Restrictions against Burmese Pythons can be at the state level (New York, for example, prohibits private individuals from owning any Burmese Python they did not acquire before December 2004). They may also be banned under local ordinances. (A Charlotte, NC keeper had his Burm Isis confiscated after his neighbors saw it on his MySpace profile. While not illegal in North Carolina, the snake was prohibited under municipal regulations). Restrictions may prohibit ownership by species or by size: a Burm which is legal as a baby may become a violation as soon as it reaches 6' or some other arbitrarily defined limit. Other areas require keepers to acquire a permit or license for their pet.
Even if your Burm is legal now, there is no assurance that the regulations in your area will not change. If they do, you may be "grandfathered" in and allowed to keep your pet so long as you do not breed it or attempt to acquire more Burms. You may also be given a certain amount of time to get rid of your animal by selling it, giving it away, or having it euthanized. Nor, in today's mobile society, is there any guarantee that you will be remaining in your present location indefinitely. Before acquiring a Burmese Python - or moving to a new home with your current Burm - you should make sure that your new pet isn't going to run afoul of any applicable laws. Otherwise you may be facing fines, eviction, and even criminal charges; more to the point, your beloved animal may be destroyed because you didn't take the time to do the appropriate research.
All this being said, not everybody follows the law. Perhaps you have been
transferred to a state which prohibits Burms, but you don't wish to get
rid of your beloved pet. Maybe your new Burmese Python has already arrived.
(Most breeders leave it up to buyers to check and comply with applicable
local laws). In that case, as with most quasi-legal endeavors, a little
bit of discretion will go a long way. Before you take Big Bertha down
to the park to impress the kiddies and coeds, make sure she won't attract
the attention of John Law. (You should be careful about displaying your
snake in public even in legal jurisdictions: it is stressful both for
the reptile and snake-phobic bystanders). Be aware that in the event of
a house fire or other emergency, you may find yourself answering some
awkward questions delivered by unsmiling people carrying badges. In keeping
a Burmese Python illegally, you are putting both yourself and the animal
at risk ... and while this danger can be minimized, it can never be eliminated.
©2008 Kenaz Filan. All rights reserved
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