• Posted 12/19/2024.
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Shipping Snakes UPS is Illegal

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RedTail83

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I was reading the UPS rules of shipping live animals and all Venomous and Non-Venomous Snakes are illegal to ship UPS. Here is the link so that for those of you who didn't know will know now. I only read this because I have a couple of boas to ship and I wanted to know what they accepted. Yes before when I shipped snakes UPS and Fedex I never bothered to read. But here is the link. also didn't read Fedex yet but I will.

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/animals.html
 
Not illegal, but against UPS policy...there is a difference. Also, some accounts (typically, the ones bringing a volume of business) supposedly have permission - in some of those cases, though, I suspect it is more a matter of UPS turning a blind eye.

Re: FedEx. I can save you the trouble of looking. FedEx, by policy, does not accept shipments of live animals; HOWEVER, there is a waiver available that grants business to business shipping of reptiles (including snakes).
 
well I didnt mean illegal by law I meant the UPS policy. Because every time I use UPS they ask me whats in the box I just tell them ebay items. As for fedex I know you can get a account with them to ship live animals I know this because a friend of mine got the account just to make things easier on him. But I kinda figured if you needed a account that they dont want you to just walk in and ship an animal without the account. Well could always use delta dash and spend $200 to ship a $20 animal.
 
So, you lie to UPS to violate their policy (and violate Federal law in the process, by failing to identify live animal shipments), but recognize that FedEx doesn't want people shipping reptiles without the waiver....
You seem misinformed about Delta Dash, as well. One can't just walk into the Delta office and send off a reptile - you have to have an account...it's expensive for a small, light package (hardly $200, though), but for larger heavier ones, it's cheaper than either FedEx or UPS (and you can strap boxes together for the same price, as long as you stay under the generous weight limit). There are also benefits to the service, which, in many cases, outweigh the cost and the disadvantage of having to pickup at the cargo office.
 
If there's a waiver with UPS for shipping snakes, you can use them to ship snakes--YOU MUST IDENTIFY WHAT IS IN THE PACKAGE. It is in violation of the Lacey Act not to accurately identify the species and common name of an animal you are shipping, ON the package. (Inside the plastic envelope the label is in is fine). Lying about what is in the package is illegal. I use SYR to ship snakes through UPS, and I tell them exactly what I am shipping. I have had 0 problems.

I do not want anyone I buy from to mislabel snakes in a package sent to me. My only option to avoid breaking the law would be to reject the package, which would surely result in the death of the animal. I resent being forced to be a criminal to save an animal's life, so if someone sends me an animal in that fashion, I will most certainly NEVER buy from them again.
Mislabeling packages is immoral, as well as illegal--it puts the animals' lives at MUCH higher risk than they would be in a correctly labeled package. No one who ships in that fashion could be considered a 'good guy' to buy from.
 
Yea but your not understanding me. From what I read on the UPS site if I go in to UPS today and say hey i'm shipping a couple of boas they are gonna turn me away. It says it right in the link. Also technically I didnt lie about anything all I said was that it was ebay items. I just figured it was the same thing as USPS with bugs. Your not suppose to ship tarantulas and scorpions but everyone does it anyways. So don't judge me. I put the post here because it was something new for me because ive only used UPS like twice before. Plus come on I can guarantee you have shipped something at some point in your life and said it was something else.
 
I just didn't put the post up to argue or be attacked in anyway. It was more of for the people who didn't know they don't allow it and that they are taking a chance of not being able to ship the animals if they straight out tell UPS they have snakes in the box. See I don't use fedex or UPS enough for me to make a account. Also just because I know that Fedex you need a waiver didn't mean I knew that UPS you needed one to. If I wanted my hand slapped over something I didn't know but I know about it now i'd go move back in with my parents.
 
I'm not sure which of us you are addressing, so I'm just going to respond as if it's me...
RedTail83 said:
Yea but your not understanding me.
Click to expand...
Actually, I understood you just fine - both in terms of what your intention was with the post, and what you said.
From what I read on the UPS site if I go in to UPS today and say hey i'm shipping a couple of boas they are gonna turn me away. It says it right in the link.
Click to expand...
Yes, it does; and yes, they will. That might even happen if you were using SYR, or had a FedEx waiver...but, at least if it did, you'd be in the right & have something to back you.
Also technically I didnt lie about anything all I said was that it was ebay items.
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Then, technically, you lied. Ebay doesn't permit the sale of live animals. UPS doesn't permit the shipping of snakes. You lied to ship your animals.
I just figured it was the same thing as USPS with bugs. Your not suppose to ship tarantulas and scorpions but everyone does it anyways.
Click to expand...
lol - you're making this too easy. As the saying goes, two wrongs don't make a right.
So don't judge me.
Click to expand...
I'm not judging anybody...but don't try to spin mislabeling the contents into something innocent, or honest.
Plus come on I can guarantee you have shipped something at some point in your life and said it was something else.
Click to expand...
How much are you willing to bet on that? If you're guaranteeing that about me, your word doesn't hold much weight.
 
The original point of your post was a reasonable one to make, even if it has been posted over and over again. Why? Because far too many people don't bother to check the rules, and they don't bother to look for information. It IS good for people to know these things...and I responded because it is also good for people to get more information than you provided.
As I mentioned above, mislabeling of a live animal package is a violation of Federal law. That includes saying the box contains a tortoise when it contains an alligator (as a random example) every bit as much as stating that the contents are something nonliving. Some people do it and don't get caught - that doesn't make recommending it right, or honorable; some people get caught by UPS - and all that happens to them is that their shipment doesn't go through...and maybe they lose their account; other people, well, sometimes they get caught by USFW, and face fines or prison time.
Sorry if you felt "attacked" but at least those that didn't know, now know better.
 
WingedWolf said:
Mislabeling packages is immoral, as well as illegal--it puts the animals' lives at MUCH higher risk than they would be in a correctly labeled package. No one who ships in that fashion could be considered a 'good guy' to buy from.
Click to expand...

If you really believe that being labeled correctly will in any way result in better or more careful handling of the package then you are fooling yourself. If anyone along the way even noticed anything written on the package aside from the delivery address it might be the delivery driver, but even that's doubtful.
For that matter you should be equally worried about someone in a warehouse somewhere with a hatred for snakes punting it across the floor if they saw the label.
I'm not saying don't label packages or anything, nor arguing the legal aspect, I'm just saying it makes zero difference in the amount of risk due to shipping.

I could not guess at the number of shipments of snakes I've received over the years, but I honestly cannot remember a single one being correctly labeled according to the law. "Live Harmless Reptiles" is about as close as anything I've received has ever been labeled. Usually it's just "perishable" if anything at all. I don't hold it against anyone and definitely don't consider them a bad guy for it.
 
well one of the reasons why I made this post was because if UPS doesnt allow snakes to be shipped then what am I suppose to do? If I tell them that I am shipping snakes they are gonna tun me away. Then the people who got the snakes from me wanted to use UPS to ship the snakes to them. So can you answer this for me? Also just wanna make something clear yea I might lie about whats in the box but then again just about every single person who buys and sells Inverts online use USPS. Which all of these people say to just tell the people at USPS that you are shipping something other then the inverts. A lot of people do this same thing every day when they ship stuff. I did not put this post up for me to be pointed out as a liar when I ship something. Because it should have been rephrased in another way like anyone who ships something and says that something else in the box like a candle instead of a snake are liars. It kinda came off like im the only one doing it.But now that I know that they do not allow snakes to be shipped through UPS how do I go about things?
 
Using SYR.com you can legally ship snakes via UPS, but to the best of my knowledge they are the only ones with an account that legally allows this. Also, it is important to understand that a UPS Store is a separate entity from UPS, and have the right to refuse shipping anything.

You can obviously use Delta DASH, or FedEx, but they require you to get a special account. You can also use Northwest to ship reptiles (and NWA doesn’t require any type of special account, but they tend to be more expensive then Delta).
 
The only time I have ever received snakes DEAD, they were shipped via UPS in a box marked only 'Perishable'. Apparently they sat somewhere on hot pavement or a hot truck floor for too long. It was a horrible experience that I avoid repeating. Unfortunately, I was never told how the animals were being shipped to me. On at least one occasion since then, when I SPECIFICALLY requested the animals be sent correctly labeled, they arrived NOT correctly labeled.
You folks who think they will mistreat your package if you mark it containing live animals, or that they will not treat it more carefully, are simply wrong. People of that caliber are relatively rare. Failing to label is more hazardous--and it's ILLEGAL!!!!

I'm really sick of seeing this over and over again in the industry. I will NOT buy from someone who refuses proper labeling, and if they lie to me about it, I will NOT buy from them ever again. And others should do the same! These people need to learn that this is unacceptable behavior--it's bad for the hobby, it's bad for the animals, and oh yeah...it's bad for the customer, whom you are making into a criminal!

As for the person asking what they're supposed to do, when UPS won't accept a package marked as containing snakes--you can use SYR. Or you can go through the process to become Fed Ex certified to ship live reptiles. Both options are legal. NO, I have never in my life shipped ANYTHING with mislabeled contents, nor will I ever do so. Everyone is NOT doing it. It is not justifiable.
 
All my boxes i use are the ones from SYR.com. When i ship them i write on the box Live harmless Reptile on the box. I always schedule a pickup so the snake is in my care till the end of the day(6pm). You want to put something on the box stating something is ALIVE inside so they handle it with care, otherwise how are they to know.
 
TO add to this i have recently purchases a INK stamp for stamping my box as UPS and FEDex seems to pay attention to stamps more than hand writing.
 
Also just to point this out just about everyone who ships tarantulas,scorpions and so on use USPS. I can guarantee you if you go through a forum and ask them what they use for shipping they willt ell you USPS or go look through the adds and they say USPS express or priority. Barely anyone in the invert hobby will ever use fedex,ups, or any other carrier for that matter besides usps. I'm not saying this just to make it up. Every spider or scorpion I have ever got was sent to me by the post office. Also every reptile I have got in the mail was either sent UPS or Fedex and it was known to the carriers that the box had live animals in it. I have got IDK around 40 different packes from all sorts of different people who shipped me reptiles without labeling the box live animals inside. So yea that's a lot of people to say they don't do that. I made the post to get better ideas on how to ship reptiles I didn't post it to get a attitude. I did read somewhere when I first signed up for this site that it said it had great members and stuff and if you had problems and such they would be more then happy to help a hand. Well that post was proved wrong. But thanks bdenison and sunglowexotics for helping me out and giving me some options so that next time I will know exactly who to go through and feel safe with shipping animals legally.Cause if I wanted to be attacked by asking a question i'd go find a snobby person in some rich neighborhood and ask them what kind of car they had. This post was also for others to see just incase they did not know as well about UPS and stuff it's suppose to be helping one another out to make the hobby easier for everyone and to not give it a bad name. Which I think I was in the right by bringing this subject up because now I know I will never put the hobby in jeopardy by shipping animals illegally. Well thanks to all that helped by giving suggestions.
 
WingedWolf said:
The only time I have ever received snakes DEAD, they were shipped via UPS in a box marked only 'Perishable'. Apparently they sat somewhere on hot pavement or a hot truck floor for too long. It was a horrible experience that I avoid repeating. Unfortunately, I was never told how the animals were being shipped to me. On at least one occasion since then, when I SPECIFICALLY requested the animals be sent correctly labeled, they arrived NOT correctly labeled.
You folks who think they will mistreat your package if you mark it containing live animals, or that they will not treat it more carefully, are simply wrong. People of that caliber are relatively rare. Failing to label is more hazardous--and it's ILLEGAL!!!!

I'm really sick of seeing this over and over again in the industry. I will NOT buy from someone who refuses proper labeling, and if they lie to me about it, I will NOT buy from them ever again. And others should do the same! These people need to learn that this is unacceptable behavior--it's bad for the hobby, it's bad for the animals, and oh yeah...it's bad for the customer, whom you are making into a criminal!

As for the person asking what they're supposed to do, when UPS won't accept a package marked as containing snakes--you can use SYR. Or you can go through the process to become Fed Ex certified to ship live reptiles. Both options are legal. NO, I have never in my life shipped ANYTHING with mislabeled contents, nor will I ever do so. Everyone is NOT doing it. It is not justifiable.
Click to expand...

This might spread some light on your thoughts. I asked SYR about labeling the box and i got this email back fast.

Robyn Markland wrote:
> Actually I think that is a bad choice. There is no label that you can add that will get you special treatment, at least not special GOOD treatment. UPS and FedEx facilities process millions of packages a day. There is actually very little human handling, most is computer automated and with conveyer belts.
>
> When you stamp/write something on the box about reptiles, especially in a highly visual fashion, you are only asking for trouble. Much of the public is reptile phobic, and that type of graphic labeling will only draw negative attention to your package. You don't want negative attention, or even special attention, you want your package to move through the system smoothly, quickly, efficiently, and safely. Every other box already does that, you don't want to single yours out.
>
> You DON'T want one knucklehead employee using your reptile package to scare or chase another employee around some sorting facility in Atlanta. You DON'T want an employee or driver dropping or throwing your package out of fear or phobia.
>
> I don't recommend any highly graphic labeling at all, that is going to give you the best chance of success.
>
> Robyn
>
> All Pro Shipping, Inc.
> AllProShipping.com
> ShipYourReptiles.com
> (303) 730-2125
> (303) 347-0400 FAX
 
Great thanks for posting that. It clears some doubts and stuff as well. I used to work for UPS and when they are loading the trucks up with boxes they aren't nice about it. Also it is correct the boxes mainly stay on conveyor belts as the person said. So yea if they already just throw the boxes in the truck I nor anyone else would want anyone to be like oh wow a snake in a box and hit it to see if something pops out. Thanks for your help.
 
Actually Rich you sent me an email asking about using a new large custom red stamp you had made that said "LIVE HARMLESS REPTILES" for your boxes. You said-

"Im doing this to minimize the stress on the animal shipped so the box is shipped with care."

I think THAT is a bad idea. Clay is correct, any undue "look at me" or "give me extra special treatment" labeling is only going to CAUSE you problems. Labeling species and count with a pen is NOT the same thing as a big red stamp that is literally begging for trouble.

Out of hundreds of thousands of packages moving each day through just your state, no one is going to hand carry your box on a pillow. The safety and security of your package, and the animal's safe arrival, has 99% to do with your packaging skill and technique.

For Harald, regarding UPS and snake shipping, I do have first hand knowledge of two other accounts that have a snake shipping exception. Both are VERY large shippers down in Florida, everyone knows who they are, and they move a LOT of product. So there is a list of accepted snake shippers out there, not that any particular UPS employee can access it. In fact, it seems to be kept under cryptic lock and key. We continue to work with them on that, and out of 800 packages a week, it still comes up a half dozen times. Pretty good worry free rate, but it can still get better : )
 
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