(Posted this below also but since it's so far down didn't know if anyone would see it!)
As far as my knowledge we aren't allowed to breed any native PA species that are WC animals. We are also not allowed to remove any gravid females from the wild.We CAN breed snakes that are native from PA BUT they MUST be CB from another state. Any WC snakes from PA(or anywhere else for that matter since you don't have proof of sale/possession) are illegal to sell or make a profit off of,which includes breeding for sale. Here is the law regarding that.
(The purpose of our regulations regarding the sale of reptiles and amphibians is to minimize exploitation of wild populations by eliminating a profit motive. Catching gravid females and/or captive breeding of wild caught specimens to produced young for sale goes against our philosophy of not permitting the commercial use of these species.)
The poster said these snakes were WC from PA. I was just letting them know that they could get in some trouble if they were to sell these snakes or even breed them since they were WC. I sent the poster a message with the some of the laws but never got a reply back.
I am just letting this person know the laws since being that I live in PA I don't want the state passing new laws to combat people who don't follow our current laws. We have pretty good state laws concerning exotics but all it takes is a few law breakers and the state will again revise the laws on exotics. Now some local government's have different laws. In Philly you can not own any venomous animals.Lucky for me my local gov has NO Restrictions meaning we follow state law so I can pretty much own ANY reptile I wanted as long as I had a documentation of purchase for certain species.
Just a decade ago every spring petstores were FULL of WC black rat snakes because there were no laws regarding the sale of native species at all.Their numbers started to decline and so they made up some new laws to protect them. With the new law in effect to native species we are seeing a huge spike in the sale of WC yellow rat snakes and they sell for as little as 19.99 in some stores.Since yellow rat snakes are not native to PA petstores can sell them by the dozens.
If someone in PA wants to BREED and SELL a black rat snake the snake must be CB from another state and we must have proof of that sale.We must also keep documents on the young that the snakes produce if we are going to sell them. In the posters case he/she stated the snakes were WC. As a reptile owner I expect everyone to follow the laws including me. If we all respect the laws then the government will impose less restrictions on the keeping of exotic animals.
Unfortunately about a year or so ago a local boy in Buck's County PA bought an exotic snake from a reptile show that took place in Bucks/Lancaster county in PA. The kid has the snake for a week and later he gets tagged then starts feeling sick.The parents rush the kid to the hospital and it turns out the snake was an African Bush Viper.The kid lost part of his finger from what I understand and the parents decided to sue the dealer and the show and bring state wide attention to the reptile laws in PA.The case has yet to goto court but the parent's maintain that the dealer never told them the snake was venomous and say tougher restrictions need to be put in place to prevent this from happening again.Turns out the kid was only 16 and the dealer sold the snake to him BUT the parents were present and said it was ok but they maintain that he never once explained the snake was dangerous.Needless to say that show did not take place this year. It's little things like this that are bringing in new laws and restrictions IMO.
I just wanted Langly to know it is illegal in PA to sell young from a WC animal.In fact you aren't even really suppose to breed WC animals at all but in case they 'accidentally' mated you are not allowed to sell or trade them nor even put them back in the wild. I am not breakin em, I just wish more people follow local/state wide laws. People who own/breed herps already have enough people breathing down our necks and with nickle/dime breeders or first time snake owners not knowing local laws or disregarding them totally makes it bad on everyone.
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Reptiles
0.1 - Early 2002 Anery Motley Corn 33 1/2"
1.0 - Late 2003 Yellow Rat Snake 15 2/3"
0.0.1 - 2003 Banded California King Snake 29 2/3"
1.0 Green Anole
0.0.0 House Gecko
0.1 Painted Turtle
Mammals
4 female ferrets,1 male cat and 1 male doberman...and a few kids!
RIP - Nala my Rottie 08/19/2004
