Why keep native pet animals?

[spidergecko]

I was searching around on Exotichobbyist.com and I see a lot of native animals for sale. Can someone tell me the point of keeping a captive black bear or racoon or any of the other animals I could see if I just took short drive out of the city? I understand keeping a platypus or something exotic to North America but a gopher? I don't get it. And who the heck wants a black squirrel?

[Bartman]

lol, who knows. To each their own? People keep bears???

[clint545]

The only time I"ve really heard about such a thing, is when the animals are rescued. I really don't see the point otherwise. I would imagine there's a bit of paperwork involved withbuying one?

[JAdkins2451]

I really dont know many people that want squirrels as pets, This girl I went to school with a girl that had one as a pet.It was a baby when she found it. Her cat killed there mom or somthing like that. But it was pretty neat. And it was interesting to play with. And I have heard of people keeping skunks, I dont know why or who.

[clint545]

Yeah, the pet skunks have their spray gland removed so they won't spray. when I was out West their was a pet store there that had one. They could also get armadillos too.

[latazyo]

skunks are said to make Excellent pets

I see this as no different than us wanting to own snakes, etc

black bears are not native where I'm from and can not be seen by driving out of the city, however I see no reason to keep a black bear...they're dangerous

[Manitoban Herps]

Why not keep these, people keep monkeys, why not a racoon, just b/c there native doen't make them less interesting.

But a bear, that getting out of hand...

[silent_truth]

though I do believe that the keeping of large cats and any members of the ursidae family (bears) needs to be regulated, I see nothing wrong with keeping legally acquired native animals.....and neither does Ernie....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/adam2383/Pets/ernielook.jpg
"Did you say I'm not interesting because I'm native to parts of the prairies?....aw, that hurts."

:D

the butterball in action....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/adam2383/Pets/Erniepaper.jpg


-Adam;)

[Jeff_Favelle]

And who the heck wants a black squirrel?


Who the heck wants a pet snake?

[Brent Strande]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Who the heck wants a pet snake?

My thoughts exactly!

We've got some pretty strange pets and are probably in no place to criticize others for their tastes in pets...

however I see no reason to keep a black bear...they're dangerous

So are Hots, Retics, etc...

But you also don't own any of these and I don't think you plan to, so there's no reason for you to... haha ;)

[CB Shwa]

Hey
That Prairie Dog is pretty cool I have never seen one before. I have a friend with a skunk and a re-hab Crow. the crow is amazing just as smart as most Parrots.

[Manitoban Herps]

I've always want a pet racoon and skunk there just to cool!

[sidewinder]

I've been looking for an Alaskan kodiak brown bear but can't find one in any pet shop here in the states, you guys in Canada seen any!

[chas*e]

A bear would be a great pet...as long as he stayed away from my Fruit Loops.

[beanersmysav]

Yeah my local pet store has a skunk for sale :) cute lil guys, but I want one of their micro mini pot bellied pigs

[chas*e]

Ya a pot-bellied pig is a great pet...a guy down my street had one for 3 yrs, but the problem(and the reason he had to get rid of it) is that it squeels when he would come home from work at night and another neighbour complained to the by-law guys. No farm-like animals allowed in the city....bummer...they are cute as helll and clean too

[SCReptiles]

I started in this hobby as a very poor kid with no money whatsoever. I captured snakes native to my area and even captured mice, rats, frogs, and squirrels to feed them….again, I had no money. When I got old enough to work, I began to buy exotics. I kept big pythons, cobras, etc. I had to give up the hobby a few years while I was in college and renting an apt. As soon as I was able to keep again, I noticed that I had much more interest in snakes I could catch, rather then ones I could buy. My main focus now is reptiles native to my area. What I do is look (collect, trade, buy, breed) for the best specimens of the species of my area. I have been building this collection since 2000 and I am enjoying doing the natives much more then I ever enjoyed importing exotics. I also enjoy being able to share my collection back with the general public. They always seem to have more of an interest in the snake they may see while out hiking.

[cjice]

When I was younger, I owned a pot belly pig. Her name was Misty and she thought she was a dog. She begged for treats, did tricks and was litter trained. Except for the litter, she basically acted like a dog. The only downfall was the squealing...I learned the expression "squeal like a pig", there is nothing more piercing to the ears. But I think they make great pets.

[rwg]

I have several pet black squirrels. They make awesome pets. I keep them free-range in the yard. They dont go far since I feed them regularily. They're not much for handling, but they are fun to watch playy in the yard.

[zero&stich]

Way I see it and I know everyone here won't agree with me on my opinion but sometimes it can be a wize idea to take native animals and breed them to bring the population back up. Look at the timber rattlers? They are just about gone.

Wouldn't a few more CH babies released back into the wild benifit the population?

On a side note, I think sugar gliders are cute.

[macd0282]

I would like to keep a squirrel or a chipmunk but here in Canada it is illegal to keep native species as pets (Im pretty sure anyways, sorry if Im wrong). Maybe someone can verify this for me if they happen to know.