Hello. My name is Timothy Gould, and I am from Longmeadow, MA (Hampden County). For over five (5) years now, I have been wanting to keep/breed Drymarchon c. couperi (Eastern Indigo Snakes) but haven't been able to due mostly to time, space, and money. But also, clarification on the laws within MA (Massachusetts), specifically, of course, on Drymarchon c. couperi. I am aware that a federally-issued Inter-state Commerce permit is required for transportation over state lines. But I need to know if any special state-issued permit is required...???
The New England Herpetological Society nor the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife are very helpful in the clarification of herp laws, which--as I was informed by Shawn Fay of Regal Reptiles in Providence, RI, whom I worked for as the 'snakeman' from August 30-October 25, 2004--are technically more like regulations and thus can be fought in court, at least by a business (bigger, opposing congregation). Supposedly, this is also why the Supreme Court will avoid dealing with herp-related issues as much and as long as possible. (Shawn mentioned this when we got on to a topic one day about him making a small chain out of his business, with a possible store in Worchester, MA, or somewhere in MA, where some of the animals he may get could be listed as not eligible for sale. He would probably choose (northern) CT anyhow because of the slightly more lenient herp laws, e.g., able to sell Emerald Tree Boas and Green Tree Pythons (GTP), unlike in MA, and he's a big GTP dealer.)
ANYWAY, I suppose if you click on the "MA. Herptile Permits?" link (on left side of page of the NEHS website), then the first link down, which leads you to the "NEHS Proposal for Altering Massachusetts DFW Restricted Herptiles List" page, and scroll down to the "Recommended changes: Snakes" link and click on it, it more/less clarifies the genus Drymarchon:
"Drymarchon: Only one species can be kept without a permit. However, many other species in this genus are being kept and captive bred regularly, for example Drymarchon melanurus. One species is federally protected, however, and should be excluded, of course."
...That last sentence there - is this implying/informing that Drymarchon c. couperi canNOT be kept without a special state-issued permit? What also confuses me is that most Drymarchon c. couperi keepers/breeders claim there is no law in MA pertaining to the keeping/breeding of Drymarchon c. couperi, and thus a permit is not necessary. These keepers/breeders, at least, are not aware of any law/permit requirement...please check out Doug Taylor's website: indigosnakes.com/ and more specifically, his page: Status and Permits as an example - I have also talked with him many times in the past (not since last summer), and I believe he had talked to other Drymarchon c. couperi keepers/breeders for me about MA laws/regulations, and they knew of none regarding Drymarchon c. couperi.
Please help. Thanks!
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T.J. Gould
