Attention Canadian Gecko Owners, Or Wannabe Owners.

[KelliH]

Makes sense. But you don't need a license to ship if it's non-commercial right? Like if you're moving and you want to ship your gecko to your new location or if someone wants to give you one as a gift?

I would recommend contacting USF & W about it. I know there are some exclusions they will give when you are moving with a pet or something, but it would be a one time deal; I don't think they would allow it multiple times.

If you want to send someone a gecko as a gift, you would still have to be a licensed importer/exporter to legally ship it yourself, or have a licensed importer/exporter ship it for you.

 

[Western Gecko]

I've never brought a leopard gecko across the US/Canada border as non-commercial but my understanding is that there is no need to have the gecko inspected by USF&W if it's brought across the border by personal vehicle.

I've just recently done a flip-flop on this one as I was always under the impression that ALL geckos brought across the border needed to be inspected by USF&W. After reading the latest news on the USF&W website I've come to the conclusion that personal (non-commercial) leopard geckos brought across the border by personal vehicle are "straight through".

Anything else requires a visit to USF&W including Air shipped leopard geckos for personal use.

As already mentioned, contact the USF&W office closest to your port of entry to make sure.

On another note, be prepared to spend some time in Canadian Customs as you get all kinds of issues on the Canadian side. Most notably you'll have to deal with GST and if the officer you speak with feels like having you talk with the vet you'll have to hang around until the vet is available to tell you that there are no restrictions on leopard geckos...:main_rolleyes: Our Canadian tax dollars hard at work!

BTW, for Canadain or US citizens bringing commercial live reptile shipments across the border be prepared to pay almost triple what you did in 2008 for your USF&W inspection...:main_thumbsdown: Oh yeah, the CAD to USD conversion rate sucks right now so a shipment of geckos will cost a minimum of $150 CAD to cross the border now...:main_no:

All this is happening in the face of the biggest recession since the Depression.:main_huh:

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I do know is is more difficult to bring reptiles in to the USA from Canada than it is to get them from here into Canada. I wonder how much of it has to do will all the illegal reptile smuggling, and the fact that so many reptile owners had turned their large snakes and iquanas loose here in the US that is is causing problems for the ecology.

Unfortunately, rules are made for those few that break them and the rest of us have to live with it.

 

[BettaDragon]

This is all very interesting as I'm moving to Canada come fall. I suspect it wouldn't be a problem if you just drive through the border as when I went up there they just asked what we had in the car and let us go after seeing our id.

 

[Western Gecko]

I do know is is more difficult to bring reptiles in to the USA from Canada than it is to get them from here into Canada. I wonder how much of it has to do will all the illegal reptile smuggling, and the fact that so many reptile owners had turned their large snakes and iquanas loose here in the US that is is causing problems for the ecology.

Unfortunately, rules are made for those few that break them and the rest of us have to live with it.

The reason it's more difficult to go from Canada to the US is that the Canadian breeder needs a USF&W Import/Export Permit to conduct business across the border. In order to get a USF&W Permit you need to have a US mailing address and you need to keep your records in the US in case USF&W wants to investigate your reptile dealings. I would imagine some of the larger Canadian breeders such as Craig Stewart are either grandfathered in or have US mail drops to allow these transactions to occur. It's a fairly large expense so to make it economical you would need to deal in large #'s or large $'s of geckos.

I'm sure there are some questionable dealings going on across the border but don't get caught as the fines are pretty hefty not to mention the confiscation of your vehicle and everything in it...:main_robin:

 

[Western Gecko]

This is all very interesting as I'm moving to Canada come fall. I suspect it wouldn't be a problem if you just drive through the border as when I went up there they just asked what we had in the car and let us go after seeing our id.

If I were you I would just tell the Customs Agent that you're moving to Canada and everything you're bringing across is personal property. This is perfectly OK. If they find out you have animals in the vehicle they may ask you for a vet letter stating that your animals are healthy. I had an agent on the Canadian side ask me for a vet letter once. When I told him that the animals were commercial he directed me to the Customs desk to file my paperwork. At that point he didn't pursue the vet letter issue so I'm not sure what would have happened if I would have continued down the pet path.

 

[Western Gecko]

Due to the variety of different stories you hear from people bringing reptiles across the border I thought I would call my USF&W Inspector and get some clarification on moving to Canada with leopard geckos and shipping leopard geckos to Canada as gifts. Here is what is SUPPOSED to happen at my crossing location...

Any leopard geckos crossing from US to Canada need to be declared at USF&W with a 3-177 regardless of commercial, non-commercial or pets. This includes moving to Canada with leopard geckos or leopard geckos as gifts being shipped across the border.

The differences involve what you pay for the inspection and yes the animals need to be inspected so USF&W can confirm that what is on the 3-177 is what you're actually bringing across the border.

For pets, moving with pets or non-commercial movement of leopard geckos there is no inspection fee. Commercial shipments of live leopard geckos are $37 USD for the live animal inspection and a base fee of $87 USD.

That's it, that's all ...right from the person you need to deal with!

Sorry for the misinformation in the above posts. I've become what I hate most on these forums, someone who spouts off about what they know not...I'm truly sorry and I would like the admins to delete some of my posts above... please delete posts #8, #22 and #26 as they contain inaccurate and misleading information...sorry!

 

[jandsfannon]

This is a great thread. I have been starting to look into how to get Leos in from the States myself because there are just some morphs that you cannot get here. I myself have heard a few things but an going to be contacting both borders where I would cross to find out exactly what I would need. What I not sure of is if you are only purchasing a few, not hundreds...would there be a difference in getting them across the border?

 

[Lady_Kiya]

This is a great thread. I have been starting to look into how to get Leos in from the States myself because there are just some morphs that you cannot get here. I myself have heard a few things but an going to be contacting both borders where I would cross to find out exactly what I would need. What I not sure of is if you are only purchasing a few, not hundreds...would there be a difference in getting them across the border?

I agree with that. There are morphs you just cannot get here. It's frustrating and saddening.

 

[imbrad2003]

I do know is is more difficult to bring reptiles in to the USA from Canada than it is to get them from here into Canada. I wonder how much of it has to do will all the illegal reptile smuggling, and the fact that so many reptile owners had turned their large snakes and iquanas loose here in the US that is is causing problems for the ecology.

Unfortunately, rules are made for those few that break them and the rest of us have to live with it.

Marcia, are you considering shipping to Canada?