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Keeping snakes in Alaska

deathstalker Oct 06, 2010 01:37 AM

Yes, hello. I have difficult times researching herp laws in many states and become extremely frustrated, and Alaska (AK) is proving especially difficult; all I find are proposals about venomoids and catching native herps - it's NO help!

I would simply just like to know if (harmless) snakes can be kept legally in AK, or if any permit(s) are required. I inquire because back in the early-mid 90s, a long-term family friend who lived in AK for 12 years in the 80s told me it was believed NO snakes naturally occurred in the state, and thus NO (exotic) snakes were allowed to be kept neither, or there'd be a $10K fine...?!

My girlfriend and I are strongly considering moving to AK for many reasons, but We wouldn't be able to so easily part with any of Our ten (10) snakes, so this is somewhat a deciding factor. And We of course don't want to keep them illegally.

Thanks in advance for ANY and ALL information regarding this concern!

Sincerely,
Timothy

Replies (10)

Chris_McMartin Oct 06, 2010 08:33 AM

I would check with the state's department of agriculture or equivalent and ask about livestock importation laws/regulations...and also ask for a contact to, uh, contact regarding pet laws/regulations. Then I would try to talk to someone at the city/local level for the desired area.

I would ask for a link to the pertinent regulations WITHOUT mentioning snakes specifically, just that you want to read all the regs yourself. If they ask what animals you have, just say you have a variety of nontraditional pets, i.e. other than cats and dogs. That way, you can look at regs for hamsters, birds, fish, chinchillas, and reptiles.

I think that if you say you want to know what the laws are concerning keeping snakes, you're "setting the tone of the conversation" a certain way, and depending who's on the other end of the phone, they might have preconceived notions and steer you in the wrong direction, or worst-case, may use that call as the basis for a "we need a law prohibiting snakes" movement.

This is just my own opinion.
-----
Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Chris_McMartin Oct 06, 2010 08:39 AM

DO NOT LIE about what you have, but at the same time don't come right out and say you have snakes...I don't want you to think I'm advocating dishonesty, but again, it's all how you shape the conversation.

Same thing with landlords...usually "pet policies" apply to large, damage- and odor-producing animals like dogs and cats. I always mention I have contained, terrarium-type pets. Sure, one of those is a snake, but when pressed I usually mention the turtles I have--there is generally a better public opinion of turtles. If you immediately say "I have a snakes," that tends to raise a few eyebrows. I think it's unfair, statistically unsupported (based on damage and injury compared to dogs/cats), and discriminatory, but that's just the way it is right now. But I digress.

Surely AK has some reasonable herp regs...after all, there's a REASON there are very few native herps. An escaped snake wouldn't last long enough to cause an invasive problem.
-----
Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

TimCole Oct 06, 2010 11:21 AM

The Common Garter (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) is the only reptile found in Alaska.

It is protected.

As far as what you can keep, contact the Game Office and ask them or e-mail them so you have something in writing if needed.
-----
Tim Cole
www.austinherpsociety.org
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

deathstalker Oct 06, 2010 02:00 PM

Hello Tim,

Thanks for Your prompt response - it is greatly appreciated! I did in fact check all around on the Division of Commercial Fisheries Home Page but to no avail. I tried searching for email contacts, for I, too, would like to get it all in writing as I once did from the Florida Fish & Game regarding what animals can be caught and that ALL may be transported over state lines, but they're all phone numbers which I will get to calling soon.

I am aware of the many claims that Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. (is it fitchi?) has been seen in (southern) AK, but on ALASKAHERPS.INFO, it is considered an "enigmatic" species along with the Alaska Worm Salamander (Batrachoseps caudatus) and Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei). Still, I believe it occurs in (southern) AK because it occurs in British Columbia which of course borders AK.

Thanks again!!

Sincerely,
Timothy

>>The Common Garter (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) is the only reptile found in Alaska.
>>
>>It is protected.
>>
>>As far as what you can keep, contact the Game Office and ask them or e-mail them so you have something in writing if needed.
>>-----
>>Tim Cole
>>www.austinherpsociety.org
>>www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
>>www.AustinReptileService.net
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
>>Conservation through Education

deathstalker Oct 06, 2010 01:41 PM

Hello Chris,

Thank You very much for Your prompt response(s) - it is greatly appreciated! I did in fact check all around on the Division of Commercial Fisheries Home Page but to no avail. I tried searching for email contacts, but they're all numbers which I will get to calling soon.

"...just say you have a variety of nontraditional pets..." - I like this! Heh, but I, too, already thought of going around the direct subject of concern: snakes and asking about unusual pets in general. Indeed, it is just like getting an apartment which always specify the rules/regulations on cats and dogs but never caged animals, and I've just slid them through under the radar...technically, they're to blame for being lazy in specifying ALL types of animals!

I, too, believe mentioning snakes specifically could raise unfair discrimination and even cause people to "white-lie" the laws/rules/regulations in their favour which, of course, they could be slammed in court for. Or, indeed, one's irrational fear could entice them to raise interest in a possible ban on serpents just because...curse preconceived notions and phobias!

"DO NOT LIE about what you have..." - indeed agreed! Honesty is a strong value of mine, thus I uphold it as fair and necessary; however, should I feel--and my intuition is sharp!--that one could "white-lie" the laws/rules/regulations to screw me over, I may fight fire with fire...after all, two negatives make a positive in algebra, so why not in Life Itself?

Upon inquiry of what I have exactly, perhaps I would start off with something like 'harmless reptiles' but which would clearly make them demand specification. Or maybe I could use my New England-native amphibians...! But then, I should just say 'harmless herps' to begin with, for I would then look like an idiot calling calling reptiles amphibians, ha!

Lastly in agreement, I, too, have thought there to be NO real/logical/legitimate/rational reasons to ban herps, for I thought the same: if-and-when any animals did escape, even in 80-90 degree southern AK during summer, they wouldn't last long. Thus, such northern areas (near or through the Arctic Circle) ALL around the world should allow most--if not all--herps in my opinion.

Thanks again for Your time and input!!

Sincerely,
Timothy

>>I would check with the state's department of agriculture or equivalent and ask about livestock importation laws/regulations...and also ask for a contact to, uh, contact regarding pet laws/regulations. Then I would try to talk to someone at the city/local level for the desired area.

I would ask for a link to the pertinent regulations WITHOUT mentioning snakes specifically, just that you want to read all the regs yourself. If they ask what animals you have, just say you have a variety of nontraditional pets, i.e. other than cats and dogs. That way, you can look at regs for hamsters, birds, fish, chinchillas, and reptiles.

I think that if you say you want to know what the laws are concerning keeping snakes, you're "setting the tone of the conversation" a certain way, and depending who's on the other end of the phone, they might have preconceived notions and steer you in the wrong direction, or worst-case, may use that call as the basis for a "we need a law prohibiting snakes" movement.

This is just my own opinion

>>DO NOT LIE about what you have, but at the same time don't come right out and say you have snakes...I don't want you to think I'm advocating dishonesty, but again, it's all how you shape the conversation.
>>
>>Same thing with landlords...usually "pet policies" apply to large, damage- and odor-producing animals like dogs and cats. I always mention I have contained, terrarium-type pets. Sure, one of those is a snake, but when pressed I usually mention the turtles I have--there is generally a better public opinion of turtles. If you immediately say "I have a snakes," that tends to raise a few eyebrows. I think it's unfair, statistically unsupported (based on damage and injury compared to dogs/cats), and discriminatory, but that's just the way it is right now. But I digress.
>>
>>Surely AK has some reasonable herp regs...after all, there's a REASON there are very few native herps. An escaped snake wouldn't last long enough to cause an invasive problem.
>>-----
>>Chris McMartin
>>www.mcmartinville.com
>>I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

PHFaust Oct 06, 2010 08:50 AM

Not sure if this link will help you locate and answers from a person, but they have a section for snake farm license. Perhaps they can advise about private ownership or point you in right direction.
AK Snake Farm

-----
Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

deathstalker Oct 06, 2010 02:08 PM

Hello Cindy,

Thanks much for the time to find this link and promptly sending it my way - it is a page I overlooked when surfing Division of Commercial Fisheries Home Page. I don't know what it will serve me, but I will read it more thoroughly. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to suck it up and call. :/

Thanks again!!

Sincerely
Timothy

>>Not sure if this link will help you locate and answers from a person, but they have a section for snake farm license. Perhaps they can advise about private ownership or point you in right direction.
>>AK Snake Farm
>>
>>-----
>>Cindy Steinle
>>PHFaust
>>Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
>> Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

daneby Oct 06, 2010 12:25 PM

I dont know for sure if you need permits to keep certain snakes in Alaska, but I do know pet stores there sell them. A friend of mine lived there last year & told me about the Colombian boas & carpet pythons he saw for sale in petstores.


Dan Eby

deathstalker Oct 06, 2010 02:18 PM

Hello Dan,

Thank You very much! ...and for the prompt response like everyone else (I keep thanking for this because the last post on this forum looked to be from June LOL so I didn't think much traffic occurred on here). This is promising, for as far as I know, anywhere else in the country that herps are legally sold out of pet stores, they can also be legally kept. And while responding to Tim's response, I happened to catch on ALASKAHERPS.INFO--the link I provided, ha!--that:

"A variety of exotic reptiles have on occasion been reported in Alaska, usually as escaped pets near populated areas. Examples include a rubber boa, garter snake, and bull snake in Juneau, and a snapping turtle near Anchorage."

...which could further indicate even more various herps are (legally) sold and kept in AK.

Thanks again!!

Sincerely,
Timothy

>>I dont know for sure if you need permits to keep certain snakes in Alaska, but I do know pet stores there sell them. A friend of mine lived there last year & told me about the Colombian boas & carpet pythons he saw for sale in petstores.
>>
>>
>>Dan Eby

deathstalker Oct 06, 2010 02:29 PM

...all along!! Heh, I don't know what I was seeing...

Timothy

>>Hello Dan,
>>
>>Thank You very much! ...and for the prompt response like everyone else (I keep thanking for this because the last post on this forum looked to be from June LOL so I didn't think much traffic occurred on here). This is promising, for as far as I know, anywhere else in the country that herps are legally sold out of pet stores, they can also be legally kept. And while responding to Tim's response, I happened to catch on ALASKAHERPS.INFO--the link I provided, ha!--that:
>>
>>"A variety of exotic reptiles have on occasion been reported in Alaska, usually as escaped pets near populated areas. Examples include a rubber boa, garter snake, and bull snake in Juneau, and a snapping turtle near Anchorage."
>>
>>...which could further indicate even more various herps are (legally) sold and kept in AK.
>>
>>Thanks again!!
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>Timothy
>>
>>>>I dont know for sure if you need permits to keep certain snakes in Alaska, but I do know pet stores there sell them. A friend of mine lived there last year & told me about the Colombian boas & carpet pythons he saw for sale in petstores.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Dan Eby
>>
>>

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