Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Robert Preston here in Georgia. I'm in the process of going through the permit procedures for keeping venomous snakes. Here's the deal: I do drug prevention (mainly tobacco use prevention) presentations for my job (I'm a health educator). I have been using two of my burmese pythons in these presentations, and the presentations have become wildly popular in my health district (I average nearly one a week, with anywhere from 15-500 kids or adults in each presentation). I would like to use a venomous snake in some of these presentations, particularly when speaking to older kids and adults. I realize that I will probably have to use venomoid snakes in these presentations for liability purposes. Please, I do not want to re-hash the venomoid debate in this thread. I have researched this issue extensively, and I know full well the issues surrounding the venomoid controversy. I have my own thoughts about venomoids, and I must admit that they are mixed. But that is not what I want to discuss here. My dilemma is that I'm having a hard time finding an insurance carrier that will insure the snake (I only want one). As a part of the Georgia permit process, I must have a $40,000 liability policy for each venomous snake I have. However, no company will insure me when they find out that I would like to use the snake for presentations. Has anyone out there encountered this before? Does anyone know of a company that will insure projects like this? Am I wasting my time? And for the record, I do have experience with venomous snakes.

RP

I happen to be a casualty actuary so here are some things I would try to do...this isn't exactly my expertise so this is just some brainstorming.

1) Contact the GA Dept of Insurance and perhaps you could get an exemption or at least a list of insurers that would insure things like this. I would stress that if you are using venemoid that by definition...the snake is no longer venemous. If the law specifies say...a Timber Rattler then yes the snake would still need insurance coverage. This may be a loophole allowing you a way around this...ask a lawyer friend.

2) Ask a local vet or better yet ask other facilities that have venemous snakes who insures them. (ie. zoo, private animal resucue, tourist trap etc. just google for a list) It is possible that you are on such a smaller scale that it just isn't worth an insurers time to write such a small policy. Thier coverage is also probably an extension of their General Liability insurance and not a specific snake insurance policy.

3) Check with your insurance agent (if you are a homeowner) you may have coverage as an extension of this. Or, since you do this professionally, perhaps you could purchase some sort of small business liability insurance that would cover this sort of thing. (I doubt it would specifically exclude snakes and would cover you actions as a professional.) This would be similar to what a electrician might carry in case he wires a house that later burns down.

Hope this helps...sorry for the length. Good luck.