Perishable Matter: Animals

 

Type

Common Examples

Domestic

International

Domestic Mail

Maximum Amount Permitted in Mail

Additional Information

Air

Surface

DMM

PUB 52

Bees

Honey bees (Queen bees)

Y

(Queens only)

Y

Y

(Queens only)

601.9.3.7

526.2

601.9.3.7

Must be free of disease. Each Queen may be accompanied by up to eight attendant honeybees

Adult Birds acceptable

Geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, quail, ducks, chickens, swans

Y)

Y

N

601.9.3.4

526.4

601.9.3.4

Approved packaging required. Express Mail\u00A8 only. Each bird must weigh 6 oz. or more.

Adult Birds unacceptable

All other types of birds not listed above, such as canaries, parakeets, parrots

N)

N

N

601.9.3.5

526.4

601.9.3.5

Prohibited

Day-old Poultry

Chicks, ducks, emus, geese, quail, partridges, pheasants (April through August), turkeys

Y)

Y

N

601.9.3.2

526.3

601.9.3.2

Day-old poultry vaccinated with Newcastle disease (live virus) is nonmailanle

Dead Animals

Dried parts of game birds or fish

Y)

Y

N*

601.9.4

526.7

601.9.4

Includes hides and furs. International mail subject to ICL restrictions/prohibitions. If dry ice is used, see DMM 601.10.20.4.

Live, cold blooded

Goldfish, crickets, worms

Y)

Y

N

601.9.3.3

526.6

601.9.3.3

Some exceptions.

Reptiles

Snakes, turtles

N)

N

N

601.9.3.5b

525.3

601.9.3.5b

See Pub 52.

Live, warm blooded

Hamsters, mice, cats, rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, or rats

N)

N

N

601.9.3.5

525.2

601.9.3.5

Some adult birds permitted in domestic mail. See DMM.

Scorpions (live)

Scorpions

N)

Y

N

601.9.3.9

526.5

601.9.3.9

Only for medical research or manufacture of antivenin.