Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I'm contemplating acquiring a pair of Eastern Indigos in the next year or two, so I'm diligently researching their husbandry requirements as well as the Federal and Illinois state permit application processes. I have a few questions about the latter and I hope that some Drymarchon enthusiasts might be able to help me out.

1.) Is the permit process explained in 17 IL ADMIN CODE, CH. 1, SEC. 1070 (http://www.dnr.state.il.us/espb/permit_ita_info.html) the appropriate one? I'm just looking for confirmation.

2.) Under which designation should a hobbyist apply for the permit, scientific? It certainly can't be educational or zoological/botanical, since I have no formal affiliation with an institution of that sort.

3.) If I planned to someday breed the animals, would I need a special permit or special designation on my permit? How does that possibility affect the application process at this stage?

Any further advice, especially from folks who have successfully applied for the permit in IL, would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much in advance,

David D.

First of all, you won't get much help from this forum, it's pretty dead. Second, I'm trying to go through the same process in Texas, from what I gathered you need an interstate commerce permit from federal fish and wildlife, the application is 16 pages long and cost $100 bucks, as far as selling the offspring, in Texas, I will have to have a commercial nongame permit, and if you buy them from out of state, keep good records as to who you got them from, with receipts. Good luck and I hope you get your indigos
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Dustin Smith

Thanks, Dustin. I've noticed that this isn't a particularly active forum, but I figured it would be worth a shot. I saw that indigosforever.com--which has tons of good information--is also pretty dead.

As for my situation, Illinois requires a separate permit just to own indigos (as well as any other threatened/endangered flora and fauna), so if I were to buy them from out of state, I would need both the Federal Interstate Commerce permit and a state permit. At least the latter is free!

It seems like a hassle, but it also seems like the species is worth it. Good luck with your paperwork, too.

David

For what its worth, the Interstate Commerce Permit from USFWS is not hard to get. Although the application form is long, its a general application that is used for all kinds of take of protected animals for scientific research, etc. You just have to fill out the part dealing with the Interstate Commerce Permit, not everything else. On the plus side, I've never known anyone who was denied a permit, but it can take months for it to come through.

Good luck.

Robert Harper
Ubiquitous Serpent

Possibly the reason why its comparatively inactive as late is because folks are scrubbing indigo poo and feeding stubborn babies...

Ha! That would be a legitimate excuse. Thanks for the response.

>>Possibly the reason why its comparatively inactive as late is because folks are scrubbing indigo poo...

How true yes how true
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~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

Funny but true!!!!!

Can't help you here either. USFWS interstate commerce acquisition permits like Rob said are pretty easy to get assuming you follow the directions closely. As for local permits, it's best to call Illinois FWS up and ask them. Over here in New Jersey, we need permits for all reptiles every year excluding a couple (ie. Boa constrictors-don't ask why, I don't know). It's $15 a year to renew the hobbyist permit. The indigos I can keep can either be placed on a New Jersey hobbyist permit or a scientific holding permit. Best you clarify this with Illinois FWS instead of depending on this forum. Also check if their are any specific City/Town ordinances on keeping reptiles. I've had a very bad experience with the Dept. of Health/Dept. of Environmental Conservation about ten years ago with not knowing NYC (where I lived at the time) banned all boids under "America's Mayor," Rudy Giuliani. I had 6 police cars from DEC and 2 from DPH in front of my house because of the highly illegal ball pythons I was keeping.

If you need help with the federal USFWS interstate commerce permit, I received mine this year and you can use my application as a template and tweak it for your own needs. The reason it takes so darn long is that it has to be mailed to Atlanta FWS (despite what the application says) which then forwards it to field biologist Cameron Shaw at Florida FWS (don't ask why-I don't know) to review. Cameron then goes over the application and approve/disapproves it and it goes back to Atlanta FWS to be mailed back to the applicant. Cameron is usually pretty good about approving the application. If you're missing something, he'll e-mail/call you and will not outrightly deny the permit. Hope this helps a bit.

Dave,

I will be selling my male very soon, as I just don't have the time to put into them anymore.

Let me know if you are interested.

if you purchase the indigos from someone who is a resident of your state......the permit is not needed.....but you should have a paper stating the transfer of ownership.....or if you are gifted indigos the permit is not required.....that would apply to interstate gifts also....you should investigate texas indigos also.....aint got dabaggage easterns carry.....

Do you still have the male available and are you in illinois. If so email me at prothenbach@live.com.
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Paul Rothenbach
Rothenbach@live.com">PRothenbach@live.com