I can see where you are coming from though, they are very elegant and beautiful birds. There are many species that you can consider adopting to join your family, beyond just cats and dogs. They require about 2-2, 5 pounds of meat every day. Otters are rare as pets, so you shouldn’t even rely on second-hand information from other exotic pet owners. They need an area to be able to exercise, forage and digging. These social pets can get up to three-feet long and can even be trained. #otter #otters #cute #babyotter #otterlove #country #countryliving #countrylife #sea #seaotter Meet the rakali, Australia’s otter equivalent . Sharing. The Northern Territory Government is also quite adamant that, just because you can , doesn’t mean you should . Some birds, such as parrots, can be very noisy, and may attract complaints from neighbours. Good News Network - Oct 26, 2019. Sep 6, 2019 - Please follow #iloveotters Can You Have an Otter as a Pet? An otter being kept as a pet in Japan. Do you still think it is a good idea to have a monkey as a pet? Read on to find out more about how to care for some of the most popular species kept as pets in Australia. SWNS. The native Australian animal that is essentially a small kangaroo is a surprisingly popular pet in Alberta. You can read our report here. If you are interested in owning a mink, check your local laws. But, that does not mean there aren’t penguins in captivity. Below are a list of 15 exotic animals that you can legally (depending on your state) have as pets. Otters have very sharp teeth and can turn aggressive quickly, if annoyed. Otters can be found all over the world — except two places. All otters are able to climb wire fencing, bushes and trees so a roof is recommended or a solid wall barrier. It is very difficult to find anyone who sincerely recommends keeping an otter as a pet. Otters have been highly successful in making their habitats in oceans, lakes, rivers and wetlands around the world. This species is a member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), and is the smallest otter species in the world. The otter does have a natural odor that you may want to consider when placing their caging. River otters eat virtually anything that you can find near lakes or streams. Otters are very clever, and they can outsmart you easily. Small mammals include rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and mice. Diet of the River Otter. In other words, if you run a zoo facility or a wildlife refuge, then yes – you can have penguins on site. Australia: All hedgehogs are classified as exotic pets that are illegal to import. Text Size. From a legal standpoint, owning an otter can be trickier than a skunk, but it is possible. Help end the cruel exotic pet trade by taking our wild pet pledge. Otters mostly eat fish and planktons, but they also feed on the ground with small birds, snails, frogs, or other amphibians. Our investigations show that social media is the biggest driver in creating a desire for pet otters. Many otters arrive in sad conditions, tooth decay is common, and some arrive with no teeth, or have had their canines cut. They love water so it is best if you have a body of water nearby for them to frolic in. Here at Australia Zoo we are flat out like a lizard drinking caring for over 1,200 gorgeous animals! In the United States, the legality of having a pet badger varies from locality to locality; many urban areas have ordinances forbidding the keeping of … Badgers can indeed be kept as pets. Otter species can be found across Eurasia, Africa, India, Japan, Indonesia, North America, South America, and Central America. “Some people have dogs and cats. (You can find a water test kit to check at most pet stores.) Are you prepared to have your pet inside with you? Wallaby links: Wallaby and Wallaroo Care: A Complete Owner’s Guide. Pet Otters. They are larger, heavier and stronger than they look on TV, and are not made to be hugged and snuggled, no matter how "cute" they are. By. “My first pet when I was a young child [was] a river otter,” Newsom said. Weird Pets You Can Own: Skunks . You can find out more about the legal requirements for importing wildlife from the DEWHA website. By Angela Heathcote • February 28, 2018 • Reading Time: 3 Minutes. they are very high maintenence, smell, are very very hyper, and bite constantly. Home Topics Wildlife Meet the rakali, Australia’s otter equivalent. Just look at those little otter hands! Otters are a keystone species for the environment, which translates to them playing a significant role in the cycle of life, compared to other species that may not play as large of a part. The ecological value of the rakali is often under appreciated, but one young Tasmanian is looking to change that. Find out all about the bengal cat here. Some may turn their head at the site of one or get grossed out, but many consider this pet to be one of their favorites. Monkeys don't make good pets, they are vicious and aggressive when they grow up. Take a good look at an otter's teeth and that should tell you how cuddly they are. You may want to consider a quiet pet such as a cat, or fish. If you want to have an otter as a pet, make sure that they have a pond or a lake filled with their food, or you can manage to bring them fresh one from the market. The greatest success is had when the badger is raised from infancy by humans. So, when you have a pet otter, you should be extra careful when you are having visitors as there are high chances of your friends and family getting bitten by your otter. If you are still not convinced it is a bad idea, then you may want to know about the specific care they need to develop healthily in captivity.. Powerful filters that create strong currents can stress an axolotl. Prohibited marine pests and fish They do have the capacity to do every damage to you, much like the cassowary. Although they do require a lot of upkeep, the fact you need to offer them a pouch to sleep in makes them even more adorable. Percentage of households with pets by pet type. I mean, otters hold hands – you can’t really reach a higher level of cute! Unfortunately there is an ongoing and highly lucrative illegal international trade in exotic wildlife which has serious animal welfare and conservation consequences. However, it’s very important to remember, that just because an animal is small, doesn’t mean that they don’t have big and complex needs! Australia Zoo receives no ongoing government funding, so animal adoptions through the Adopt an Animal program play a vital role in our ongoing fight for wildlife conservation by providing us with the valuable funds required for our: You can't. A Decrease font size. Some types of pets tolerate children better than others. 3. ... Four-toed hedgehogs are legal (however). Most owners find a filtered aquarium is easier to maintain because unfiltered water needs frequent changing to remove waste. For example; rabbits are legal pets in NSW so you may wish to leave it with a friend before you move. Otters can bite you. The governor’s dad also became enamored with river otters. A Reset font size. Small-clawed and smooth-coated otter. They are not as readily legal as ferrets, but they tend to be legal in more states than other exotic pets such as foxes, monkeys, and exotic cats. Territorial. Can I Have a Mink as a Pet? I lived in a small town in western NSW when I was young for a couple of months and there were emus and kangaroos everywhere!! This Woman and Her Pet Otters Have Spent the Last 40 Years Protecting the Species From Extinction in England . Muntjac Deer. How you can help. Not only do they look like miniature leopards, but they’re not as likely to eat you as a real one is and won’t cost nearly half as much. Ideally, a monkey should be kept somewhere which mimics their natural habitat.This is so they can have as similar physical and mental development as they might have in the wild as possible. Otters also have particularly stinky poop, which even has its own name: spraints. Theoretically there are licenses, but basically you'd have to be a zoo to get one. Otters are also very territorial and do not like any intruders in their space and near their family. On top of that sea otters are very needy and are WILD animals and should remain that way. In Australia, the only state where it’s legal to own a kangaroo is Victoria — as long as it’s not wild, and you have a licence. If you are moving to Queensland and own a prohibited pet, you can surrender it to the Queensland Government, have it euthanased or give it to a friend. Otters aren’t as cute as you might think. Skunks have one obvious drawback which is why they’ve never really taken off as pets until recently: their smell. So maybe you should move somewhere like that,as it would be similar to owning one and you'd be able … Australia has strict rules on the keeping of non-native exotic animals which could escape and destroy the ecosystem. Even if you live in Alaska where the climate would be conducive to these cold climate birds, it is still illegal to have a penguin as a pet. At a rescue centre we visited, it was reported that this is seen in the trade a lot. The only continents without otters are Australia and Antarctica. They will feed on fish, invertebrates, frogs, clams, crayfish, and small mammals or birds. You can help by not sharing videos showing pet otters, putting an end to the normalisation of the pet otter craze. Prices range from $.25 to an upward of $60,000. So you love big cats, like tigers, lions and leopards, but you can’t have one as a pet- the next best thing is a bengal cat. The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), also known as the oriental small-clawed otter or simply small-clawed otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to South and Southeast Asia. Do you have young children? However, laws can change and it is always possible that otters can be regulated under another unexpected law, so if you are serious about getting an otter as a pet, it is best to check with authorities. Figure 1. “Four-toed hedgehogs (African Pygmy hedgehogs) may legally be kept as pets. it is illegal to own a sea otter as a pet in the United States unless you have a permit which can only be obtained after 2 years of schooling on wildlife rehabillitation. 5. A Increase font size. There are over 29 million pets in Australia and we have one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world . Many species of otter are endangered to begin with, without the added harrassment of people trying to keep them as a pet. They will likely be covered in laws regarding "furbearers," instead of exotic animal ordinances. Otters … 15 15- Madagascar Hissing Cockroach- $.25-$3.00. Also there needs to be a solid flooring or wire dug down to about 3 feet below the walls to stop from the otter digging out. If you own or want to buy an exotic pet, you must be aware of the regulations that apply to you (you can Google “exotic pet regulations” plus the name of your state or territory). Approximately 61% of households in Australia own pets, with dogs being the most common (40%), followed by cats (27%) . Do you live in an apartment? However, domesticated skunks have their scent glands removed when they are young, which makes them safe to keep around the house. Otters have the densest fur of any animal—as many as a million hairs per square inch in places. However, if you choose to have a filter on the tank, the filtration rate should be slow. 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