5 replies to this topic

[SoySauce]

Hi all, I was just curious to know what the law is in CA regarding shipping ants within the State.  I was wondering if it was possible to get ants from NorCal that we don't have in SoCal.  Many thanks in advance.

[Antsinmycloset]

This is actually something I've been wondering about. I was mailed a package from someone else in Kansas, but due to the way shipping hubs work, it went first into Missouri, back into Kansas, through Oklahoma, down into Texas, then back through Oklahoma before finally getting to me. That package crossed state lines SIX times, despite being a relatively straight shot across the state. That's not even taking into consideration possible errors, where a package is accidentally mailed across the country.

I doubt it would ever come to prosecution, but I always wondered if the shipper could be held legally accountable in scenarios like this. Would being aware that the package could cross state lines be significant?

[CallMeCraven]

This is a hard topic to research without talking to plant pest experts within the CADFA and local ag boards. Rarely do agencies target and regulate pests to any specific level, which cause their publications to be very broad and often times not insightful. The common, and very well given advice in not to ship ants. In a state with as many jurisdictions with differing stances as CA, this is even better advice.

 

This is actually something I've been wondering about. I was mailed a package from someone else in Kansas, but due to the way shipping hubs work, it went first into Missouri, back into Kansas, through Oklahoma, down into Texas, then back through Oklahoma before finally getting to me. That package crossed state lines SIX times, despite being a relatively straight shot across the state. That's not even taking into consideration possible errors, where a package is accidentally mailed across the country.

I doubt it would ever come to prosecution, but I always wondered if the shipper could be held legally accountable in scenarios like this. Would being aware that the package could cross state lines be significant?

If anything ever happened with this, the shippers are not liable, but you as the sender, are. It is your responsibility to declare anything in your package which could potentially be illegal. You agree to terms and conditions when you purchase postage which restates that you are liable for any of the contents and their legal ramifications.

[Batspiderfish]

You probably shouldn't go after exotic ants by simple virtue of your state stretching across multiple biomes.

Edited by Batspiderfish, March 21 2017 - 2:58 PM.

[Antsinmycloset]

Sorry, shipper=sender. Poor word choice on my part. I'm not suggesting you lie about the contents of the package. I've mailed and received plenty of live animals, and the post office has never cared about what I shipped. Have even looked through the huge book they keep under the desk, just in case.

Unrelated, but looking around trying to find exactly who cares about queen ants (USDA apparently) and discovered fruit flies are regulated too. If the receiver is supposed to have a permit, I wonder how places like Josh's Frogs, Flukers, or any of the companies that sell feeder insects legally operate? I definitely just gave them a few dollars and did absolutely nothing else, which according to the USDA, is a problem.

Edit: I say that, then find this document saying the exact opposite, but that crickets and roaches still require a permit. I'm half amused how things seem to be getting more confusing the closer I look.

Edited by Antsinmycloset, March 21 2017 - 3:04 PM.

[Alabama Anter]

Sorry, shipper=sender. Poor word choice on my part. I'm not suggesting you lie about the contents of the package. I've mailed and received plenty of live animals, and the post office has never cared about what I shipped. Have even looked through the huge book they keep under the desk, just in case.

Unrelated, but looking around trying to find exactly who cares about queen ants (USDA apparently) and discovered fruit flies are regulated too. If the receiver is supposed to have a permit, I wonder how places like Josh's Frogs, Flukers, or any of the companies that sell feeder insects legally operate? I definitely just gave them a few dollars and did absolutely nothing else, which according to the USDA, is a problem.

Edit: I say that, then find this document saying the exact opposite, but that crickets and roaches still require a permit. I'm half amused how things seem to be getting more confusing the closer I look.

Food for thought