Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone tell me if Pa has any herp Laws and What they are and where to find them...Thanks

Genarally there aren't any as far as exotic reptiles are concerned. There are daily limits on captured copperheads, and other native reptiles. Are you asking for collecting purposes or are you buying an exotic?

As far as exocits, basically anything goes........venomous, large constrictors, etc.

of course, there may be local laws in your area and finding those would be impossible without knowing where you are.

Thanks
Todd Evans

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requires a fifty dollar license fee for anyone selling or transporting animals they did not produce. Records of each purchase and sale must be recorded. Pennsylvania natives can not be sold (even variants such as albinos) unless they were legally obtained from out of state or produced from legally obtained adults. (Hard to prove, and the proof would be on the seller). Natives reptile and amphibians (except protected endangered species)can be collected with certain limits (two for most species, one for rattle snakes and thirty for snapping turtles) and a valid fishing license must be maintained during the possession of the animals. Turtles and tortoises of any size are reguired to be tested for salmonella at least six times three days apart prior to coming into the state and approved by the Department of Agriculture. The state may waive this requirement if the animals are sold for bonafide research, zoological purposes, and for food. The state has a right to test water or substrate on pre-approved animals. Local laws may prohibit the keeping of "dangerous" animals. Reptiles, amphibians, and fish are regulated by the fish commission, and mammals and birds by the game commission. Exotic mammals are prohibited from coming into the state, and can only be purchased from licensed dealers, who produced them in the state.

The $50 permit you mentioned for transporting and selling reptiles that were not produced by their courier/dealer...is this the same permit that is considered a "hauler's permit?" Hauler permits are required by the Pa Dept of Agriculture for farm livestock transport. The dept is stating that they are in the process of including reptiles to the list, even though they are not included in the application forms as of present.

The way you stated the need for these permits - is that to say that if you produced the animals yourself (all of them being transported and sold), this permit is not necesary?

HFR

A dealer/ hauler license would be required if the animals are transported from where they are produced. A license is required for domestic animals, but thir definition of a domestic animal is one held in captivity. Tell that to the rattle snake, scorpion, or allligator.

The license requirement is not a certainty at this point. I contacted the dept of agriculture in Harrisburg through my state representatives office after being informed of these requirements by the local office. They first said that they did nothing to regulate reptiles and amphibians.
After being told what the local office had told me they said they'd have to check it out. That was two days ago. I will let you know when I hear.

It is for sure that no license is needed to sell reptiles and amphibians produced through personal breeding efforts. The regs only apply to transactions involving three or more people. Everyone I have talked to made that point.