Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am shipping a burm this week to North Carolina...Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this?

Well, It's not exactly cool outside. I would suggest putting your burm into a stryofoam box (minnow bucket will work) with a cool pack (like a frozen one for lunch boxes). Tape the cool pack down so it won't fly around, shread up some newspaper and toss ur burm in after poking a few holes in there. Put the styrofoam into a cardboard box and tape it. Write whatever you want on the sides like "this side up", "fragile", etc. Remember, if you are shipping UPS do not write SNAKE!! on the side as you are likely to raise suspision and have your package mailed back to you with a warning and a copy of what you are allowed and not allowed to legally ship.

Bon chance!
Sami
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0.2 Burms
4.6 Rats~Rex, Winkin', Kanga, Noodle, Cy, Pyp, Symone, Vyolet, Onyx, Blinkin'
1.1 Dogs~Boots, Karrey

"She's got beauty, brains...and a set of pipes"

The packing part was great; I completely agree but to tell someone to misindentify an animal by mismarking a packing box is ILLEGAL. The ONLY way you can LEGALLY ship snakes is via the air cargo system (I personally use Delta and have never had a problem with them). This is one of the reasons why the keeping of any snake may someday be outlawed....and if, we, the herp community, can't get our acts together and do things the right way (FOLLOW THE RULES) then someone else will decide that its not that important to allow people to keep snakes. Sorry for the rant. I personally don't like the many obstacles that we face when it comes to shipping but that's just the way it is and we must be responsible in how we go about our "business".

Rob Carmichael, Curator of the Wildlife Discovery Center, Lake Forest, IL

Last I checked Rob, Airborne Express does have a reptile policy and will ship non-venomous reptiles. I got this information a while ago from one of their HQ's, and they specifically told me that a lot of the problems arise simply becasue their own depots do not know their own policies, but as far as I know they still will ship non-venomous. Completely with you though on the mislabeling of the containers. It is as bad as tlling someone to keep a "hot" snake in a state or county where they are illegal. Just do not get caught. It is this attitude that the politicians use to creat more and more stringent laws about the keeping of exotics. We do not need any more "bad" laws. Todd

Carmichael, as everyone seems to have to completely prove themselves worthy to post their opinions on the forum...I have shipped quite a few times and have been called by UPS to make sure that the snake I was shipping was not venomous. Though I could convince the caller, I could not convince the manager and had to attempt to send my package though Delta instead. Perhaps I am attempting to pull the wool over UPS' eyes...but I have taken all previous precautions along with this by double (if not triple) boxing my animals. Perhaps in the future a shipping company will take all privledges away from us...or perhaps someone will realize what we are trying to do...and allow us to ship our animals. Name me one large scale breeder who does not ship his/her animals. Give me one good reason why I should take a 50 mile drive the next time I want to trade a boa for a burm. I respect your opinion...but why don't you get one of your own instead of starting debates everywhere? Good heavens.

Sami