake.

It gets more confusing as jurisdictions overlap and more often, animals are confiscated until legal disputes are resolved usually forcing owners to give up their animals rather than pay the excessive fees charged for care. Word to the wise, don't draw attention from your local authorities. So the peaceful walk in the park with your pet 10ft burmese is not a good idea.
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