Risk Management for Exotic

UNP-2108 Pet Owners

Introduction

The definition of exotic pet is not well established. Some people consider an exotic pet to be wildlife kept by humans, while others consider pets that are not native to the owner’s locale to be exotic. However you define “exotic,” exotic pet ownership has gotten out of control.

A simple Internet search for “exotic pets for sell” will result in a list ranging from sugar gliders and kangaroos to sloths and zebras. Figure 1. Photo of tiger. by TheLoon, morguefile.com. Most of these animals are cute and cuddly, while some are downright majestic and very Unfortunately, the time may come when an obtainable for the price. What is glaringly exotic animal is released into an improper missing in the Internet ads, however, is environment as a result of a natural or any reference to the huge amount of time manmade event such as power outages or and money a new owner must commit to storm damage. Or the owner’s family may taking care of an exotic pet, and the inherent realize that keeping these exotic pets is dangers associated with owning exotic financially or emotionally draining, or just too creatures. Also, little is ever mentioned about dangerous. As a result, they take the easy the lack of veterinary care or the exorbitant way out and abandon or release these exotic costs associated with treating these exotic creatures “back to the wild” regardless of the animals when a veterinarian is available. habitat. In times like these, the owner and the surrounding community should have a The reasons for owning exotic pets are disaster management plan for exotic animals. numerous. Some exotic pet owners try to (See Alabama Extension’s publication justify ownership as helping to increase the UNP-2109: How to Develop a Disaster population of an endangered species, although Management Plan for Exotic Pets for more no endangered exotic pet held in captivity is a information.) good candidate for successful release into the wild. Other exotic pet owners will claim that Types of Exotic Pets ownership presents an educational experience for the community since it allows people to Many people consider large carnivores such feel closer to nature,ARCHIVE while others insist they as lions, tigers, and bears as only being are serving the greater scientific good by dangerous to humans, but this is not true. attempting to domesticate a species (Henn, Primates, even the smaller ones, have sharp 2016). The truth is that some exotic species teeth. Although they are often treated like may never be tamed, and although the babies, they have no self-control and are reasons for ownership may differ, many exotic likely to attack and bite when angry. They pet owners fail to realize the potential dangers also carry diseases such as Hepatitis and these animals present to themselves, their HIV. Larger primates are also known to cause families, and their immediate community. great physical harm to humans, including their owners or caretakers.

www.aces.edu kill large prey like horses or cows. Not only is their bite horrible, but their tails can knock you down and break your legs, eliminating your chance of escaping. • Even poisonous or nonpoisonous arachnids are sold and kept as exotic pets, as well as centipedes, millipedes, and other insects like hissing cockroaches. Very few of these insects are native to the United States, and if they get loose, can disrupt the balance of local ecosystems and potentially bring harm to humans and animals alike.

Health Issues Figure 2. Photo of squirrel monkey by monosodium, morguefile.com. Exotic pets carry a number of diseases and • Wolves, coyotes, or coywolves (mixes) proper vet treatment may only be available may be relatives of the dog, but they act at fully equipped zoos. The infectious disease instinctively and are extremely powerful statistics for exotic pets are alarming. for their size. For example, you can bring According to the Centers for Disease Control your new baby home and introduce it to and Prevention: the dog by letting the dog smell it. In most cases the dog either plants itself by • 77-90% of reptiles carry Salmonella, the baby’s side as a lifelong protector or it shedding it in their feces and infecting an ignores the baby (rarely). Dogs will react average of 93,000 humans a year. similarly when introduced to a new kitten • 90% of imported green iguanas carry or puppy, either becoming playmates or some strain of intestinal bacteria. ignoring it as much as possible. However, • 25% of macaques have/have had the a wolf or coyote will most likely see the herpes B virus; and any of the primates, baby or a smaller animal as prey to be including capuchins and lemurs can eaten or eliminated as soon as you, the transmit Hepatitis A and HIV-1, the virus alpha, are not looking! that causes AIDS. • Coati and raccoons are small omnivores • 75% of all new infectious diseases sold as pets, but they are somewhat originate from nonhuman animals. Even difficult to control. They need a large parrots carry psittacosis (parrot fever), enclosed area to roam in and function which is a deadly zoonotic disease best with a lot of mental stimulation. (transmittable to humans). If aggravated, however, they have an arsenal of 38-40 extremely sharp teeth to No rabies vaccine is available for exotic pets use for defense purposes. Smaller still is and no confinement period is known. Since the strictly nocturnal kinkajou, weighing most exotic pets cannot be quarantined an average of seven pounds full grown, to rule out rabies, they will most likely be but still equipped with sharp teeth and euthanized. claws. ARCHIVE • Pet bats are a rising trend, but they too have sharp teeth and carry diseases. They also fly at night, hibernate for months when it’s cold, and carry rabies and SARS. Not exactly great houseguests! • Another inappropriate exotic pet is the alligator or crocodile that can grow to 14 Figure 3. Photo of lizard by Darnok, morguefile.com. feet or more in length and weigh more Figure 4. Photo of turtle by lunamom58, morguefile.com. than 700 pounds. These animals can even

2 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Exotic Pet Laws Avoid Releasing in Local Ecosystems There is no standardized federal law that covers the sale and possession of exotic • Exotic pets that are apex predators are pets, but only a hodgepodge of local, capable of decimating the animals in a state, and federal laws that vary by animal local ecosystem, including other pets and and community. Currently, 18 states ban humans. ownership of large cats, wolves, bears, • Exotic pets that end up in a natural primates, and dangerous reptiles–Alabama environment without rehabilitation or is NOT one of those states. Ten states have preparation for the adjustment may not a partial ban of ownership of some exotic survive the transition, or can actually end animals–Alabama is NOT one of those states. up being an invasive species such as the Thirteen states require exotic animal owners Burmese python in the Florida Everglades. obtain a license or permit in order to keep • Exotic reptiles present unique safety risks their animals–Alabama is NOT one of those to humans, pets, and the local ecosystem. states (Born Free USA, 2016). Just what There is potential injury from bite, venom, laws DOES Alabama have in place when it or constriction and consumption. comes to ownership of exotic animals? You • Some exotic pets can crossbreed with can’t own, sell, offer for sell, import, or native species and new dangers may have brought into the state: fish from emerge for both wildlife and humans. the genus Clarias; fish from the genus Serrasalmus; black carp; any species of Conclusion mongoose; any member of the family Cervidae (deer, elk, moose, caribou); Owning an exotic pet is a serious or any species of coyote, fox, raccoon, undertaking. First, you must consider ALL skunk, wild rodents, or wild turkey. expenses of owning these pets, not just the initial costs. Such costs include feeding, That’s it for Alabama! There are no specific housing, and expensive veterinarian care regulations for possessing any of the large that may be difficult to find. You must also cats, bears, apes, boas, pythons, cobras, consider the investment of your time and alligators, elephants, rhinos, or other exotic devotion to an animal(s) that may possibly animals. There are no requirements for turn on you the moment it is startled, housing, cleanliness of habitats, or security injured, or entering mating season. And what fences or cages for exotic pets. In fact, if about the difficulties of taking care of your you want to keep your pet alligator in your exotic pets? It really doesn’t matter how cute backyard pool in the state of Alabama go a wild baby animal is or how accustomed right ahead. You will just need to have the it is to humans, a wild animal is still a wild same minimum 4-foot fence that the law animal. What’s truly best for an exotic requires any backyard pool to have. Only animal is being able to thrive in its natural a few counties even require that you have environment! signs concerning “pool rules” and “swim at your own risk” for ARCHIVEany pool in the state.

Risk Management for Exotic Pet Owners 3 References

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®. (2016). Adoption tips. Adopt a Pet. Retrieved from http://www. aspca.org/adopt/adoption-tips/.

Born Free USA. (2016). Get the facts: Ten fast facts about exotic “pets.” Retrieved from http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts. php?p=439&more=1.

Born Free USA. (2016). Summary of state laws relating to private possession of exotic animals: Alabama. Retrieved From http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exotic_animals_summary.php.

Born Free USA (2016). Get the facts: The dangers of keeping exotic “pets.” Retrieved from http://www.bornfreeusa.org/ facts.php?p=187&more=1.

Dell’Amore, C. (2009). Python “nightmare”: New giant species invading Florida. Retrieved from http://news. nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090911-pythons-florida-giant-snakes.html.

Exotic pet. (2016, August 26). In Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exotic_ pet/.

Henn, C. (2016, January 1). 3 ridiculous reasons people give for keeping exotic animals as pets. Retrieved from http://www. onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/ridiculous-reasons-people-give-for-keeping-exotic-animals-as-pets/.

Kruzer, A. (2016, August 23). Exotic pet laws. Retrieved from http://exoticpets.about.com/od/choosinganexoticpet/a/Exotic- Pet-Laws.htm.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. (2016). Exotic animals as ‘pets.’ Retrieved from http://www.peta.org/issues/ animals-in-entertainment/exotic-animals-pets/.

Slater, L. (2014, April). Exotic pets: Wild obsession. Retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/04/exotic- pets/slater-text.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environment. (2015). Exotic pets and farm animals. Retrieved from http://www. scdhec.gov/Health/DiseasesandConditions/InfectiousDiseases/InsectAnimalBorne/Rabies/ExoticPetsFarmAnimals/.

ARCHIVE Jean Hall Dwyer, MS, Extension Communications Specialist, EDEN Point of Contact, Alabama A&M University

For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome! UNP-2108 New October 2016; UNP-2108 © 2016 by Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All rights reserved.