USA Shipping Laws
For Short-Tailed Opossums and Exotic Pets
The only USDA-approved, legal method to ship STO is by airline. While it is not the cheapest; it is legal, humane, safer, faster and less traumatic to the STO than any other shipping method.
Airline Shipping • USPS • UPS • Fed-Ex • Airline Shipping Requirements • Shipping FAQ
Airline Shipping
Legal
The USDA considers STO to be exotic animals, therefore, they must be shipped in USDA approved carriers. The only USDA-approved carriers for exotic animals are airlines.
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USPS (United States Postal Service)
Illegal
While it is legal to ship some animals (reptiles, baby chicks, honeybees) through USPS, both USPS and the USDA consider it illegal to ship STO using the US mail. STO are warm-blooded and considered hazardous and restricted by USPS. (USPS Pub. 52, Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Mail).
Penalties
525 Nonmailable Live Animals: Nonmailable types of animals discovered in the mailstream must be reported in accordance with the instructions in POM 139.118.
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UPS
Illegal
Not only is shipping STO through UPS illegal according to the USDA, it is also illegal through UPS. Following is the answer (received in writing) from UPS when specifically asked about shipping STO.
The Question To UPS
"Is there any legal way to ship a live, warm-blooded marsupial short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) using UPS within the USA?"
The Answer From UPS
"The following kinds of live animals are not handled in UPS domestic ground or air services:
Live birds (including poultry)
Live warm-blooded animals, including, but not limited to, mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, hamsters, or guinea pigs.
All snakes, poisonous and non-poisonous
Poisonous reptiles
Poisonous insects
All spiders
Please note, one time shipment of live animals is not a service UPS is able to offer."
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FedEx
Illegal
Shipping STO through FedEx is illegal according to both the USDA and FedEx.
FedEx Terms and Agreements - Live Animals:
"FedEx does not accept live-animal shipments as part of its regular scheduled service. Live animals will be accepted when the shipment is coordinated and approved by the FedEx Live Animal Desk. Acceptable shipments include, but are not limited to, zoo animals (to and from zoo locations only) and horses (from gateway to gateway locations only). Household pets, such as domestic cats and dogs, are not accepted. For more information, please contact the FedEx Live Animal Desk at 1.800.405.9052."
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Airline Shipping Requirements
There are several requirements involved with shipping. Generally the breeder or pet store will arrange for the paperwork, crate and costs and though some may ask the buyer to make arrangements for the flight times. The buyer usually is responsible for determining if it is legal for the STO to be shipped to their state and if there are any specific requirements involved for their area.
USDA-Approved Crate
STO must be shipped in a USDA-approved shipping crate.
Access to Food and Water
Food and water can be provided for the STO in the container by including high-moisture fruit, such as slices of banana or orange. Some provide small pieces of dry food as well.
USDA Paperwork
USDA paperwork must be kept with the STO.
Health Certificate
The STO must have (1) one original and (1) one copy of a health certificate signed by a vet within 10 days before the transport date, stating the STO is healthy enough for air travel.
Temperature
According to the USDA, temperatures must be between 45-85 degrees along the entire shipping route. If temperatures are expected to be lower or higher, a vet must include a letter stating the temperatures the STO can withstand.
STO are, however, more sensitive to temperature than some animals. Prolonged temperatures lower than 60 degrees can cause serious health problems or even death, so it's unlikely an ethical vet would say it's okay to ship STO at a lower temperature. Some shippers help combat the cold issue by attaching a heater/warmer to the STO's container. Many prefer to ship STO only during warm months.
One cause in occasional shipping problems is the STO's container being outside for a period of time before loading into the plane. For this reason most people make an effort to ensure their STO is on a direct flight and is personally taken to the climate-controlled, pressurized area for transport.
Tips for Shipping
- Call different airlines to find the shortest flight and lowest price for the dates you want.
- A direct flight is highly recommended - connections make mishaps more likely.
- Shipping STO during warm months is preferred, to avoid cold climate problems.
- To afford shipping costs, some new STO owners will find others in their area who also want a STO and split shipping costs with them.
Costs Involved With Shipping
Breeders and pet stores may charge the buyer for a variety of costs including the shipping crate, fuel, taxes, vet certificate paperwork, entry permits (if applicable), plus additional delivery/handling fees. Some may offer a discount based on the number of animals shipped at one time. Generally the costs work out to $100-$200 total.
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Shipping Frequently Asked Questions
1. The breeder I talked to offered to send me a STO in the mail or through
UPS/Fed-Ex. Is this legal?
2. But, the breeder or pet store I am talking to insists using USPS/UPS/Fed-Ex
is legal?
3. How much does shipping usually cost?
4. How safe is shipping?
1. The breeder I talked to offered to send me a STO in the mail or through UPS/Fed-Ex. Is this legal?
No, it is illegal to send or receive live animals such as STO through the mail.
It is also risky to the animal's health:
- Trucks and planes transporting mail, UPS and Fed-Ex deliveries are not guaranteed to be climate-controlled or pressurized.
- Deliveries may be late, or lost.
- Overnight delivery still takes 12-24+ hours, compared to less than 5 for direct airline flights.
- Trauma and stress for the STO may be increased the longer transportation takes.
- The longer transportation takes, the higher the chance of mistakes or mishaps.
Breeders and pet owners have both pointed out to me that it is unlikely for anyone to find out if they are shipped illegally - but I personally would never risk the animal's health or breaking the law.
2. But, the breeder or pet store I am talking to insists using USPS/UPS/Fed-Ex is legal?
If the person you are talking to insists non-airline shipping of STO is legal, ask for confirmation in writing from both the USDA and USPS/UPS/Fed-Ex that it is acceptable.
Shipping exotic animals through any of those methods would require extensive paperwork and exceptions to their hazardous materials shipping. If the breeder or pet store refuses to provide it, find out why.
3. How much does shipping usually cost?
Shipping costs for a STO is generally between $100-200, and usually between $130-$150.
4. How safe is shipping?
Done properly, airline shipping is safe (safer than USPS/UPS/Fed-Ex), but mishaps do occur - albeit infrequently. The most common problems occur during connecting flights (arrange for direct flights for your STO!) or during cold weather (ship your STO during warm weather!). Mix-ups have included STO being accidentally placed in non-climate controlled or non-pressurized cabins. Other problems have occurred before being placed in the climate-controlled and pressurized cargo area; specifically when on the baggage cart sitting outside waiting to be loaded onto the plane.
Does this happen frequently or often? No. Does it happen sometimes? Unfortunately, yes. For these reasons some STO breeders will not ship their STO no matter what the weather. Most people use shipping of STO as a last resort if they are unable to find one near them locally.
