Picking snakes up in Montana... current procedure?

[gulo]

I used to drive to Great Falls airport to pick up snakes (the occasional non-cites colubrids.) As I recall, the procedure was to have a few basic papers obtainable at the border, but my memory is hazy.

Anyone out there who has actually done this recently? Can you fill me in on the current protocol?

Thanks!

[GONESNAKEE]

Not to direct you offiste but there are step to step directions on Reptiles Canada in their appropriate forum there explaining in full detail the USF&W inspections/forms etc. Mark

[Spankenstyne]

Here:

http://www.reptilescanada.com/showthread.php?t=15959


"Below is information Compiled by Roy Stockwell on the importation and exportation of reptiles to and from Canada.

US IMPORT/EXPORT INFO
For Americans Exporting from the U.S.A. (Canadians should be familiar with these steps too)
All animals leaving or entering the USA must be inspected by US fish & wildlife This is generally done at what is known as a designated port . If you are not located at a designated port you must contact your local branch of USF&W and arrange an inspection. At this point a document called a 3-177 will be completed. It is a declaration of import/export of wildlife. This must be done with all animals regardless of whether they are listed under the Washington Convention (CITES).
It is also possible and fairly common to have animals shipped first to a designated port for inspection and clearance, before heading on to the consignee. This is done when the shipper or recipient in the US is not near a designated port. It can however, sometimes get complicated and expensive because a broker can be required to transfer the shipment and arrange for fish&wildlife inspection. This is especially true if different air carriers are involved since Airlines are not obliged to move your cargo, especially into the hands of a competitive Airline. So if you need to hire a broker this can mean that your animals are being put into the hands of a middle man who might very well hate herps(or love them and steal your shipment). It's a bit scary to have someone opening your animals in the middle of their journey to your customer.

If the animals are CITES listed and are Appendix 2 you need to apply To the US department of the interior/F&W for a CITES export permit. This must then be stamped by a wildlife agent at the time of the inspection otherwise the permit is not valid...
You will also now need (since I think bout 97) a US fish and wildlife IMPORT EXPORT license... you need to apply for it. It is $100.00us and is good for only one year. If you are not getting your inspection at a Designated port, but are using a border port you may also be required to apply for what's called an "Exception to Designated Port"permit. It's now also $100US bucks and is good for 2 years.

For Canadians taking animals into or out of the USA
If you are taking animals across the border in a car, you need to apply for and obtain this US fish and wildlife IMPORT EXPORT license... and yes also the exception from designated port permit if you have more than just a few animals.

You must phone US F&W in advance and arrange for an inspection 48 hrs before you cross. An agent will be dispatched to the crossing of your choice(See the list of Border Ports) . You will be charged for the inspection. $55US standard, more if its CITES or outside of business hours.A 3-177 declaration will need to be presented at the time of the inspection. I recommend pre ordering this form from USF&W and filling them out ahead of time. It makes the wildlife agents happy and you are more likely to know the Scientific names, which must be shown on the declaration. It's also helpful to take a book with pictures to help verify the species.

If you are taking a lot of stuff into the US for personal delivery or to fly out of an American airport it may be considered a commercial shipment and this will also require a Customs Broker...I use PBB. (Peace Bridge Brokers)

Also, if you are taking CITES listed animals out of Canada you must first apply for and obtain a Canadian CITES Export permit. You will be required to prove legal origin to be granted this permit. Before crossing the border, you must first stop on the Canadian side and get Customs to validate it, otherwise it is not a legal CITES permit."

[FrogO_Oeyes]

For non-CITES North American species for personal "pets", start by calling the regional USFWS office for the border port you plan to use. For these animals, all border ports are "designated" for wildlife. For CITES, the nearest "Designated" ports are Seattle, Portland, and Chicago, and all other live CITES animals would require a port exemption permit. Call USFWS at least four days in advance, although a fax which spells out the numbers, species, purpose, and intended port, is probably a good idea. I don't recall if the regional USFWS office is in Denver or Chicago, but their website will tell you which. West of the Rockies, the regional office is in the Seattle area. Download the 3-177. Fill it out and print it as close to export time as possible. A import/export permit is NOT required [see title 50 chapter 14 of the e-FCR, or ask USFWS] for reasonable numbers of personal pets. Some ports have full time agriculture or USFWS staff for inspections. Call the port a few hours in advance to verify a) that someone will be present and expecting you, and b) that they care. Sometimes they will make you wait for an inspector, sometimes they will let you go without inspection. Either way, you stop on the US side for inspection and for stamping of your 3-177. Inspection is free for personal pets. The current fees and examples of how they are applied, is available online from USFWS, but unprotected personal pets of North American origin are free.

Species with origins outside of Canada, USA, and Mexico have slightly different requirements. For personal pets, you may be okay at a border port, especially if CB in North America. USFWS can clarify that for you, or you can dig through the Federal Code chapter 14.

The preceding post is both outdated and mainly intended for commercial export. If you are [or USFWS believes you are] exporting for commercial purposes, most of the preceding post will apply. The fees for 2013 have changed.

[Spankenstyne]

The post does appear a bit outdated.

As listed & confirmed here: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx....2.8.9&idno=50
You don't requite the import/export license for personal use as a hobbyist or collector. Some folks have noted that different border crossings may have different numbers of animals that constitute commerical use, so I would make sure to call ahead for clarification that your X number of "personal use" animals won't require additional paperwork (regarding import/export license) just to be safe & if you're looking at more than half a dozen animals.
The same page further down confirms you also don't pay for the inspection fees if your shipment doesn't require the import/export license.

[gulo]

This is great folks, thank-you very much, the info I was looking for. Generous of you to take the time and respond so quickly - cheers!

Oh - any documentation required on our side when re-entering?

-G

[FrogO_Oeyes]

No. On average, they're not interested. However, if CITES is involved, they might wish to look closer [CITES 2 and 3 do not require import permits]. Turtles require import permits in advance. Customs is likely well aware that all USA wildlife exports require "inspection" [even if that's just lip service], and a stamped 3-177. If you lack the stamped 3-177, you are violating federal law in both countries, so make sure you get it. Also, failing to declare is also an offence. While customs typically asks very specific questions and generally no longer asks "anything to declare", you should still make a point of declaring any imports, including animals alive or dead. They may not be interested, but at least if you declare, you are not smuggling.

[gulo]

Good stuff, thanks.

[Spankenstyne]

Also have the bill of sale or a receipt handy.