BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1108
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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Traveling with a pet bird through Baja
Hi, was wondering if anyone has some input on this. I acquired a white bellied caique in 1999. He is banded and legal, was not imported into the
USA (he is an endangered species, not imported since 1973), and I love him. He does not do well with other caretakers. I have the CITES certificate
of ownership and can import/export him when I travel. However, the U.S. Division of Wildlife (they do the inspections) has told me that because of
avian flu Mexico will seize and euthanize even pet birds.
Has anyone had experience in the past six months of traveling through Baja with a pet bird? I can leave him with my husband and my sister can feed
him, but she took care of him last trip, feel like I am over-asking for favors here...
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
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No direct experience but here's a blog post that looks to be informative:
http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-magazines/bird-talk/2009-mar...
[Edited on 9-1-2016 by SFandH]
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weebray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1094
Registered: 7-19-2010
Location: La Paz
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Mood: lleno
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Why would you even consider risking losing your pet? If some governmental officious zealot decides the bird is illegal believe me you will be
powerless to stop them. What are you going to do? Sue? Remember, It's their world, you're just living in it.
Every beautiful beach in the world needs a few condo towers - NOT.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Once you are at the border (and also in Secondary), you can't say "never-mind" and U-turn back into Mexico. Notice the line of silver bumps you drive
over some distance before reaching the kiosk where the officer is... that is the border line. You are already inside the United States before reaching
the officer's booth.
Leave the bird if you don't want it in the hands of our government!
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  | Hi, was wondering if anyone has some input on this. I acquired a white bellied caique in 1999. He is banded and legal, was not imported into the
USA (he is an endangered species, not imported since 1973), and I love him. He does not do well with other caretakers. I have the CITES certificate
of ownership and can import/export him when I travel. However, the U.S. Division of Wildlife (they do the inspections) has told me that because of
avian flu Mexico will seize and euthanize even pet birds.
Has anyone had experience in the past six months of traveling through Baja with a pet bird? I can leave him with my husband and my sister can feed
him, but she took care of him last trip, feel like I am over-asking for favors here... |
The question is.. do you feel lucky?
I have a close friend who has smuggled a bird across (just once).
This person regularly smuggles plants across.
Worse case you'll be turned back. They don't want your bird. Oh, then there's the ''fine.''
Don't worry. Be happy.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Hola, BajaMama.
I have a bird also...a very talkative African Grey.
Here is my story:
I also had heard of the legalities and regulations of bringing birds in and out of Mexico.
After doing a tremendous amount of homework regarding traveling with bird in Baja.
I made an appointment with the avian vet in charge at the Otay Mesa point of entry. And after seeing him and following his advice, I called the
sacramento California office to obtain the bird certification necessary for bring the bird back to the USA. I also had the bird chipped and tattooed.
After the form was filled out and signed by an APHIS certified avian vet, I took the certificate to the same vet at the border office.
I also had to obtain a separate vaccination and health certificate from my bird regular vet.
Now, everything was cool with the USDA vet's office.
He told me to call him ahead of time (about two hours) before I get to the border and cross back to the USA.
However, he said...If the USDA inspector does not agree with the paperwork, or he got up on the wrong side of the bed that morning and he says that
the bird will not return to the USA without a 30 day quarantine.
Take it for what it's worth. I spent 6 months going through this.
Now...taking the bird to Mexico was another ordeal!
After many conversations with Baja bird owners, they all said that their bird was smuggled into Baja. Usually inside a large ladies purse.
The discrimination against birds was not fair since dogs and cats are let into and out of the country (both ways) on a regular basis. I have known of
regular Mexican puppies being taken back to the USA with no paperwork or collars, health certificate or anything else.
So here is what I did:
The Mexican customs officials see pet crates regularly. So I converted a small dog/cat crate to hold a bird (put a perch in it and added a water bowl
holder). Then I made a cover for it.
Then I placed the pet carrier in the back seat along with some duffel bags, and a suit case in the trunk area.
I had my wife drive the car across from the US via the TECATE crossing. I decided to have my wife drive because my bird is quieter when my wife is
around. If I had been driving the bird would have been jabbering away.
Bad luck still followed us.
She got the red light and had to go to secondary. They looked in the back seat, opened one of the duffel bags. Closed it. Went to the trunk and opened
another suit case, closed it and sent her on her way!
Crisis averted!
The bird got smuggled into Mexico with no hassles and under the eyes of the Mexican customs officers.
We are now living in Ensenada, and don't expect for the bird to return to the USA.
Note to DK...I think you meant to say (in your last sentence..."You are already inside MEXICO territory once you reach the inspection area."). But you
are right...there is no turning around. If caught, the bird will be confiscated.
In answer to Lee: worst case is the bird WILL be confiscated. There is no bribing officials. There is no turning the vehicle around.
Period.
[Edited on 9-1-2016 by Udo]
[Edited on 9-3-2016 by Udo]
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Hi Udo, I actually thought she was concerned about bringing the bird into the U.S., since we have the quarantine requirements she was concerned about.
I was thinking she thought she could U-Turn back into Mexico if the U.S. said her bird couldn't stay with her.
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1108
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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What I found out today from the US Dept of Wildlife is that now, just recently, any bird crossing back into the states has to be quarantined. Which I
guess would be okay except that the San Diego center is now closed, so I would have to fly him from Mexico to either Atlanta, GA or NYC. Crazy! I
would never put him through that. So, I begged my sister to watch him again. I agree Udo, it is so unfair that they are this strict with only birds
but I guess it has to do with avain flu. Thanks for your help everyone, I appreciate your input.
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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I"m not sure there's "no turning around". Several years ago we adopted a stray kitten. Crossing back into the U.S. we got "one of those" border
patrol officers after being sent to secondary in Tecate. Said we couldn't bring the kitten across the border. He gave us the option of returning to
Mexico, or surrendering the kitten. We went back into Mexico, drove to Otay and crossed without incident.
I don't think I'd chance it though. A stressed bird is better than not having it anymore.
[Edited on 9-3-2016 by BigWooo]
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1108
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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Fortunately my (saint of a) sister has agreed to watch him for me again. It is just a shame because he travels pretty well and I think the check
point guys would get a kick out of him. He likes to ride on the steering wheel! But it wounds very difficult to get him back into the country and I
am not willing to rick having to quarantine him. So it's just me and my dog.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by BigWooo | I"m not sure there's "no turning around". Several years ago we adopted a stray kitten. Crossing back into the U.S. we got "one of those" border
patrol officers after being sent to secondary in Tecate. Said we couldn't bring the kitten across the border. He gave us the option of returning to
Mexico, or surrendering the kitten. We went back into Mexico, drove to Otay and crossed without incident.
I don't think I'd chance it though. A stressed bird is better than not having it anymore.
[Edited on 9-3-2016 by BigWooo] |
Good info!! Thanks!! I thought if they found a bird on you that you didn't declare (because importing birds is illegal), that was it for you, and the
bird!
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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I guess they have those avian rules for a reason, although I have never heard of a canine or a feline flu problem in any country.
| Quote: Originally posted by Udo |
The discrimination against birds was not fair since dogs and cats are let into and out of the country (both ways) on a regular basis. I have known of
regular Mexican puppies being taken back to the USA with no paperwork or collars, health certificate or anything else. |
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