returning to USA with purchased testudo hermanni

Question
I have been living in Germany since 2007 and bought a testudo hermanni from a German pet store.  She has papers verifying her origin.  I am returning to the US (Wisconsin) next month and I need to know what I need to do to import her into the US.  I don't know which airline I will be using, but I plan to take her as carry-on.  Will she need a health certificate?  Customs papers?  Are there regulations with the CDC or Dept. of fish and wildlife?  I appreciate any information you can give on this matter.

Answer
Hi Julee,

There probably won't be any problem bringing her into the US, but you should contact the airline you will be using and get their policy *in writing* so you know exactly what you need to do, and make sure that you don't need an export permit to remove her from Germany (http://www.bfn.de/index+M52087573ab0.html).  You may need vet paperwork, but that should be all.  The main issue is making sure that you don't get to the airport and run into problems because no one knows what the policy is with reptiles/tortoises.  Ask specifically what paperwork you will need and what you need to do to allow her to go into the cabin with you.  As far as customs goes--again, you shouldn't have trouble, but I would see if you can contact someone so you can get information in writing.  I would also make sure her paperwork says how her species is categorized under CITES (I assume it probably does, because Europe tends to be much stricter on Testudo species than the US).    

The biggest problem is that everyone may tell you something different (hence why you should get things in writing).  Most people are pretty clueless about tortoises in general, let alone the different species.  Likely any issue in the US will stem from whether she is considered either an endangered species or a restricted one (depending on the state you're coming into), and that won't be an issue as long as you have the paperwork with her species on it.  Make sure that your specific state doesn't restrict turtles or tortoises (you can check laws here:  http://reptilelaws.org/).  Print out the specific section and include it with your paperwork.  If there's any doubt, you should write to Fish & Game directly.

Sorry I can't be of more specific help, but for individual animals the best thing you can do is to cover your bases as much as you can.  That way, if you get to the airport or US Customs and they say you can't bring her in, you can pull out your paperwork and say, "This says I can."  

This is a FAQ page for CITES, which may be helpful:  http://animalhealth.defra.gov.uk/cites/FAQs.html#pet