That's right, you heard me! It's enough that we live in Florida with numerous native snakes, amphibians, lizards, (enormous) spiders and other creepy-crawlies. We do not need you adding your unwanted exotic pets into the mix so they can creep into our yard.
You all may recall last week's Wordless Wednesday post about"A Visitor" to my home - a green iguana. Daddy-dog found him sunning himself on our roof. Though considered an invasive, non-native species, we see so many of them, everywhere, they might as well be considered "native" at this point. But we have never seen one of these until a few weeks ago:
Once Ma figured out what I was staring at, she screamed. The lizard ran fast like lightning. Ma almost jumped out of her skin. (Obviously she regained her composure to get the photo.)
She then set out researching what the heck it was and we figured out it was a Brown Basilisk. They are native to Panama, Belize, northwestern Colombia and Costa Rica...so WHY is it in MY backyard in Florida?!? Obviously because some irresponsible pet owner didn't do their research before purchasing the poor lizard and it got too big, took too much time to care for, etc. and they released it into the wild.
Incidentally, if they HAD done their research they would have read that the Brown Basilisk (you may know them from some animal shows as the "Jesus Lizard" because when fleeing from a predator, they are very fast and can even run, on their hind legs, on top of the water) is NOT recommended as a pet because they are skittish and do not like to be held.
Oh, and just an FYI for those exotic pet owners who are considering being irresponsible - it is ILLEGAL to release any non-native species in Florida.
Due to so much irresponsibility in the past, now more than 500 fish and wildlife non-native species have been seen in Florida including "Mr. Jesus Lizard", the Burmese Python, the African Rock Python and the Nile Monitor (and thank goodness we haven't seen any of the latter in our yards...YET!).
And though many released pets may not survive in the wild, many do...and some have become invasive by causing harm to native species, posing a threat to human health and safety, or causing economic damage. In addition, they startle some of us especially when, like this morning, Daddy-dog finds one in my GARAGE!
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| On Daddy-dog's saw horse, of all places & he looks hungry! |
So, to all of the Exotic Pet Owners who know you cannot handle your pet anymore and are contemplating releasing it into the wild...I beg you...
STOP! DON'T DO IT!
If you live in Florida, please go to one of the Non-Native Pet Amnesty Day events scheduled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and turn in your pet! They accept all exotic reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and invertebrates. And...every pet that is surrendured is inspected by a veterinarian and all healthy pets are placed with qualified adopters.
Thank you kindly.
Oz the Terrier
Hey Oz, Jet here.
ReplyDeleteSince we live in the same state, maybe even the same city (Miami), we TOTALLY know what you're talking about and agree completely.
When Mom moved here many moons ago, she actually visited people's homes where jaguars, pumas and other exotics lived in backyard cages... HUH??? Crazy...
And... the exotics often push out the native species, which has a negative effect on our ecosystem.
Hey, Jet.
DeleteWe do live in the same state but I'm up in Palm Beach County...you guys in Miami-Dade County have tons more exotics than we do, so far.
I believe you when you say Mom saw all kinds of animals living in people's backyards! I don't know what those people are thinking...most obviously aren't because then the pet outgrows its cage, etc and they release it!
Yeah, no kidding about pushing out native species. Remember that photo of the python that tried to eat the alligator out in the Everglades and they both died?!?
Such a shame all around. I wish these types of animals had never become pets and were just allowed to thrive in their own habitat.
High paws,
Oz
That's just awful that people would release those creatures into the wild. Poor things.
ReplyDeleteLove and licks, Winnie
It is awful...both for the animal being released and for the animals that it could potentially have negative effects on.
DeleteWow, Oz,,,,I feel for you. If I saw any of those critters around my place,,,I'd never wanna leave the house.
ReplyDeleteBOL! You sound like Ma! It's just a shame because we love to be outside but some of those critters can be dangerous to people and pets!
DeleteHi Oz **waves paw, we is lucky in the UK any exotics released/escape tend to belong to Chavs on housing estate. So are soon spotted in built up areas.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have beautiful Red Squirrels here, but imported Grey Squirrels wiped them out years ago, only have them on Isle of Wight now as the sea keeps th safe.
BB
You had Red Squirrels?!? Wow! We only have the nasty grey ones.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Badger!
We live in Illinois and a few years ago they found 2 alligators in the Chicago River. It turns out someone bought them as babies and then when got too big they released them into the river - in the winter!
ReplyDeleteYour pal, Pip
Alligators in Illinois?!? Oh my! And the poor things...they could've died in that cold weather! People are so cruel sometimes.
DeleteThey found an alligator in a garage on our street. AN ALLIGATOR? In Vancouver? Woofing insane! We're with you on this one Oz.
ReplyDeleteAn alligator in Vancouver?!? What??? And I thought it was bad enough they were in Illinois with Pip! That is insane!
DeleteI agree with you... we got enough strange creatures without people bringing in exotics... Good post.
ReplyDeletehugs, Max
Thanks Max! And your right...there are plenty of strange creatures lurking about without imported exotics!
DeleteAn important message and we really wish people would do some research and stop and think before buying exotic pets (or any pet).
ReplyDeleteWe see so many iguanas when we visit the Keys. It makes momma sad because they threaten the amazing native birds by eating their eggs. They've seen big fat iguanas on trees in the mangrove hammocks where the birds nest.