Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in pa and have owned a pigmy rattler for almost 2 years. The only reason I bought him is because I heard from a buddy of mine who sells venoms at shows said I don't need one for our state. He also told me that the only venomous you would need a license for is a timber for some reason or another. I was just wondering if he was correct or not. So before I go calling around I was wondering if anyone from around here or who knows can shed some light on the subject. Thanks.

I live in Buck County, PA and have never had a prob. it's not like NJ where everything is illegal and needs to have a permit. We are safe here in PA for now q=D

"Native Protected" for Sistrurus catenatus, (Massasauga), in PA.
With all the recent evenomations lately in the USA, let's be exremely carefull with our serpents, otherwise the consequences will be devastating to our hobby!

Cheers,

Derek K.

NP.

Derek K.

Gosh, you'd think horrible pain and death would be enough reason to be careful. .

NP.

From what I know.....you need a fishing license to collect timbers and copperheads (actually you need it for ANY native reptiles) As for the Timber, you need to have a special license. It limits your collection to 2 and you must register the ones you catch/buy (lets be realistic) with fish and game. If I remember correctly, the Eastern Masasauga ( and other endangered, not threatened species) is strictly off limits. In fact, if you happen to SEE one in the wild, consider youself lucky, they're nearly extinct in PA. That's the breakdown as I know it. Every exotic species of reptile is fair game, you don't need anything to keep them, Crocodilians, Venomous, etc. Just make sue that you abide by ALL local laws, some of those are strict.

Thanks
Todd Evans

required to collect Crotalus horridus, (Timber Rattlesnake). Only one specimen may be collected by each permitee. Unless the law has changed recently, a Protective Native Venomous "Permit" is still being issued to collect Sistrurus catenatus (Massasauga). I would imagine that you would have to provide a very very good reason to PA Fish and Game, before they issue this kind of permit.

Cheers,

Derek K.

, please forgive us all for utlizing Viper designated thread space.

Cheers,

Derek K.

oops, didn't realize that either. Sorry. Thanks for the info also.

All of you have touched on all the regulations in PA, they just need to be combined.
horridus: one would need a fishing lic. AND a rattlesnake hunters lic. Most who would collect one can get only one, but those who would participate in a roundup are allowed to take two. This needs to be renewed annually. The collecting season is only a month long, and is restricted to the time they would be in transient habitat (summer dispersal).
catenatus: very limited in numbers in this state, probably heading in the same direction as NY populations. They are strictly off limits except for scientific purposes, and even those requests are scrutinized heavily, for good reason, so I wouldn't even consider trying to get one. Besides, there are plenty of other pygs available whose pops. aren't facing extinction. Plus, applications requesting captive born specimens will most likely be ignored or denied.
If you do find a catenatus in PA, consider it a seriously rare even.
creep