 WHAT IS A WILD ANIMAL?
A wild animal lives in natural environments and requires definite periods of conditioning and learning in the presence of its parents and peers. It has certain inborn behavior patterns and also requires learned behavior to survive in competitive natural environments.
WHY CAN'T HUMANS SUBSTITUTE FOR NATURAL PARENTS?
It is virtually impossible for a wild animal to adapt to traditional household living.
It is also impossible for pet owners to influence behavior patterns of wild animals or to predict when wild and often destructive behavior will occur.
DO WILD ANIMALS TRANSMIT DISEASE?
A wild animal is especially dangerous in this regard, since an owner would have no way of knowing what diseases the animal had been exposed to in its natural environment. Diseases such as rabies can have extremely lengthy incubation periods, lasting several weeks or even several months.
Wild animals harbor parasites which can be lethal, especially to infant and young children. Internal parasites such as ascarid worms, tape worms, flukes and protozoa can cause debilitating and often fatal diseases in humans, while external parasites such as ticks and fleas transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Bubonic Plague and other serious diseases.
WHAT ANIMALS DO MAKE GOOD PETS?
A pet is a domesticated animal that is kept for pleasure rather than utility. Domesticated animals make good pets because they have been bred, many for thousands of years, to coexist with humans in a household setting. In fact, behavior patterns which are especially appropriate for the domestic animal's existence in a human household are conciously selected by breeders. The following animals are recommended as pets:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rabbits
- Guinea Pigs
- Hamsters
- Domestic Mice
- Domestic Rats
- Budgies (Parakeets)
- Canaries
- Cockatiels
- Doves
- Pigeons
- Domestic Ducks and Geese
- Common forms of Captive-raised Tropical Fish
WHAT ABOUT ZOOS AND WILDLIFE PARKS?
Wildlife parks, refuges and nature centers have taken the responsibility to house abused and mistreated wild animals. Many of these animals were obtained for the sole purpose of being a pet.
These animals start off as cute, cuddly, innocent pets. But, as nature takes its course, their natural instincts develop. People who take on these wild animals do not have the education and training necessary to properly care for these animals. And, as a result, they are soon looking for a facility to take their "Problem" off their hands. Ultimately, wildlife facilities will bear the financial responsibility to house and maintain these wild animals.
Captive wild animals should be housed and managed in a zoo, wildlife park, or nature center by professionally trained individuals. We invite you to join wildlife facilities and animal organizations to learn more about wild animals and the care they need.
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