I really had no idea that the USPS didn't allow gerbils to be shipped
through the mail -- my local postal employees must not know that; they
didn't say a word about it when they asked what was in the box.
Anyway, I just looked into it at the USPS's website. Here's the
official word:
>From PS-106 (C022):"Mailability of Live Animals":
"Certain day-old live poultry, small harmless cold-blooded animals, bees
and other nonpoisonous and non-disease-conveying insects may be sent
through the mails when properly packaged.
"The term ''live day-old poultry'' includes live day-old chickens,
ducks, geese, partridges, and pheasants (which are mailable only from
April through August), as well as guinea fowl, quail, and turkeys.
These animals do not require food or water for 72 hours after hatching.
Cold-blooded animals survive quite well for the period of time required
for delivery. Bee and insect shipments are normally provided with a
small amount of food by the mailer with which they can survive for as
much as two weeks.
"Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) C022.3.3, states that adult turkeys, guinea
fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, and quail, as well as
ducks, geese, and swans sent by Express Mail in biologically secure
containers approved by the Business Mail Acceptance manager, USPS
Headquarters, are mailable, if the number of birds per parcel follows
the manufacturer limits, and if each bird weighs more than 6 ounces.
Adult chickens may be sent by Express Mail under the conditions of DMM
C022.3.4, DMM.
"Postal regulations covering the mailability of live animals are based
on the humane consideration of the ability of the animals to survive
without food or water while in the mails, the health hazards which they
may present to postal employees, possible injury to other mail and
equipment, and our ability to cover the costs of providing the service.
"In summation, the Postal Service is not only unable to cover the costs
that would be involved in handling animals other than those currently
carried, it also would be unable to provide humane treatment for the
animals and protection for postal personnel that would be necessary if
these animals were to be sent through the mails, whether by surface or
air transportation.
>From PS-106 (C022):"Perishables":
"Small, harmless, cold-blooded animals (except snakes and turtles) that
do not require food or water or attention during handling in the mail
and that do not create sanitary problems or obnoxious odors are mailable
(e.g., baby alligators and caimans not more than 20 inches long,
bloodworms, earthworms, mealworms, salamanders, leeches, lizards,
snails, and tadpoles).
"Warm-blooded animals, except the specified birds under specific
conditions detailed above, are not mailable (e.g., hamsters, mice, rats,
guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, squirrels, parakeets, and canaries).
