Cornsnakes in GA

[goReptiles]

Ok. I know it's illegal to catch and keep wild cornsnakes, but can a person in Georgia buy a captive bred cornsnake and keep legally?

 

[ByRandom]

Nope. Although they are trying to pass a bill now to take Cornsnakes, Kingsnakes, and Milksnakes off of the "protected" animal list. Which means that they can then be purchased, sold, and wild caught for the pet industry. This also means that people can then start killing these snakes without hesitation (which most people do anyways). As Katie's dad says about such people "Oh no it's a Copperheaded-Cobra-Rattler!" LOL

 

[goReptiles]

That sucks... so we can't even have kingsnakes? Or how does that work? Just curious because I'm dying to get one. I found a gorgeous blzzard corn, but looks like I can't have her :-( What about kings?

 

[ByRandom]

We can't have anything that is native to Georgia. Including Cornsnakes, Kingsnakes, Milksnakes, etc.

The variation on this "law" is that you can get "Pueblan" Milksnakes, or "Californian" Kingsnakes, even though they share the same latin names that are listed as the "protected" species, as far as I understand it.

 

[goReptiles]

K. Gotcha. Just wanted a little clarification. Thanks

 

[GeckoJunkie]

With the exception.....venomous. You have have and sell our native venomous snakes but NO non vens.

 

[ByRandom]

Venemous are the exception due to the fact that they are considered "nuisance" animals. You can keep any "nuisance" animal without any special permits or anything. In fact, I sold an enclosure that we had to a guy who was keeping copperheads and rattlesnakes.

 

[goReptiles]

I actually heard otherwise. I work with a woman who had to get permits for her venomous and hognose and whatnot. She was able to get it easier than most because she worked at a rehab place. But, she also had to get one when she lived in Florida.

 

[ByRandom]

I actually heard otherwise. I work with a woman who had to get permits for her venomous and hognose and whatnot. She was able to get it easier than most because she worked at a rehab place. But, she also had to get one when she lived in Florida.

That's what I thought also, however, the DNR Officer at the last Atlanta Show told us that you didn't have to have anything special...

 

[goReptiles]

Hmmm... I wonder why she got one... She said I should go to the SC show because it's the best since it does venomous and whatnot... Hm... That really doesn't sound right. I guess if the DNR said it though... Did you get a permit thing to sale at the show. I was looking at the requirements and it said you could purchase a two day permit if you didn't have one. Maybe I read it wrong.

 

[ByRandom]

More often than not you can purchase them at the show. They're like $50 for a two-day permit though, where as it's $50 for a whole year if you just get DNR to come out to your house...

 

[lil_katiedan]

You said she has hognose? That would be the reason for the permit. You are allowed to keep native species if you have a permit, but it requires you to jump through hoops. Plus, the guy who is in charge of the permit department is really backed up. You can barely get an email answered (direct quote from the guy, lol)

 

[goReptiles]

i dunno... i know she got it when she was workin at a rehabilitation center.

 

[yellermelon]

Hope I can keep corns cuz I doo I am going to the columbia show this weekend are you guys all going?

 

[Starwild]

Do you know if WESTERN hognose snakes are off-limits in Georgia, too? :/

 

[goReptiles]

Yea. GA has very strike animal rules.

Where I am, I might as well jsut move to Phenix City, AL, because AL has lenient rules on animals. For the most part.

 

[Ga_herps]

you can keep western hognoses in the state of Georgia without any permits. They do not occur in Georgia at all, but eastern and southern hognoses cannot be kept without a permit. I would also like to add that the permit is only good for one of each species. If you are caught with a pair or more of each type you will be fined and you could lose your native non-venomous permit. I used to do alot of 4-H shows and native non-venomous were part of the show. I could only keep one of each. One of my friends that also taught children about are native herps was blindsided at a show. He had 5 cornsnakes at a show that a DNR officer happened to be at. The office let him finish the show but afterwards you can guess what happened. They even came by his house to check all of his cages to make sure the rest of his collection was legal. Luckily there were no other multiples of native species in his snake room. After a couple of fines and many weeks of begging and pleading he was able to keep his permit but only one cornsnake. Hope this helps,
Michael

 

[Starwild]

Ok, thanks for the info! I would love to get a western hoggie.

 

[Riyo]

Sorry if I'm hijacking this thread but it's related and I'm rather perplexed about it. When I was calling around for local exotic vets (I live in Atlanta by the way) One of the vets asked me if I had a permit to keep a leopard gecko. I've never heard of such a thing...anyone know anything about it? :main_huh:

 

[Leonardo]

Riyo: I've never heard of having to have a permit for a leopard gecko. in fact they regularly sale them in local and large chain pet stores all over georgia. the small local pet store, where i got my leo and trust the manager, said there was no need for a permit. maybe the vet is from a different state that requires a permit?