Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi im looking to get my first hot snake,but dont know what the law is for keeping a hot snake.i live in the st louis missouri area and dont have a clue what i would need to do to obtain a permit. any help would be great. thanks

I used to live 45 minutes south of St Louis (I live in Boone co now). As far as state regulations go there is no permit required for exotic venomous. There is, however, a permit required for native venomous (copperhead, cottonmouth, timber/canebrake rattlesnake, massasauga, pygmy rattlesnake and all of the subspecies whether native or not). This permit is a class 2 wildlife permit and costs about $250 annually. Now county and city ordinances are a different matter. Try checking with the city, conservation dept, and DNR to verify the legalities where you live. Also, pick up a copy of Wildlife Code of Missouri. It lists the state regulations (they may have changed so don't take my word as gospel read the code book).

hope this helps.

TW

If you are going to keep native species you must be able to provide documentation that these animals come from a legal source OUTSIDE of the state of MO.

If you are going to keep native species you must be able to provide documentation that these animals come from a legal source OUTSIDE of the state of MO.

; OR from another valid Class II wildlife holder in MO who has fufilled the above statement.

if you live in st. louis city, you cannot legally keep venomous animals.

if you live in st. louis county you must contact the dept of health, animal regs, and apply for a permit to keep any hot stuff. however, very few municipalities legally allow you to keep hot stuff. (i have checked almost all of them around 40/44 area.)

if you keep native or exotic animals as per state law, they must be registered with the local sheriff's office.

as crotalus said, if you keep any native you must apply for the wildlife class II permit. you must now also pass a test before you can get this permit. the state will check to assure you are legal in your county and municipality before you get the permit.

good luck.
email if you have other questions

-rhodostom

What sort of test do they make you take now?

i have never seen the test, so i really can't say.

i have heard though it covers general snake care. things you should know before you keep a hot snake.

-rhodostom

Thats actually a good idea.