Keeping wild animals as pets is a strange thing. On the other hand, properly bred exotic animals can thrive as domestic pets and can be cared for with plenty of care and attention. However, for some people, there comes a time when they can no longer care for their pet, and keeping the alligator in the pool becomes difficult or even dangerous. Rather than throwing your pet goldfish into a nearby river, what should you do with an exotic fish that you can no longer care for?
Exotic pet ownership in the United States is regulated differently at the state, county, and city level. According to Born Free USA, more than 1,000 websites offer the opportunity to purchase and negotiate prices on exotic animals such as lions, monkeys and reptiles. There are many concerns with keeping exotic pets, including animal and owner welfare, the spread of disease, and risks to public health.
One of the big problems comes from people who want to keep alligators as pets. This is only legal in certain US states, while other areas require owners to be licensed, and private ownership of American alligators is prohibited in New York state.
National Geographic writes that while there are no official numbers on how many people keep alligators as pets, there may be about 5,000 in Michigan. World Population Review has a map of where alligators will be legal in the United States in 2024. These alligators come from legal breeders in the Southeast, primarily Florida, and while there are strict alligator breeding laws, there are always those who try to keep alligators in captivity. Avoid them.
You can legally keep an alligator as a pet in the UK, but the animal must be declared and licensed. Crocodiles are subject to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act (1976) and obtaining a license is a long and lengthy process.
Where most people stumble is not understanding how much it costs to own an animal and how large reptiles can grow. Female American crocodiles can grow to 2.6 meters (8.2 feet) long, while males can grow to 3.4 meters (11.2 feet), according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Biological Institute.
From time to time, news breaks out of pets being removed from homes by the authorities. Rising energy costs are causing more reptiles to be abandoned as pets in the UK. So what should you do if you don't want an alligator in your swimming pool?
The most important thing to consider is not to release these animals into the countryside or your local park, but to responsibly hand them over to someone who has the appropriate experience and equipment to care for them. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has an exotic pet amnesty program for people who are no longer able to keep an animal. A similar rescue operation is underway in the UK for people who are no longer able to care for their exotic pets.
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