In Reply to: Re: Western PA breeders? posted by Angy on July 22, 2000 at 15:58:44:

USDA requires all breeders to be licensed and to provide paperwork with their joeys when they are sold.
This information should include the breeders address and license # for any possible future reference.

REPOST ::

It has come to my attention that there are many questions regarding the legalities of owning Sugar Gliders within Pennsylvania. As a licensed USDA breeder residing within the state of PA; this is how the laws were explained (as to be understood by myself) by my local USDA inspector.

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**The law itself reads -**
CHAPTER 137. - IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE

Sec. 137.1 - Importation, sale and release of certain wildlife.

(a) Unless otherwise provided in this section or the act, it is unlawful for a person to import, possess, sell, offer for sale or release within this Commonwealth the following animals or birds or the eggs of the birds or a crossbreed or hybrid of the animals or birds which are similiar in appearance:

(10) Game or wildlife held in captivity or captive bred in another state or nation.
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Sugar Gliders ARE considered wildlife. And therefore that simple fact places them easily within the regulation of the above law. The above law translates fairly easily into 'English' when read as a whole.

1. It is illegal to *import to, *export from or *release within the state of PA a sugar glider (wildlife).

In order to legally own a sugar glider within the state of Pa, it must be purchased within the state of Pa. That means no running to a neighboring state and bringing one home to Pa. - This is ILLEGAL. And if a resident of Pa is 'caught'... then PA Fish and Wildlife is in the position to take action against that individual.
If you wish to bring a sugar glider into Pa from another state you must first petition Pa Fish and Wildlife for an import permit before any transportation takes place. The petition will be reviewed and approved or possibly denied by the department. (There is a fee for this permit)
Legal ramifications can and usually are taken against any who break the Pa. import/export laws.

Also looking beyond Pennsylvania's state level laws - the USGovernment requires of any person selling a controlled exotic animal (which sugar gliders are) to maintain a USDA license and follow through with paperwork on them. This paperwork is MANDATORY to keep the license. It must include the breeders license # and their address for reference. Without proper paperwork for a glider, the "legality" question can easily be raised against any glider owner on a federal level also.

This paperwork is what you MUST PROVIDE to Pa. Fish and Wildlife as proof that the glider was purchased legally from a USDA licensed breeder within the state of Pa.

One more thing to consider are your local ordinances. Does your city, township, or county have regulations regarding wildlife? if so, are sugar gliders within the boundaries of any of those ordinances?

There are many happy, healthy gliders and their owners within Pa... Sugar gliders ARE legal to own as pets in Pa... as long as you pay attention and follow the rules that have been set forth by Authorities...

Follow Ups:

• Thank you Irish Cream for posting the info.. n/m Jacque 02:39:03 07/23/2000 (0)