So You Want A Bird
Owning a bird is a huge commitment on your part if you want this animal to be healthy both physically and mentally. This is especially true for the larger birds. Birds like cockatoos, macaws, African gray parrots and other parrot-like birds are very long-lived (50-90 years). They are naturally monogamous, meaning they will bond with one partner and mate for life in the wild. When you purchase one of these animals you must understand that you will become their partner for life. They will become very jealous of anyone new that will enter your life: your new spouse, the new pet(s), and even your children once they start arriving. They are easily traumatized when their “partner” leaves either through divorce or death and rarely bond successfully with another. Their behavior can become too difficult for most owners to manage because they don’t understand that they must make the changes in their lifestyle to accommodate the bird.
These are also very noisy birds. They are naturally social animals and in the wild they live in large flocks, keeping in constant communication with each other by vocalizing. These birds will always scream and be loud, for as long as they live. They don’t like being left alone. It is distressing to them to be out of vocal range with their partner and other flock members. They are also extremely intelligent birds that require a lot of mental stimulation. Keeping them caged all the time is cruel and you will quickly see behavioral changes that are not healthy for the animal. However, these birds can become very destructive of your home unless you take the time to work with them constantly.
As with any animal in captivity, keeping their environment clean is the best way to ensure your animal stays healthy. Birds regularly shed a fine powdery dust from their feathers. This dust is dangerous for you and your bird to constantly inhale. In the wild this dust is blown away and does not accumulate to dangerous levels. In captivity, constant cleaning of the cage and the rooms the bird hangs out in is a must!
Birds require proper diet as well. If you start out feeding your bird unhealthy foods you will discover it is very difficult to put them on the right diet later. As with any animal, there are associated diseases that can be a safety issue for yourself and your family. If you do decide to purchase such a bird, please make sure your animal was captive born and bred. You don’t want to perpetuate the illegal harvesting of these birds in the wild and therefore contribute to their population decline from that practice!
So You Want A Snake
Reptiles are fascinating animals but few are easy to maintain in the home, especially the larger species. Even zoos find caring for some of these animals to be extremely difficult! That cute little baby python or boa you are admiring in the pet store may grow to be over 15 or 20 or 30 feet long when it is full grown and weigh several hundred pounds. All snakes are predators and a snake that large is a potential threat to you, your children, your neighbors and other pets. It would require a holding that would be too large to bring into your home intact. It would, in effect, take over one whole room of your home. Snakes and other reptiles are potential hosts for diseases like salmonella, which can be deadly to anyone with a compromised immune system or the very young and very old. Frequent cleaning of the animal’s home is the best way to prevent the spread of disease. Your snake will require special lighting to stay healthy and temperature and humidity levels that may have to be artificially induced depending on where you live in the country.
An average full grown reticulated python can easily surpass 20 feet in length and has been recorded at more than 33 feet and weigh in excess of 300 pounds. Their slashing bite can sever arteries and tendons. They can live more than 25 years in captivity. Your snake will need to eat more than its body weight in food per year to remain healthy. If you don’t keep your snake fed it will find something on its own to satisfy its hunger: a cat, dog, or even a small child. With patience and perseverance you can switch this animal over from eating live food to eating pre-killed, which is safer for you and for the snake if it is done properly and you follow safe packaging and handling of the diet. It will also be easier for you to stock up on snake food during the lean times of winter. Just make sure you either feed the whole animal (guts and all) or provide adequate vitamin and mineral supplements…the last thing you want is a malnourished snake.
When considering a snake, always take into account the adult size. It is easier to care for a snake whose adult length will be less than 5 ft. All snakes are escape artists so make sure you invest in a proper holding designed to contain them. Safety is always a concern so remember to keep the snake’s home clean and always wash your hands thoroughly after handling your snake. Never wear a snake around your neck; even a small constrictor can be deadly in such a situation. You would pass out before you could unwrap the tightened animal from around your neck.
If you still want a large snake, contact reputable breeders for more guidance and information, so you understand thoroughly what you will be committing to before you buy! Be aware that many reticulated pythons sold in the world are harvested from the wild in Asia and have extreme variations in temperament. As with any pet purchase, always double-check that the animal you buy has been captive bred…you do not want to perpetuate the illegal harvesting of wildlife for the pet trade!
So You Want A Venomous Reptile
Venomous reptiles come in a variety of sizes with some being very large. Their life spans also vary with some living for several decades. Their dietary and overall care requirements may be the same as other reptiles from similar habitats but all venomous reptiles require extra safety measures in housing and husbandry. Owning venomous reptiles is illegal without a permit in many states, including Montana. Owning such animals puts yourself, your family and your community at risk. Even experienced handlers with extensive knowledge about these animals understand that it isn’t IF they get bitten but WHEN they get bitten. A bite from many of these venomous reptiles is indeed deadly even if the appropriate health care is readily available. Licensed facilities that keep these animals also keep updated and current list of species and share these lists with their state wildlife departments, local law enforcement and health care professionals/facilities in case of emergencies. They also have the most current list of antivenin locations as well as keeping specific antivenom in stock when necessary. Antivenin is expensive and does need to be replaced often; your life will depend on it! ZooMontana strongly discourages individuals from owning venomous reptiles. Venomous reptiles are not “pets”!
So You Want A Turtle
Some tortoises and turtles can expect to live a very long time; it is not uncommon for some species to exceed 100 years if properly cared for. Unfortunately, many turtles do not survive their first year with their owner. They are often kept in fish aquariums and their homes are not kept as clean as they should be. Aquatic turtles are especially vulnerable to poor husbandry; these animals often die of severe infections of the eyes, ears and nose. Few owners understand the importance of diet for turtles and don’t realize that the wrong temperatures, humidity and lighting cause the animals to have deformities and other problems. That amazing little African spurred tortoise looks small and cute now but did you know that “Sulcata” is the third largest tortoise species found in the world? What will you do with a 140+ pound animal that doesn’t hibernate and loves to dig? Where would you keep it for the next 100 years?
Harvesting of turtles from the wild has made a terrible impact on many species worldwide. In many countries collecting wild turtles is illegal. Many states in our country have laws protecting native turtles from exploitation. If you really want a turtle be sure to do your homework so you know exactly what to expect and how to care for it properly. Make sure you get one from a reputable breeder; you don’t want to perpetuate the endangerment of the world’s turtles!
So You Want a Lizard
There is something really wonderful about lizards. It doesn’t take much imagination on our part to see little dragons or dinosaurs when we look at a lizard. But keeping lizards can be challenging, especially caring for those larger ones! Every year people buy baby green iguanas and every year, zoos around the country get phone calls from owners of adult green iguanas wanting to get rid of their animals. Green iguanas can reach over 6 feet in length. Their bite and claws, not to mention that strong, hard tail, can hurt! They love to climb and need a very large holding, lots of warmth and humidity and full-spectrum lighting. Green iguanas can live up to 20 years when given the proper care. The sad fact of the green iguana is that there are no “sanctuaries” for unwanted adults and there are so many unwanted adults being abandoned by frustrated and ill-prepared owners. Any iguana left to fend for itself in the wild is a potential disease risk for the native animal populations. Individuals convicted of releasing exotic animals into the wild will be facing criminal charges. So what can we do? Stop buying baby iguanas! Many pet shops now no longer sell green iguanas because of this problem. If you really want an iguana there is a large surplus of adoptable adult iguanas out there to choose from. In many cases these owners are willing to part with the animal, its holding and lights for free!
Monitor lizards are becoming a problem as well. These are very large, aggressive, carnivorous lizards that have a nasty bite and ZooMontana discourages ownership of such animals. It is becoming illegal to own monitor lizards in many states because of the health and safety issues associated with them. As with any pet purchase, make sure you are not violating state laws, are well informed, committed to the life of the animal and that you have purchased it from a reputable breeder.
So You Want A Crocodilian
There are 21 species of crocodilian. Most of these are “crocodiles”; two species are called “alligators” but the “caiman” also belongs to the alligator group; and one species of “gharial”. These are truly awesome animals and probably the most intelligent reptiles of all…but they do NOT make good, safe pets and ZooMontana strongly discourages private citizens from acquiring these animals for that purpose. In fact, it is now illegal to own such animals in many states. Even a “dwarf” species of alligator that only reaches 5 feet in length quickly outgrows their bathtub or wading pool arrangement. They will need to be kept indoors in temperate zones where winter weather is too cold for them to survive. Their mouths are designed to capture and lock onto anything they bite; it is nearly impossible to pry their jaws open once they’ve closed. You put yourself, your family and your community at risk by owning such an animal.
It is estimated that crocodilians can live more than 100 years in the wild. We do know that some of those now in captivity for 60 years are still alive. The largest ever on record was a saltwater crocodile caught near the coast of India at 27 ½ feet long and weighing in over thousand pounds! Crocodilians in the wild are facing many problems. If you truly care for such animals you will make more of a difference supporting one of the many conservation efforts being done on their behalf around the world.
So You Want A “Monkey”
Primates have always fascinated us, probably because they look so much like adorable, hairy little people! They appear “cute” and “cuddly” and benign but are in fact quite capable of inflicting extreme damage upon you and your surroundings. Monkeys and apes do not readily become “toilet trained”. They are smart, strong and agile. They can live for several decades. They have sharp teeth and can become aggressive as they mature. Aside from the fact that a large animal can physically injure or even kill a human, the most dangerous threat from these animals, is disease transmission between them and their human hosts. Many primate species carry deadly viruses. The reverse is also true; diseases considered harmless to us are often fatal to them. In many states, including Montana, it is illegal to own any primate without a permit and ZooMontana strongly advises the public against keeping such animals as pets because of the danger they pose to human health and safety.
So You Want A Big Cat
Too many people think owning a “big cat” is a neat thing to do. Often zoos get phone calls from big cat owners who suddenly realize the enormity of their decision only after they purchase the animal. These owners not only put themselves and their family at risk, but their community as well. Big cats require individual, expensive, large, escape-proof holdings. They need to be fed a healthy, carnivorous diet, which can easily cost you more than $7,000 a year if you’re feeding something as large as an African lion or a Siberian tiger. Few individuals have the financial ability to care for such animals properly and many species of big cat are illegal for you to have in your possession without a special permit. Should you somehow manage to acquire one, you will need to remember that the animal quickly becomes very large and extremely dangerous. Declawing and defanging such animals may seem like a reasonable safety precaution to you but one swipe from a large paw could cripple or kill you even without the sharp parts intact! Ask yourself this as well; if you have to mutilate the animal in order to keep it, should you even have it?
Even a “small” cat like a bobcat is a potential risk to health and safety and can easily turn your home upside-down. Some of the more exotic small cats are facing extinction in the wild from over harvesting for the pet trade and fur trade. Instead, consider a domestic cat. There are many house cats available for adoption that can give you the enjoyment of owning one of nature’s ultimate predators, but as a safer, fairly easy to manage, toned-down version!
So You Want A Wolf
Wolves are a controversial species within this country. Many myths abound, usually polarizing into two extreme versions: wolves as evil monsters bent upon utter destruction and mayhem; wolves as innocent little angels that would not even hurt a fly. Both views are inaccurate.
Wolves are in fact very efficient predators of big game animals. They have a highly evolved social structure that is based on cooperation that helps ensure the survival of their pack. A wild wolf in your home could never be completely trusted around strangers, children, other pets or family members. The wolf would behave as wild wolves behave, which includes occasionally challenging your authority from time to time in an effort to advance within the “pack”. Hybrid wolves (dog/wolf cross) are also dangerous and are banned in many states. Ownership of a wolf or wolf hybrid in Montana requires that the animal be tattooed with a number registered through Montana FWP.
If you want to own a wolf check out the domestic wolf, aka: “man’s best friend”, also known as the dog. Thousands of years of domestication and breeding have resulted in an array of dog varieties to choose from. These animals DO make good pets and there are sizes and dispositions to meet almost every homeowner’s needs and desires. Check with your local shelter for adoptable dogs.
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