From:
First Name: Nanci
Last Name: LeVake
State: FL
Country: US
I breed cornsnakes (red ratsnakes, Pantherophis gutattus) for fun. I do not make a profit. I sell the offspring. I have a Florida Permit to sell reptiles, renewed annually. I understand Canada's regulations for a person residing in Canada who wishes to drive to the US, purchase a non-CITES snake for use as a personal pet, and return through Canadian Customs with it, having spoken to the Animal Health division of Canadian Food Inspection Agency in person. My question is, do I need a USFWS export permit, to sell one (or a few?) non-CITES P. gutattus to a person in Canada, who would pick up at a US-side FedEx (me being a certified FedEx live reptile shipper, following all rules and labeling regulations and providing a bill of sale and documentation of the US captive-bred status of the animal)? If so, what is the procedure after the buyer picks up the animal in the US- do they need to have it inspected by US Customs at the border port, to leave the US? And if so, then does the $93 fee apply, and how is that paid- at the time of inspection? I am speaking, again, of one or a few P. gutattus, to be used as personal pets by the buyer. Thank you very much for clarification.
Nanci LeVake
Ms. LeVake,
Thank you for contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If you sell your animals to customers outside of the U.S., you will need an import/export license, which allows you to engage in the business of importing and exporting wildlife and wildlife products for commercial purposes. You can find the application on our web site at <www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-3.pdf>. You will notice, when you open the file, that there is no return address given. However, there is a blue box that say,s "Click here for addresses." Please click on that box, which will bring up the list of our regional offices along with the states that each one service. Find the name of your state and submit your application to that one specific regional office. There will be a phone number and an e-mail address so that, if you have questions on how to fill out the form or how long it will take to process, you can contact the processing office directly.
You, or the buyer, will also need to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife inspectors at the port of exit and arrange for them to examine the shipment and the paperwork. Assuming all is in order, the inspectors will then provide and help you (or the customer) complete the Wildlife Declaration Form 3-177. Whomever is actually transporting the animals across the border will need to contact the inspectors a few days prior to the expected departure date of the animals and make the inspection arrangements. The inspectors can tell them at that time what the inspection fees will be. You can find the list of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspectors on our web site at <www.fws.gov/le>. Click on "Travellers" and follow the links for wildlife ports of entry/exit.
Regards,
Customer Service Center - Tier II
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
