Thinking of having a wild animal as a pet?  Think twice. 

As we mark the International Day for Biodiversity on May 22, one place we may not want too much biodiversity is among our pets! Demand for wild (or exotic) pets (which we’ll define as animals not usually kept and bred as pets) has been growing around the globe. People get them for entertainment, companionship, or because they simply love animals and the joy they bring to their lives. However, there are lots of things you should consider before purchasing or taking an animal from the wild to be a pet. 

• Is it legal? Each state and country has different regulations about which animals can legally be kept or sold as pets. For example, Arizona does not allow skunks or prairie dogs as pets, while other states do. Arizona does allow ferrets, but California doesn’t.  
• Can I give this animal what it needs? Wild animals are not adapted to living with people in a house or apartment. They need complex, diverse environments to be mentally and physically healthy. Can you give it the space and enrichment that it needs? 
• Will I get hurt? Any animal with a mouth can bite, and with claws or nails can scratch! Wild animals have natural instincts that can be dangerous to people. Not only might you get hurt, but you can be legally responsible if your animal injures someone else. 
• Can I make a lifetime commitment to this animal? Many wild animals have long life spans. For example, desert tortoises and parrots can live over 50 years in captivity. If your situation changes, or you move to a state with different regulations, this is a serious concern. Finding new homes for exotic animals can be difficult, and they should not be released to the wild. Most pets released to the wild do not survive, and they can be harmful to other animals and the environment.   
• Can I afford it? Wild animals require specialized diets, enclosures and medical care. It’s estimated that the lifetime cost of caring for an iguana is about $25,000, and for a parrot is $70,000-$90,000. 
• Could it make me sick? Many wild animals carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.  

Zooming out to the bigger picture, the exotic pet trade has become a significant part of illegal wildlife trafficking, which is a serious threat to biodiversity. For example, captures for the pet trade are the most significant threats to tropical parrot populations in the Americas. Trafficked animals are often held in unsanitary and inhumane conditions during transport, and those that survive become more vulnerable to disease.  

A great way to get to know and help a wild species is by participating in the Tortoise Adoption Program at the Desert Museum, or another site affiliated with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. These tortoises cannot be released to the wild for a variety of reasons. You can become a custodian (not an owner) of a tortoise in the program, and learn how to care for it. With this program, if your situation changes, you can return the tortoise for re-homing. If you see a tortoise in the wild, it is always best to let it be, and not take a wild tortoise as a pet. The collection of animals from the wild is highly regulated, and depending on the species, location and season, may either be illegal, require a hunting/fishing license, or special permit.  

Looking for other animal companionship? Our local shelters and rescues are brimming with animals that need good homes. These animals make good pets: 

• Dogs, domestic cats, guinea pigs, domestic rats and mice, domestic gerbils, common hamsters, domestic rabbits, domestic chinchillas. 
• Responsibly captive-bred parakeets, canaries, cockatiels, doves, and pigeons. 
• Responsibly captive-bred reptiles and amphibians such as red-footed tortoises, lizards (bearded dragons, leopard geckos), snakes (corn snakes, king snakes, ball pythons) and frogs (White’s tree frog, ornate horned frog, fire-bellied toad, red-eyed tree frog). 
• Tropical fish that are captive-raised or collected from sustainable wild populations make good pets. Look for certification of sustainability from the Marine Aquarium Council when you buy tropical fish for your home aquarium. 

Should you decided that you really want a more exotic pet, look for a reputable rescue organization, rather than sourcing animals from the wild, and be aware that animals taken from the wild can be “laundered” through less reputable rescue businesses. Always ask where an animal came from. 

One animal you might be familiar with here in the Tucson area that is a victim of illegal trafficking for the exotic pet trade is the common chuckwalla. Lizards are the third largest group of reptiles seized globally, but sadly, the smuggling of live reptiles often results in death.

Plant populations are hurt by poaching too! 

For many people, plants bring them as much joy as animals. However, many wild plants are harvested illegally as well. For example, white sage, Salvia apiana (you can see it at the Museum’s labyrinth garden and Boojum Hill) has been appropriated from Indigenous cultures and is being harvested unsustainably from its small native range. It is widely available at many retailers, both brick and mortar stores and online. If you want this plant, purchase a live plant from a reputable nursery and grow your own, rather than purchasing dried bundles of wild-harvested sage. Many succulents and cacti are targets for wild poaching as well. Look to rescue organizations and trusted local nurseries or the Desert Museum’s plant sale for responsibly-sourced plants.

How can you help? 

In addition to considering all the factors above before purchasing an exotic pet yourself, you can help by not promoting the irresponsible ownership of exotic pets on social media. Don’t react to or share stories that come across your feeds. For more information, check out the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Not a Pet website for engaging stories and videos about the many reasons to choose domestic, rather than exotic pets!