Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I WANT a black rat snake, but I keep getting conflicting info as to whether or not I can legally have one in ohio. Does anyone know whether or not I can? And for that matter, where on earth do I get one?
Thanks
-Vincent

Even though they are all over the Midwest & Eastern US. You must purchase a $10 permit to keep them or a $25 to breed & sell them. Permits good for one yr. After an animal is 18" SVL, you must purchase a PIT Tag from ODNR for $7 and implant them w/it. Most Vets will not do this for you because the applicator is over half the girth of an 18" Blk Rat. You ALSO must be able to prove that you obtained your animals legally. I believe you are allowed four from the wild.? But you can buy Captive bred ones (from me - I'm shameless - hee hee) for $15 so why bother w/ the problems associated w/ WCs? If you have any other questions, contact District One Wildlife @ 614.644.3925. Try to get any answers in written form because it is quite common to get different answers if you talk to different people there. Good luck - they are great captives....

if you are allowed four from the wild, does that mean that as long as you have less than four, you don't have to bother with any paperwork?

You have to "bother with the paperwork" and PIT tags and inspections from the ODNR even if you only have one black rat snake. Also, albinos and hybrids are covered under the ruling as well. It is an idiotic ruling, designed to prevent people from owning and enjoying legitimate captive bred Ohio reptiles. There is a great article in the current "Reptiles" (March 2004) by Bob Ashley, going into more detail on the scam the ODNR is pulling. Also, Bill Love had some choice things to say about it in the last issue.

I have recently heard that the ODNR is also planning to raise the license fees currently in place.

Tim Spuckler

...and decides NOT to go thru all the "tagging & bagging" ??
I know there was a lot of trouble at the one show last year, and lots of folks got busted by undercover, etc. But, from what you have observed, are most private collectors (as opposed to breeders/dealers) ignoring all the permits & such. I wouldn't mind paying a fee so much, but I'll be fu*&^ed if I'm gonna put a tag in any of my snakes. Duffy

Do these same rules apply is you keep non-native snakes. Could you get a Yellow Rat Snake or a Texas Rat Snake and not have to get permits?

I live in Virginia, so I don't have these problems. I have Black, Yellow, Gray, and Texas Rats, and they are all nice snakes. I just got my Yellows a few weeks ago from TerryP at Kern, and I can tell you for a fact that he produced some very nice Yellows last year. You might think about getting a non-native E. obsoleta if that will keep the government out of your life.

Actually, only 2 of my ratsnakes are Ohio species. Both black, of course. One albino and one normal. And, yes, the non-native species are not even an issue. I just don't want to or have any plans to get rid of my blacks, nor to I intend to tag them. All of my snakes are captive born, and I think the whole thing is plain stupid. I was just wondering if most people with one or two native snakes are tagging them, or saying, "screw this"???

I'm just throwing my two cents in. I have four black rats and a bunch of other snakes. I'm in the People's Republic of Kalifornia, but if I were in Ohio, I would consider it a duty to violate idiotic laws such as these. That's just me. My belief is that government is becoming more and more our enemy, and I take great delight in getting away with as much as possible when it comes to PC laws or other idiot laws where government has no business sticking its nose. I also virulently hate lawyers. Just thought I'd throw that in, too.

Fish & Game and ODNR monitor kingsnake classifieds & forums on a reg. basis. Be careful of what you say. A friend of mine was set up on the classifieds & I was informed by ODNR that I made a comment on the forums that they did not appreciate. If you are involved in some illegal activity (which I'm not promoting), they prob. can get your info. It is all about getting your money. I do agree that it is just plain stupid that one has to PIT tag an 18" (SVL) or mutation Blk Rat.

...I guess I'm still wondering to what extent they really give a crap about the individual who is not breeding or selling snakes.
Clearly it would be foolish to try to sell black rats in Ohio without proper permits, etc. I guess I don't really have to worry about all that, being from a state that allows me to keep any animals that I wish. I was just wondering. Thanks again.
Duffy

t have seen them at the maryland shows for as little as 8$ dollors

With all of this talk about money for keeping/helping/enjoying a CB or WC native snake, how about fines for KILLING every snake you see. The money is about "preservation" right? People kill snakes like nothing, they don't understand that they eat mice and aren't "poisonous", but they don't do anything illegal, like "taking an animal out of the park", they just change the status of "Alive and well" to "Mortally wounded" and leave em lay as is.

Most older/stupid people kill snakes like they are roaches or rats upon sight. I watched an episode of Cops the other week where a cop clubbed a blk rat snake from this lady's roof area because she was histerical and called 911.

I don't really care to do anything or talk to anybody proper, just thinking out loud about the pointless laws that bring down everyones quality of life.

It goes beyond snakes too. I found a baby squirrel who's mother was killed by one of the MANY stray cats in this area. I contacted the department of wildlife about what I needed to do to care for it until it was old enough to be on its own. They said "there's no legal way for you to own that animal, just destroy it" How's that for preservation. Sorry, got off the reptile topic

from the branch of government designed to PROTECT native wildlife huh?? What a joke they have become. Guess there was no money in it for them.