Ball pythons illegal in some states?? What??

So I was reading a thread that recently got closed (good riddance to that one) and couldn't post this question there, and scanned a few forums and couldn't seem to find an answer. I decided to post it here. :)
Why, why, WHY are ball pythons illegal as pets in some states? That's terrible! How do those people survive? :(
Ball pythons make my world go 'round, and I only own one right now. (Check back in a month, hopefully I'll have 50...lol, dream big!)
That just makes me sad. Anyone who knows anything about the legislation in different states--and I'm sure there's lots of you who do, you guys amaze me with your impeccable, limitless knowledge--please let me know. :(
And, is there anything we can do? Should we do anything? I know I strongly disagree with that pending python ban of the larger python species. :(
Thanks so much. Please no arguing in this thread. :( I don't want it to get locked.
Shellie

Shoot. I'm worried I didn't place this in the right section--should it have gone under "Pet related laws and legislation"? I wasn't sure, since I was inquiring specifically about BPs.
I deeply apologize if I misplaced this. :(

I can't think of any states where they are banned entirely but there are local laws that ban them from specific cities and towns. These laws are usually bans on owning exotic pets and will normally list the entire python and boa genus' as well as venomous reptiles. The two big cities I can think of right off are New York City and San Francisco...

only state i can think of that has a full ban is hawaii and thats due to the fact that they pride themselves on haveing no snakes in the entire state.

Actually it's because any snake can survive in Hawaii...and they decimate the native population of...everything.

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Originally Posted by shelliebear

Shoot. I'm worried I didn't place this in the right section--should it have gone under "Pet related laws and legislation"? I wasn't sure, since I was inquiring specifically about BPs.
I deeply apologize if I misplaced this. :(

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Lollllll I wouldn't worry at all about that too much haha

I agree that bps make my world go round as well :P

Found out there is an ordinance against them where I live today. I bans any reptile that can be a danger due to it's size. Honestly I'm more worried about the alligators in the creeks and ponds than what people are keeping in their homes.

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Originally Posted by appygirl84

Found out there is an ordinance against them where I live today. I bans any reptile that can be a danger due to it's size. Honestly I'm more worried about the alligators in the creeks and ponds than what people are keeping in their homes.

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then it doesnt sound like bps would be banned i dont think they are a danger due to their size at all, a retic or burm would be another story.

I just found out that 'Pythons' are illegal where I'm moving, and of course this makes me terribly sad. I have been waiting for a long time to be able to move out and have one! The bylaw says nothing other than 'Pythons', which leads me to believe that all species are included, but I still plan on emailing whomever one emails about local laws to ask.

What makes it worse is that I'm moving so close to where the Canadian Reptile Breeders Expo is. :rage:

According to some people on this forum. Ball pythons are illigel in NYC.

After contacting my local department of health they told me that boas and pythons 10 feet and over were illigel.

Therefore.....I guess they are not,

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Originally Posted by NomiGold

I just found out that 'Pythons' are illegal where I'm moving, and of course this makes me terribly sad. I have been waiting for a long time to be able to move out and have one! The bylaw says nothing other than 'Pythons', which leads me to believe that all species are included, but I still plan on emailing whomever one emails about local laws to ask.

What makes it worse is that I'm moving so close to where the Canadian Reptile Breeders Expo is. :rage:

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When I moved to Canada shortly after leaving college, I had to sell my Ball since there is an ordinance with similar wording there...just says "Pythons." I asked someone in an official position (it's been years since now and I can't recall who I contacted) and they fed me a lie about how it's to protect people's children and pets from dangerous large reptiles. I pointed out that my ADULT Ball Python was a mere three feet long, tops...and then he said it's also to prevent people from keeping them as pets and releasing them into the wild to form a breeding population of dangerous, non-native constrictors that will THEN go out and eat children/pets/et cetera.

He didn't have a good response to my reply of "Then they'd all DIE in the first really good freeze."

It's a load of BS but I'm a law abiding person, so...I sold my snake before I finalized the move.

Without irony, for TOTALLY unrelated reasons, I am now flagged as a "threat" to Canada and almost every time I cross the border I have to go through customs. :rolleyes: I adore Canada, but holy crap there be some ignorance up there.

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Originally Posted by Kyle@theHeathertoft

When I moved to Canada shortly after leaving college, I had to sell my Ball since there is an ordinance with similar wording there...just says "Pythons." I asked someone in an official position (it's been years since now and I can't recall who I contacted) and they fed me a lie about how it's to protect people's children and pets from dangerous large reptiles. I pointed out that my ADULT Ball Python was a mere three feet long, tops...and then he said it's also to prevent people from keeping them as pets and releasing them into the wild to form a breeding population of dangerous, non-native constrictors that will THEN go out and eat children/pets/et cetera.

He didn't have a good response to my reply of "Then they'd all DIE in the first really good freeze."

It's a load of BS but I'm a law abiding person, so...I sold my snake before I finalized the move.

Without irony, for TOTALLY unrelated reasons, I am now flagged as a "threat" to Canada and almost every time I cross the border I have to go through customs. :rolleyes: I adore Canada, but holy crap there be some ignorance up there.

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Maybe you were in the same place as I, because I have never heard of ball pythons being illegal anywhere else is Canada, or even boa constrictors for that matter.

Nope, I was in Southern Ontario. It wasn't a province-wide thing but, as was explained to me, literally a city ordinance in the city I lived in. :P

For some reason they also didn't allow ferrets.

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Originally Posted by Kyle@theHeathertoft

Nope, I was in Southern Ontario. It wasn't a province-wide thing but, as was explained to me, literally a city ordinance in the city I lived in. :P

For some reason they also didn't allow ferrets.

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Well, since southern Ontario is where I'm going, maybe it was the same place. Oakville?

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Originally Posted by NomiGold

Well, since southern Ontario is where I'm going, maybe it was the same place. Oakville?

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man, i am GLAD i live clear out in the country where no one even knows i exist..

although i dont think Ohio has any of those laws.... but not sure :)

Anyone know about Philadelphia? I plan on moving there in about two years, but if ball pythons or snakes or exotics or whatever are banned, I'll go somewhere else.

Are there any laws on other snakes in NYC?

Hey there. I actually grew up in Hawai'i, and ALL snakes- not just BPs, are illegal there. Most reptilian pets are, in fact- you can own geckos, anoles, and Jackson's chameleons, but that's about it. NO SNAKES, no skinks, iguanas, nothing like that, period.

The reason for this is because they have laws to protect the indigenous wildlife. Snakes would be predators to some of the local creatures- they actually imported mongoose to get rid of any snakes that managed to crop up. Of course, the mongoose ended up eating the eggs of the indigenous birds, and now they're pests as well... Hrg.

But yeah. The island never had any snakes on it to begin with(or ants or cockroaches, for that matter), which is why they're not allowed.

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Well, since southern Ontario is where I'm going, maybe it was the same place. Oakville?

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Not sure where Oakville is, I was in the Brantford area. It was a number of years ago, too.

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The reason for this is because they have laws to protect the indigenous wildlife. Snakes would be predators to some of the local creatures- they actually imported mongoose to get rid of any snakes that managed to crop up. Of course, the mongoose ended up eating the eggs of the indigenous birds, and now they're pests as well... Hrg.

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That's the problem with using a non-native animal to control another non-native animal...inevitably BOTH cause problems. :P

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Originally Posted by Kyle@theHeathertoft

Not sure where Oakville is, I was in the Brantford area. It was a number of years ago, too.



That's the problem with using a non-native animal to control another non-native animal...inevitably BOTH cause problems. :P

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It's a bit North-East of Brantford, halfway to Toronto. The more I look into it, ther more it seems like there are some weird reptile and pet laws in that whole area. :weirdface

I can absolutly understand, and support, not permitting species that can become invasive, or animals that are endangered, venomous or extremely large snakes and local species. But come on, Ball Pythons?

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Originally Posted by Theartisticgemini

According to some people on this forum. Ball pythons are illigel in NYC.

After contacting my local department of health they told me that boas and pythons 10 feet and over were illigel.

Therefore.....I guess they are not,

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THEY LIED TO YOU Theartisticgemini

NEW YORK CITY HEALTH CODE § 161.01. Wild animals prohibited

(10) Reptiles (Reptilia). All Helodermatidae (gila monster and Mexican beaded lizard); all front-fanged venomous snakes, even if devenomized, including, but not limited to, all Viperidae (viper, pit viper), all Elapidae (cobra, mamba, krait, coral snake), all Atractaspididae (African burrowing asp), all Hydrophiidae (sea snake), all Laticaudidae (sea krait); all venomous, mid-or rear-fanged, Duvernoy-glanded members of the family Colubridae, even if devenomized; any member, or hybrid offspring of the family Boidae, including, but not limited to, the common or green anaconda and yellow anaconda; any member of the family Pythonidae, including but not limited to the African rock python, Indian or Burmese python, Amethystine or scrub python; any member of the family Varanidae, including the white throated monitor, Bosc's or African savannah monitor, Komodo monitor or dragon, Nile monitor, crocodile monitor, water monitor, Bornean earless monitor; any member of the family Iguanidae, including the green or common iguana; any member of the family teiidae, including, but not limited to the golden, common, or black and white tegu; all members of the family Chelydridae, including snapping turtle and alligator snapping turtle; and all members of the order Crocodylia, including, but not limited to alligator, caiman and crocodile.

This is a list of all genera, species and subspecies of the family Pythonidae, otherwise referred to as pythonids or pythons.

Antaresia
Antaresia childreni, Children's python
Antaresia maculosa, Spotted python
Antaresia perthensis, Pygmy python
Antaresia stimsoni, Stimson's python
Apodora, Papuan python
Apodora papuana, Papuan python

Aspidites
Aspidites melanocephalus, Black-headed python
Aspidites ramsayi, Woma
Bothrochilus, Bismark ringed python
Bothrochilus boa, Bismark ringed python
Leiopython, D'Albert's water python
Leiopython albertisii, D'Albert's water python
Leiopython bennettorum, Bennett's white-lipped python
Leiopython biakensis, Biak white-lipped python
Leiopython fredparkeri, Parker's white-lipped python
Leiopython hoserae, southern white-lipped python
Leiopython huonensis, Huon white-lipped python

Liasis
Liasis fuscus, Brown water python
Liasis mackloti, Macklot's python
Liasis mackloti mackloti, Macklot's python
Liasis mackloti savuensis, Savu python
Liasis olivaceus, Olive python
Liasis olivaceus barroni, Pilbara olive python
Liasis olivaceus olivaceus, Olive python

Morelia
Morelia amethistina, Amethystine python
Morelia clastolepis, Moluccan Python
Morelia boeleni, Boelen's python
Morelia bredli, Bredl's python
Morelia carinata, Rough-scaled python
Morelia kinghorni, Kinghorn's python
Morelia nauta, Tanimbar python
Morelia oenpelliensis, Oenpelli python
Morelia spilota, Carpet pythons
Morelia spilota cheynei, Jungle carpet python
Morelia spilota imbricata, Southwestern carpet python
Morelia spilota mcdowelli, Coastal carpet python
Morelia spilota metcalfei, Inland carpet python
Morelia spilota spilota, Diamond python
Morelia spilota variegata, Northwestern carpet python
Morelia tracyae, Halmahera pytho
Morelia viridis, Green tree python

Python, Pythons
Python anchietae, Angolan python
Python breitensteini, Borneo short-tailed python
Python brongersmai, Red blood python
Python curtus, Sumatran short-tailed python
Python molurus, Indian python
Python molurus bivittatus, Burmese python
Python molurus molurus, Indian python
Python regius, Royal python
Python reticulatus, Reticulated python
Python sebae, African rock python
Python sebae natalensis, Natal rock python
Python sebae sebae, African rock python
Python timoriensis, Timor python

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Originally Posted by SERPENT_MASTERS

This is a list of all genera, species and subspecies of the family Pythonidae, otherwise referred to as pythonids or pythons.

Antaresia
Antaresia childreni, Children's python
Antaresia maculosa, Spotted python
Antaresia perthensis, Pygmy python
Antaresia stimsoni, Stimson's python
Apodora, Papuan python
Apodora papuana, Papuan python

Aspidites
Aspidites melanocephalus, Black-headed python
Aspidites ramsayi, Woma
Bothrochilus, Bismark ringed python
Bothrochilus boa, Bismark ringed python
Leiopython, D'Albert's water python
Leiopython albertisii, D'Albert's water python
Leiopython bennettorum, Bennett's white-lipped python
Leiopython biakensis, Biak white-lipped python
Leiopython fredparkeri, Parker's white-lipped python
Leiopython hoserae, southern white-lipped python
Leiopython huonensis, Huon white-lipped python

Liasis
Liasis fuscus, Brown water python
Liasis mackloti, Macklot's python
Liasis mackloti mackloti, Macklot's python
Liasis mackloti savuensis, Savu python
Liasis olivaceus, Olive python
Liasis olivaceus barroni, Pilbara olive python
Liasis olivaceus olivaceus, Olive python

Morelia
Morelia amethistina, Amethystine python
Morelia clastolepis, Moluccan Python
Morelia boeleni, Boelen's python
Morelia bredli, Bredl's python
Morelia carinata, Rough-scaled python
Morelia kinghorni, Kinghorn's python
Morelia nauta, Tanimbar python
Morelia oenpelliensis, Oenpelli python
Morelia spilota, Carpet pythons
Morelia spilota cheynei, Jungle carpet python
Morelia spilota imbricata, Southwestern carpet python
Morelia spilota mcdowelli, Coastal carpet python
Morelia spilota metcalfei, Inland carpet python
Morelia spilota spilota, Diamond python
Morelia spilota variegata, Northwestern carpet python
Morelia tracyae, Halmahera pytho
Morelia viridis, Green tree python

Python, Pythons
Python anchietae, Angolan python
Python breitensteini, Borneo short-tailed python
Python brongersmai, Red blood python
Python curtus, Sumatran short-tailed python
Python molurus, Indian python
Python molurus bivittatus, Burmese python
Python molurus molurus, Indian python
Python regius, Royal python
Python reticulatus, Reticulated python
Python sebae, African rock python
Python sebae natalensis, Natal rock python
Python sebae sebae, African rock python
Python timoriensis, Timor python

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Your in NY therefore are you keeping them illigaly>?

I am looking into a license from the department of wildlife and fishing that costs i belive 100$ a year and allows you to keep these guys without a problem.

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Originally Posted by serpent_masters

they lied to you theartisticgemini

new york city health code § 161.01. Wild animals prohibited

(10) reptiles (reptilia). All helodermatidae (gila monster and mexican beaded lizard); all front-fanged venomous snakes, even if devenomized, including, but not limited to, all viperidae (viper, pit viper), all elapidae (cobra, mamba, krait, coral snake), all atractaspididae (african burrowing asp), all hydrophiidae (sea snake), all laticaudidae (sea krait); all venomous, mid-or rear-fanged, duvernoy-glanded members of the family colubridae, even if devenomized; any member, or hybrid offspring of the family boidae, including, but not limited to, the common or green anaconda and yellow anaconda; any member of the family pythonidae, including but not limited to the african rock python, indian or burmese python, amethystine or scrub python; any member of the family varanidae, including the white throated monitor, bosc's or african savannah monitor, komodo monitor or dragon, nile monitor, crocodile monitor, water monitor, bornean earless monitor; any member of the family iguanidae, including the green or common iguana; any member of the family teiidae, including, but not limited to the golden, common, or black and white tegu; all members of the family chelydridae, including snapping turtle and alligator snapping turtle; and all members of the order crocodylia, including, but not limited to alligator, caiman and crocodile.

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Originally Posted by theartisticgemini

your in ny therefore are you keeping them illigaly>?

I am looking into a license from the department of wildlife and fishing that costs i belive 100$ a year and allows you to keep these guys without a problem.

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yes i do live in new york. Do i live in new york city? I plead the 5th. On the grounds i may be kicked off the best ball python forum on the net. Keep me posted on the permit since i never heard of permit given to residents in nyc. If so $100 for each snake? I have friends in the city who own ball pythons.

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Originally Posted by 771subliminal

only state i can think of that has a full ban is hawaii and thats due to the fact that they pride themselves on haveing no snakes in the entire state.

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Hawaii has a snake, it is The Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus). It is very small, one would think it was a worm if they seen it.

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Originally Posted by Kyle@theHeathertoft

Nope, I was in Southern Ontario. It wasn't a province-wide thing but, as was explained to me, literally a city ordinance in the city I lived in. :P

For some reason they also didn't allow ferrets.

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Brantford has allowed balls for sale for a least 20 years because my half brother lives there and always had balls for at least 20 years! I called Ontario Animal Control and she said ball pythons have never been banned in Ontario. Only law is that venomous snakes are banned!

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Originally Posted by seeya205

Brantford has allowed balls for sale for a least 20 years because my half brother lives there and always had balls for at least 20 years! I called Ontario Animal Control and she said ball pythons have never been banned in Ontario. Only law is that venomous snakes are banned!

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Hmm...seems I was lied to by someone with some authority. That...REALLY pisses me off. I may be making a few calls to my ex to see if we can't track that person down (I keep crappy records, my ex on the other hand...) and raise some hell.

Well,here at Puerto Rico only Ball Pythons and Garter snakes are legal...All other snakes are illegal...:taz::mad:

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Originally Posted by NomiGold

I just found out that 'Pythons' are illegal where I'm moving, and of course this makes me terribly sad. I have been waiting for a long time to be able to move out and have one! The bylaw says nothing other than 'Pythons', which leads me to believe that all species are included, but I still plan on emailing whomever one emails about local laws to ask.

What makes it worse is that I'm moving so close to where the Canadian Reptile Breeders Expo is. :rage:

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I live in the GTA and there is a bylaw against them in my particular town. I couldn't care less; it's just nonsense based on assumption, stereotype and ignorance. My ownership isn't flaunted around in public and they're not coming door to door to check for pythons. Not much of a problem.

edit: As per forum rules, I do not condone or suggest this. I am merely stating my situation.