Snake In The Mail

[Nebulous]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/woman-receives-snake-in-the-mail_n_5992252.html

A Granite City, Illinois, woman got the surprisssssssse of a lifetime when she opened up a FedEx delivery and discovered a live baby python inside.

Area news outlet KMOV reports that Delores Gavin "let out a big scream" when she opened the box, sent by a California reptile dealer, and found the snake, which she had not ordered.

Police believe a stolen credit card number was to blame for the surprise delivery, according to the Belleville News-Democrat, a local paper. The dealer has refunded Gavin's money.

An investigation into who ordered the reptile is underway.

The snake, a spotted python, is non-venomous and recognized as an "ideal first snake" for reptile owners.

Thoughts?

 

[Jazzy]

I'm petrified of snakes and would have fainted on the spot!

 

[DrLeftover]

Pythons aren't poisonous. I'm sure their bite isn't a lot of fun, but it won't kill you.

 

[DrLeftover]

Some animals may be shipped through various handlers.

US Postal Service

525 Nonmailable Live Animals

Nonmailable types of animals discovered in the mailstream must be reported to the PCSC in accordance with the instructions in POM 139.118. Additionally, the mailer and the Post Office of mailing must be notified to prevent future shipments from being incorrectly accepted for mailing.
525.1 Live Birds

Day-old poultry vaccinated with Newcastle disease (live virus) is nonmailable. Day-old birds, except those specifically permitted under 526.3 are nonmailable.
525.2 Live, Warm–Blooded Animals
Warm-blooded animals, except for adult birds and specified day-old birds under the specific conditions in this section, are not mailable.
525.3 Reptiles
All snakes, turtles, and poisonous reptiles are nonmailable.
525.4 Poisonous Insects and Spiders

http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/pub52c5_007.htm

UPS

Shipping Live Animals - Domestic and International
UPS provides service on a limited basis for packages containing some types of live animals. The term "animal" as used herein refers to anything living, except plants. While the list of "Accepted Live Animals" provided herein is an exhaustive list of animals that can be offered for transportation in accordance with the conditions listed, the list of "Prohibited Live Animals" is only a partial list of animals provided to clarify specific species that are not accepted for transportation and may not be shipped via UPS. Any animal not specifically listed on the "Accepted Live Animals" list is prohibited by UPS and will not be accepted for transportation.

http://www.ups.com/animals


Fedex

Live Animals

FedEx does not accept live animal shipments as part of its regularly 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, and live fish are not accepted. For more information, contact the FedEx Live Animal Desk at 1.800.405.9052.

http://www.fedex.com/us/government/international/terms.html

 

[Nebulous]

I suppose if done right, "shipping" a live animal wouldn't sound so bad. The idea of it throws up red flags in my head though.