Reptile & Amphibian Forums

To own any animal native to the state of TN, one must have a permit.Take Corn snakes for example. To legally own a one Corn is $10 per year..not bad.
BUT to own over 10 Corn snakes requires a $100 permit
A $100 permit to breed em.
A $100 permit to sell em
A $100 permit to buy em
Total = $400 per year !
Even if you by a Corn snake from FL, need a permit. A guy down here in TN ordered a WC asian rat snake from Asia. In it's species name is "guatta" as it is in Corn snakes. TN Wildlife got wind on this and took the snake from the guy that had it. It was not a native from TN! Just because of the partial species name, that was good enought for TNW! This is pittiful
Of course I'd rather pay for permits than have a reptile ban!
I used to breed Corns and loved working with em, but,I don't anymore.
After you receive the permits to legally own Corns, TNW can come & search your house @ anytime.They can take one's entire collection if your not up to date on your permits,including your boas,pythons and anything else. This is crazy!
Example. A friend of mine had purchased a Cougar but hadn't got a permit for it. He would take her out in the yard & play with her. The neighbors got concerned and called TNW. TN Wildlife showed up, took the Cougar, ALL his boids! even giant bird eating spiders. The cougar was the ONLY animal native to TN.
This was a few yrs back. Until this day, he's never seen,nor got his animals back!
I called TNW to ask about getting a venomid albino monical cobra....what a waste of my time! The wildlife "officer" was VERY rude! He said....... "To own one of these things legally you must" A) Prove without a shadow of a dought,you've worked with venomous animals for over two yrs.
B) Have on hand 2 vials of anti-venom, per every venomous snake.
C) the animal must be in a locked cage set down inside another locked cage.
D) you can only own venomous if your doing school and other demostrations or breeding for Zoos
The the TNW officer told me in a VERY stern voice, " You get one of these things, I'll come to your house and take every animal you own if you don't have you sh!t right!" how nice of him. I made the comment, " Between your permits & venomous laws,you sure are making hard for snake lovers to own certain animals" His reply? "that why ya got to get all this stuff & spend money,"we" don't want people having this sh!t" I understand these laws were made by TN & not this one bad person with the attitude,still doesn't seem right
The permits also go for Kingsnakes,even CA Kingsnakes,milks....ect. These snakes are not endangered either.
Ya can't even take a Bluegill and keep it in an aquirium BUT you can fish for em (with a license) kill em & eat em.
To finish up. I can keep a 20ft Burm python absolutly free,but not a baby corn without answering to "the man"
TN needs to make some changes! IMO .Dave

Remind me never to go to Tennesee! OUCH

Yeah,

The ODNR has a similar scam going on here in Ohio. From what I understand, a few people who were "busted" are fighting them in court. I should also mention that they want to PIT tag everything in sight as well.

Tim

I'll bet money the officer you talked to was Walter Cook. He is a rude, arrogant... (well I better keep it clean!!)

IT WASN'T THE 1ST TIME.NOR THE LAST. I'M GUESSING YOU'VE HAD THE PLEASURE ?