Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This little neonate fell out of the nest along with its sibling. Unfortunately the sibling didn't make it after the fall. She is eating great luckily and at 38 grams. I have a few others on the bottle as well. One that seems to have herniated its stomach wall and has a buldgey area. It is not affecting her breathing at this point but she goes to the vet today to see if she will survive such an ordeal. I am not sure if they perform surgeries for this sort of thing or not. I am hoping it isn't a euthenasia case.

Several of my other squirrels just graduated to outside caging! Wow who woulda thought returning things to the wild could be so... I dunno decent and humane hehehe I actually had a woman ask me if she could buy a squirrel from me. She didn't realize I am licensed through the fish and game for it, but I found it rather offensive. I guess people just can't resist the idea of robbing wildlife of their rights to freedom.

I know, I keep expecting people to not be so ignorant and know that wild animals belong in the wild. It's so easy to get disgusted with the majority of the human race. I tell myself that's part of life and just keep trudging along. I do what I can to help, when I can. Thank goodness there are enough people out there that aren't so selfish.

It seems like everyone keeps forgetting that we are just a different species of animal than say an opossum or rattlesnake. To imprison a wild animal is no different than imprisoning a person. The only credit I will give the fella who was on about keeping raccoons earlier is that he is at least attempting to recreate their natural environment, or so I am hoping. I just wish he would take in some of the wild raccoon adults that can't be released but can still live a good life in captivity. Although some people would think that it was inhumane even at that point to let the animal live in captivity instead of euthenizing. We have placed squirrels that couldn't be released with educational programs at local zoos.

I am curious about something. Most of our behaviors are quite similar to some animals. Child rivalry, food competition all sorts of things. Although is there another animal that will keep a different species as a pet. I know that the Gorilla who could speak sign language had a cat. I wonder if we share the keeping pets tradition with another animal. I know that certain sharks will hold the female hostage in shallow water and not let her free till they are done breeding with her. But long term keeping I wonder if others do it. Well have a good day I gotta go feed some squirrels

OK, I guess I should admit there are acceptions to the rule about keeping wild animals in captivity. I am for zoos keeping certain animals in natural-type setups. As a rehabber, I do also place some nonreleasable wild animals with zoos. I am careful to judge if it is the type of animal and has the personality to be happy as a captive the rest of its life. I guess what I'm against the general public going out and kidnapping a wild animal with the idea they will keep it as a pet. I AM against people who purchase wild cats like lions and tigers to keep as a pet. Many try to keep them as a house cat and then wonder why they are attacked later. So many end up being abused and then rescued by the SPCA or someone.

Actually I just got finished reading a book that talked about what you mentioned in the second part of your post. It's called When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Masson (bestseller, you have probably heard of it.)It talks about Koko, the gorilla you mentioned, and also a chimp named Lucy. She also had a "pet" kitten. The books also talks about a captive elephant that put aside a little of its grain for a mouse to eat. I guess that could be considered a pet. Anyway, it is a great book for anyone to read--go get it.

That raccoon post has really frustrated me. I can't stand the fact that people read the Bible and then believe that they should really have dominion over all other living things. Wild animals deserve to be wild, we should not try to keep them as our slaves. There is so much more satisfaction in rehabbing an animal. I have squirrels that come to my home everyday just to see me, and it is not because I make them; it is because they want to be my friend. I have a bond with them that can never be formed with any of my domestic pets, and it is great.

I do believe that there are circumstances where captivity is the best option, but those are rare cases. I just wish people would stop being so selfish. People find an orphaned wild animal and want to "save it" so they raise it and keep it as a pet. If they want a pet then why don't they go to an animal shelter. 3 to 4 million PETS are euthanized every year, and HUMANS domesticated them--these animals can no longer be wild and suffer because of it.

Okay it already has me cryin. What a good book. Thanks for the recommendation.

Speaking of people who rescue orphaned animals then keep them as pets... A week ago I got in a Western Grey Squirrel that appeared to be about 11 weeks old. During the intake exam I was looking in the mouth and the squirrels teeth had already began to orange which means it was roughly 5 months old. It had urine burns on its underside, broken whiskers, milk burns on its face and neck and is severely stunted in growth. The squirrels gait and shape of legs and hips indicates Metabolic Bone Disease. So basically this little guy was left in a dirty cage in its own urine, was fed a bad diet, was bowl fed when it should have been syringe fed. I am using some homepathic remedies along with having washed the animal down and used a salve. I am hoping that with nutritional supplementing and some TLC that it will turn around and be a good candidate for release. But this guy will HAVE TO have X-rays before it can be released. This way I don't let him go and then MBD cause serious issues once he's gotten a bit older. I am not sure about Homepathic medicine just yet but the rehabbers I work with swear by it and they have much more experience with recovery times and such to know what actually is making a difference.

Have a Great Day!!!

Hi,
I know you are talking about me and if you are sorry than I will forgive you. Anyway not all cases of exotic pet ownerships are bad. Actually there are many really good exotic pet owners. A really good example is JuliesJungle.com. She has the right kind of knowlege and the right kind of facilities to care for all of the exotic animals she does have. On the other hand there are a lot of down right stupid people. They'll find a squirrel nest that has fallen from the tree and they can't find their mother. Then they will try to care for them and they won't even know how to take care of them the right way! Although you do have to give them partial credit for at least trying to help the helpless, feed the hungry, and house the homeless. I know a lot of you rehabbers and zoo people see a lot of idiot animal keepers on a day to day basis and I know that it frustrates me and you.
-Drewecause I hate hearing "eww that snake is ugly" when I go to the zoo. They don't stop to think that maybe this creature plays an important role in the ecosystem. Would you rather meet someone that loves raccoons and is willing to do the right kind of research about them before they get one as a pet or would you rather hear someone say "eww that is a discusting looking opossum"? Yes these things frusterate me too but there isn't a whole lot we can do about it. I've thought a lot about this particular topic and I came to an idea. If we educate the public more about these creatures, than they will think twice about running over that turtle in the middle of the rode, because believe it or not some people do like doing cruel things to animals. And also maybe they will be more educated about a particular animal if they do try to raise it. What you rehabbers do that we don't like is stereo-type us exotic animal keepers into a bad, cruel, ignorant category and this is not always the case. But for you to say that we are all like that is dumb, stupid, ignorant and rude. Like I said before there are a lot of good, educated exotic animal people out there.
-Drew

Drew-
you need to read the forum name before you post to it. This is the WILDLIFE REHAB FORUM, not the "SO I WANT TO OWN A COOL EXOTIC" Forum....the job of the folks who visit here, is to succesfully rehabilitate and release wildlife back to its natural habitat, not to educate folks who want a cool pet that not everyone has. When you post to this forum, telling about what good pets wildlife make, you are doing so with the intention of causing negative discussions. If you want information about keeping wildlife as an exotic pet, then post to the General Wildlife & Exotics Forum as you have been doing. If you have a legitimate rehab question, you are welcome to post it here, but please please, do not tell rehabbers that what they do is wrong, or that they don't know what they are doing. We all work VERY hard to fix what progress is messing up, and to return these animals to a happy home back in the wild. We don't do it to keep them as pets, and we will not give out information to someone who wants one as a pet, on how to do it right. We don't know how to keep them as pets, as it is not our goal.

Joker
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PHJoker
Exotic Hobbyist Message Board Host
Exotic Hobbyist
HJoker@pethobbyist.com" target="_blank">PHJoker@pethobbyist.com

You see the downside of spewing your opinions all over is that they come back and aren't always the same as yours. I am not calling you a jerk. I just wish people would let wild animals stay wild. And saying that all rehabbers stereotype is well... Stereotyping Anyhow have a good day.

What do you see is wrong with raising an orphaned raccoon back to health?

Ok well I will no longer ask Exotic Pet questions but I dont want to make enemies either, I would like to make friends.

Maybe I can convert ya Like I said I'm glad to hear the animals you keep are well taken care of. You are definitely not my enemy.. just a lost rehabber who needs to find the light. hahaha. Talk to you soon. Kiss the coons for me

I dont have raccoons. I have a pet kinkajou. And I would hope that I am a friend and not an enemy but I just like to debate issues.

I don't think I could ever be a rehabber because they don't make any money.