Businesses Classifieds Forums Photo Gallery Chat News Videos Features Events Clubs Bookstore
Reptile & Amphibians Insects Birds Cats Dogs Exotics Horses Aquaria Ponds PetHobbyist PetPress PetSupport RescueNetwork My Account
advertising rates - site news - help - contact

Looking for a pet? Try a rescue first! Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Columbia Fed. St. of Micronesia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Marshall Islands Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota N. Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Palau Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Alberta British Columbia Labrador Manitoba Newfoundland New Brunswick Nova Scotia Nunavut Northwest Territories Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territories Other click here to add your rescue

'Tis the Season for HOLIDAY Pet Photos! Show us yours!

Posted by Nrtheastah on November 21, 2002 at 16:11:00:

Hello,

Robert is correct. The USDA controls the importation of plants, animals and pathogens into the United States. The actual part of the USDA that controls this is the APHIS – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. They work with the recently created NISC – National Invasive Species Council. To import any live stock here to the US, you have to have the proper permits in place prior to ordering (PPQ-526 – Plant Protection Quarantine form 526). This includes any live specimens, as well as any ova or pupa. Visit the USDA website as well as the APHIS website to review the regulations and to obtain the proper permit forms. On the forms you will be asked specifically which species you wish to import and why. You also need to state a contingency plan, ready to go at any time, in case of accidental escape into the wild. Lastly, you have to determine the method of disposal. Typically, depending on the species being imported, you may have to destroy any live stock within 48 hours of eclosion.

You will find that there are species of insects that are strictly banned as they are deemed to cause agricultural destruction if released. Those on the East Coast of the US remember the Snakehead fish invasion this past summer that was due to someone releasing a single pair into a pond. Also, you might remember the Gypsy Moth invasion that devastated untold amounts of native trees. Walking Sticks pose the same risk.

If you are in the US and are considering importing any live organisms here, then again, visit the websites mentioned above to review what needs to be done.

Nrtheastah

Follow Ups:

• Re: In response to Robert's Post regarding Illegal Stick Insects robtszymanski 04/11/03 (0)