You Can Use USPS to Mail These Animals, but Read the Rules First
Opinions on USPS may differ depending on who you ask (or which package you lost), but the agency ships pretty much everything. However, you may be surprised to find out what else the USPS is ready to ship: certain types of live animals and many of them. You will have to follow a few different rules depending on what you are mailing, but as long as you stick to the plan, your critters should arrive at their destination without incident.
Make sure your container is built securely
No, you cannot cover the skink with bubble wrap and mail it in the remaining Amazon Prime box. In addition to being clearly labeled as to what is inside, your shipping container must be “at least made of 275 lb. test double-skinned corrugated, weather-resistant fibreboard (W5c), or equivalent” in accordance with USPS container requirements. The container must be secure against escaping (of course), provide adequate ventilation and withstand normal handling without crushing. And no, you cannot use USPS packaging.
(Most) birds are cool to send
Birds under 24 hours old are mailed if the hatch date (including the hour) is specified by the hatchery representative and the hatchery address is provided. However, not every bird supports mail. Only “chickens, ducks, emus, geese, guinea fowls, partridges, pheasants (only from April to August), quails and turkeys” are eligible for mailing. The USPS handles the bird in a slightly different way to avoid mailing it on Sundays, national holidays, or the day before.
Adult birds can also be mailed, but there are many rules to follow, including the Lacey Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA), USDA, USDA, and any other state regulation. , municipality or local government “in accordance with the recommendations of the USPS. Birds must weigh between six ounces and 25 pounds and must use a container from a USPS approved manufacturer which you can find here .
You can submit bug reports if that’s your business.
Want to help your buddy across the country pollinate his almond farm? Why not send him bees? You can mail live bees if they are honeybees. If you ship them by air, you will be limited to sending only queen bees (along with up to eight companion bees), but ground delivery allows any type of bee to be transported. In addition, you will need to write “Live Queen Bees” on the packaging, presumably to scare the USPS staff into handling your insects with care.
Scorpions can also be mailed, but only for medical research or for the production of antivenom. Your scorpion bag should contain two containers, the innermost of which should be puncture-proof for the indicated predatory arachnid (they are not insects!). Maybe you can find some scholarly friends before heading to the post office.
Tiny and cold-blooded animals – fair play
Fans of Zack’s Alligator will be delighted to know that while the rapid growth of an alligator through osmosis is fictional, receiving an alligator in the mail is plausible. Animals such as chameleons, baby alligators and salamanders can be mailed as long as they do not exceed 20 inches and do not require any kind of livelihood during transport. Also, don’t assume you can mail it if it smells bad.
You can send dead things too!
Your valuable game that you caught last week may be shipped, provided you take appropriate steps to ensure that it follows protocol. Dead animals or parts of them should be cooled with dry ice or water ice if the container with the liquid is well closed. Items such as furs, hides and skins must be thoroughly dried or dried. Animals sent by mail may not violate any laws of the state of origin or state of destination.
As with all animal transport , you need to make sure the containers are properly labeled and that your cargo can survive the journey without food or water. Plus, you are likely to have special handling fees, so expect a little more expensive than sending the book to your pen pal.
Don’t mail your pet
Of course, the list of allowed animals means that some animals are not safe for postal transport. With the exception of the aforementioned birds, you are not allowed to mail warm-blooded animals. This means no dogs, cats, mice, rabbits, or anything like that. Reptiles such as snakes and turtles cannot be mailed, whether they are venomous or not. Poisonous insects and spiders are also not allowed to ship.
In the end, you will have to travel with your companion pet, so you have to figure out how best to keep it safe, whether on the plane or on public transport .