Turn in Exotic Animals Day

Florida had its first Exotic Pet Amnesty Day so residents could turn in their exotic pets to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation department. Sixty-four animals were brought in, a number unlikely to make much of a dent in the large exotic pet population, but the event is still a good idea because of the problems associated with releasing exotics into the wild.

For example, you may have heard about a huge python in the Everglades that was in the news for consuming a 76-pound deer. There may be tens of thousands of the large snakes in the state and they have been reported moving towards the Keys.

A growing population for Burmese pythons in the Everglades National Park is threatening endangered species and could even interfere with habitat restoration because they can cause so much damage.

Burmese pythons in Florida have not been documented to have hunted humans but large captive ones have attacked and killer their owners. They can grow to over twenty-feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds. While most people might know the large constrictors eat rodents and even deer, they also eat birds and can consume large quantities of them. Because they are so large and live in a habitat without many predators where they can dominate without much opposition, they can increase and spread almost unchecked. Alligators might be eating them, but nothing else is powerful enough to use them as prey. It has already been documented a python attacked and ate an alligator.

Some pet owners believe they are doing the right thing by sparing the life of their snakes when releasing them into the wild, but some of them proliferate and wind up taking over habitat for the native wild animals, thus upsetting the ecosystem, and presenting very challenging problems for conservation officials.

The best action is simply to never purchase an exotic animal in the first place, and the second is to get rid of it in a manner which prevents damage to local habitats. It may be distasteful and even upsetting, but turning over exotic animals is much better than letting them go in a state park or national forest.

Image Credit: Danleo

Read more: Nature, Nature & Wildlife, Pets, Wildlife

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Peggy M.

5:46AM PST on Feb 11, 2012

If people did not buy them in the first place there would be no need for a "turn in day".

February 11
send a green star

Ana Marija R.

11:57PM PST on Feb 10, 2012

Living Pandora Box...:(
"The best action is simply to never purchase an exotic animal in the first place, and the second is to get rid of it in a manner which prevents damage to local habitats. It may be distasteful and even upsetting, but turning over exotic animals is much better than letting them go in a state park or national forest."... I agree
Heather G. i agree with you...

February 10
send a green star

Ismail H.

8:47PM PST on Nov 16, 2011

If you would like to help exotic animals, please vote daily until November 30 to save monkeys in Canada.

Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary is in the running to win $100 000 to build a new barn for more animal rescues!

Vote here: http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf10939

November 16
send a green star

Victor M.

6:36AM PST on Nov 15, 2011

It sound good

November 15
send a green star

Lovely D.

10:42AM PST on Nov 14, 2011

What a marvellous idea ... with policies like these, Ohio should never happen again!

November 14
send a green star

10:41AM PST on Nov 14, 2011

Mandi R.

9:12AM PST on Nov 14, 2011

Thanks

Cathy N.

6:01PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

~Just Say No to reptiles, snakes and other wild animals!~Harsher laws have to be made to make it practically impossile to own any!~

November 13
send a green star

5:57PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

~This is an awesome idea but first we need to enact laws dealing with personal use of wild and or exotic animals~The laws as they are now are not helping Florida with its' problem!

Chelsea M.

5:20PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

I think that this 'day' should be international with lots of news coverring and public relations would really help.