Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you have to tell the carriers exactly what is in a package? I know since many carriers aren't shipping live herps anymore, you have to just mark the box fragile or something, and then drop it off like that, but what do they ask about the contents of the package? Are they allowed to open it and inspect the contents?
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-Bill

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The only thing they might ask is something like, "is there anything potentially hazardous". The major carriers do not make you declare the contents for domestic shipments.

DHL does accept live tortoise shipments and USPS does small lizards (I think up to 20 inches). Nobody that I know does any snakes on the record (except Delta Dash which does pretty much anything but its more expensive) but a DHL rep told me they know the ship tons of snakes and other herps, they just can't know about it for insurance purposes.
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Jesse Rothacker
Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary
"Find out how you can get involved in reptile rescue..."
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The UPS by me DOES inspect all packages you bring in. Luckily, I found this out when shipping something other than animals. The UPS where I used to live did not do this, so I assume it is a local issue and not a company wide policy, but it is kind of disturbing that they are able to do that.

>>The UPS by me DOES inspect all packages you bring in. Luckily, I found this out when shipping something other than animals. The UPS where I used to live did not do this, so I assume it is a local issue and not a company wide policy, but it is kind of disturbing that they are able to do that

If you take the package directly to a UPS customer counter, they will inspect every package.

However, you can package the herp yourself, print your own label through UPS.com, then take the completed package to any UPS Store, Staples, Office Depot, etc. and simply drop it off. They normally will not ask the contents.
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Chris

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I have never had UPS inspect my packages. I do print my own lables and package the box very well. The form on UPS.com does not ask for the contents. I take the packages to the shipping counter and try to time it so I arrive just before they load the trucks. That way they don't have to sit on the dock any longer than necessary. I lable the boxes "live harmless Reptiles" "fragile" and "this side up".

UPS offically won't take snakes or spiders. I just say reptiles. No one has ever asked for more info than that.
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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents