Found out something interesting...

[infernalis]

OK, here is the lowdown, at least with New York state, I have been in direct contact with the local D.E.C. officer, he lives right up the road.

The laws were primarily written to end the mass gathering of "disposable" herps for the pet trade, and are not really directed at the folks who keep one or two native herps as "pets" (Captives)

So anyone who really thinks that some government officials are going to serve a no knock warrant to search for garter snakes in your home can rest a bit easier.

However, if you were to get busted for another (real) crime, they would add the charges to the list.

A neighbour of mine was arrested about ten years ago for trafficing dope, they found native snakes in his posession at the time, and to increase the "hype" he was also charged with the snakes.

Makes for "better" newspaper headlines.

[EasternGirl]

So basically if they came over here for some domestic disturbance they would make sure to write "and the crazy lady had a bunch of snakes to boot..." in the headlines...just to make me look a little crazier! That's okay...I think my neighbor have already decided I'm crazy because I have snakes...ha ha!!! I don't think I'm gonna get busted for anything anyway...I live a pretty boring life...

[guidofatherof5]

That is good news. I keep tring to find the law that says I can't keep my girls, but I still can't find it. We have a city patrol officer friend that stops by from time to time and he never says a thing so I guess I won't worry too much, unless my land last finds out.

I just got off the phone with Walt at Washington Fish and Wildlife. 360-902-2515
According to him garter snake are considered an unclassified species and not regulated.
He checked the endangered species list and protected species list and found no garter snakes.
He said that the keeping of native garter snakes is OK.

[kibakiba]

Weird. There was a website that had fish and wildlife laws that said that it was illegal to keep garter snakes in Washington.

[EasternGirl]

I read the Delaware Code and it specifies that you can keep snakes native to Delaware as long as they are not venomous. You cannot have boas or pythons or import snakes not native to Delaware...so I figured that garters were okay...but thank you Steve and Wayne for talking to officials and getting more info....it's always good to be thorough. Sounds like that guy that Steve talked to would know what he is talking about for WA...so I would go by that...

[katach]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!
Thanks Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BUSHSNAKE]

Ohioans arent allowed to keep radix

[guidofatherof5]

Snakes - Living with Wildlife | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

[EasternGirl]

I guess then technically according to Delaware law, I wouldn't be able to keep a radix because it isn't native to Delaware...but I find it hard to believe that they are that picky and specific...I think they are talking about species of snakes not subspecies...so, since the garter snake in general is native to DE...it's okay...but for example, a pit viper...is not native to DE...now that is not a good example because it's venomous and involves another violation of the code...I can't really think of a non-venomous snake that isn't native to DE right off-hand...

[BUSHSNAKE]

dont move to Ohio Steve