can you have an otter as a pet in australia
(2019). Otters do climb, adding to the complexity of the habitat, so a top is required. Due to their high fish diet, an otter's excrement is particularly foul. It is very difficult to find anyone who sincerely recommends keeping an otter as a pet. Yet otters are still being illegally smuggled into these countries to be sold as pets., Loud noises. Otters arent happy to be one or two with a child pool and a bathtub ! (2018). Otters are highly social, very active, semi-aquatic, and need a lot of space - so having one single one as a pet would certainly be unethical - even if it were possible. It takes a tremendous amount of time, effort, patience, and experience to house them, provide them with enrichment, and keep them safe and secure. While it's common to keep dogs and cats as pets, other unique and interesting animals including reptiles, insects, amphibians and terrestrial . If the otter is not able to be released, it may be possible to adopt it as a pet. Yes, some otter species are endangered. West Virginia: Otter ownership is legal in West Virginia with a permit from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Summary of Husbandry Guidelines for Asian Small-clawed Otters in Captivity. They need a much larger enclosure than a typical dog. Well I did come come across an instragram account of a pet otter in Japan, and I never saw a outdoor cage in the account. An otter needs to have the life he was intended to have and need to be around their own kind in order to thrive. These big furry dogs were bred to hunt otters, which were considered as pests back in the day. You can usually visit the otter you have adopted, and some programs offer other perks, like behind-the-scenes tours. I completed my post-graduate studies at Nottingham Trent University in 2021, securing an MSc Biodiversity Conservation qualification. However, I'd like to be able to contribute to the conservation of otters and their habitat, so I hope I can find a way to do that. States where Otters may be legal, New York. In conclusion, it is not advisable to keep otters as pets. Fr Rudi, as . Expenses such as those mentioned above are not the only detrimental factors in keeping an otter as a pet. Abigailramirez434@yahoo.com on January 01, 2018: Can I buy a baby otter. Why is is not right to have an OTTER as a PET? You can give them a complete cat food as the base, but make sure that over half of their diet is meat-based. Many zoos and aquariums train their otters to participate in educational programs or to exhibit natural behaviors for visitors to see. An otters diet can vary. But would only ever do it if I had the money #1, a lot of money. That includes all game animals, birds and furbearers, including bear, beaver, coyote, deer,. This can be fed irregularly with a "scatter" method to ward off stereotypic behaviorsomething that occurs when certain animals are fed at specific times. You need resources to own any pet, much less an exotic one. The local authority's regulations will need to be assessed before it could even be considered. Question: Are pet otters legal in Canada? In the UK, otters are fully protected under Sections 9 and 11 of Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981[2]. Not only do these animals make terrible pets, but they're also nearly impossible to domesticate. Messy housemates. People who like to physically interact with their pets will be disappointed. Are otters dangerous? I bet thats bigger than you expected! Habitat destruction, hunting, and pollution threaten their conservation. Emergency Vet Prices: How Much Does an Emergency Vet Visit Cost? However, just like any other wild animal, otters can be dangerous and aggressive. Both these habitats need to be well-tended. It is illegal to own most otter species as pets. Marvel at the patience that the author must have had. Most people do not know what they are doing. Speaking from experience in both areas, the caregivers who work with them are not taking on an easy job - they're noisier than a Siamese cat on an airplane. In the wild, they mostly eat fish, while sea-dwelling otters use stones to break open mollusks. Captive otters require caging. Animals and mostly exotic ones are not our toys or our means to make money. Unless you do what Joseph Carter does for his mink to keep them busy, I wouldn't recommend them as pets to most people. Otters are cute, furry water animals that hold hands and groom each other to bond. Well address some of the most frequently asked questions about buying an otter. This, we can presume, is because they were always found at the waters edge, be it at the seaside (sea otters), riverside (river otters), clambering over brooks (Asian small-clawed otter) or in The Guianas (giant otters). Here are a few to get you started, plus some basic information about how they fit into the otter pet trade: 1. Find out in this video all about the Asian Small Clawed Otter, Mr. Chow! The bad news is that this leaves them vulnerable to poachers, who hunt them for their velvety fur. I couldn't agree more. But there are many factors to consider. You can keep these animals as personal pets, but you cannot sell, barter, or exchange them. Unfortunately, this fad has lead to the illegal smuggling of otters into Japan[6]. They have an oil, waterproof coat and webbed feet, which makes them good swimmers. When it appears that an otter is legal under one statute but not another, the animal may be regulated by several laws. The fact that these otters require a tropical climate may be why they tend to be kept mostly by zoo professionals. Otters can be destructive and are difficult to housetrain. They are considered to be very high-maintenance, as you would imagine. They can cause damage to your home and hurt other animals in your family. No, otters cannot be domesticated. But what do you think? Rejoice in the sheer exuberance of otter life. In Japan, pet fads appear with a certain regularity. They swim 17km everyday , live in large groups of 20 individuals esprantes in multiple families. Feel free to share this guide with anyone who loves otters! Not only do you need the right enclosure and dietary resources to take care of a pet otter, but you need to have access to specialists in your neighborhood. It could benefit the scientific community as well since little is known about their behaviors. please can someone help. For example, in Nevada, lions and elephants are actually legal to own, but fennec foxes (which weigh 3 lbs) are not. Trained professionals can provide the care and rehabilitation necessary to ensure the otter can be released back into the wild. some native mammals, particularly wallabies and kangaroos, are prone to diseases caused by the stress of contact with humans, domestic pets (cats and dogs) and noise. I understand how people strongly oppose having otters as pets. I just have no words for it! One thing that I think it's important to note is that ASC otters vocalize constantly in captivity for attention. Otters can be legally obtained for private ownership. Keeping an otter as a solitary pet can make them very sad. You may have seen videos on YouTube of otters playing in people's homes, but often these videos lack context. Because they are cute is not a valid reason for keeping captive otters, even if it is an enjoyable bonus. Otters are wild animals and can be unpredictable, especially if they feel threatened or uncomfortable. Most products include Include a 90 day warranty for your convenience and to ensure you're completely satisfied! Its time to wake up and change, seriously. How much do scorpions costs? Eastern Newt. Yes, there are some health risks associated with otters. The IUCN guidelines don't even provide a the space for a single otter as otters are social animals that need at least one other otter for company. Gonna go out on a limb and say that's where the otter encounters take place. The space aka property with a huge pond that I would build a huge enclosure around. 7 Caracal Cat Facts. I have to say that most though not all of the comments cause me extreme concern regarding our society today. Here is a list of places where you might be able to find a pet otter: Exotic pet stores These are specialty stores that deal with rare and exotic animals. Thank you for this VERY enlightening article. However, this is a complex process that requires specialized care and rehabilitation to ensure the otter can survive in its natural environment. Otters need space to roam. Otters are usually kept outdoors because they emit an odor. However, Asian small-clawed otters, despite being the otter species best suited for captivity, are not commonly kept, even in the exotic pet-keeping community. All pets have at least some bans on exotic pets, even if they sometimes dont make complete sense. Required fields are marked *. Its wrong for all the people who have commented to post where do I get get one, how much do they cost, etc why would you people even post shit like that. I have recently embarked on this career change due to my passion for the natural world and our role within it. Otters are accustomed to preying on live animals; hunting is an integral part of an otters life. Using food dispensing devices available for dogs and cats that must be manipulated to dispense treats. It is illegal in all US States to keep this indigenous otter as a pets. Otters may bite when threatened and are not good housemates., Wild otters are not fit to live in your home environment., They need plenty of space to roam and to be with their family. These include: Lontra canadensis. They're cute and playful when you see them on nature specials and at zoos, but in reality: They aren't domesticated in the slightest. She said yes . Otters need plenty of environmental enrichment. Just saying because you want an exotic pet doesnt make you a bad person. In some cases, it may be possible to keep an otter with the proper permits and licenses. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists several otter species as either endangered or vulnerable due to habitat loss, pollution, and hunting. Also do you own any dogs or cats? And if they do, it could get messy. Members of the Mustelidae family, otters are related to weasels, badgers, honey badgers, martens, minks, polecats and wolverines. Australia boasts a huge variety of animals. They are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. How otters are protected. They need attention all the time. 7080% of the diet can be meat-based and can consist of day-old chicks, chicken, venison, rabbit, etc. How To Care for A Pet Otter? Even if you could get an otter certified as a therapy animal, it would still be illegal to buy or sell one. Sadly, due to the difficulties that come with owning an otter, many are abandoned or discarded to rescue groups., National Geographic: Wild otters are the latest exotic pet trend., PetHelpful: A Guide to Legally Owning and Caring for a Pet Otter., Sea Otter Savvy: Dangerous Liaisons: Interactions Between Pets and Sea Otters., The Furry Companion: FAQs for Aspiring Pet Otter Owners., WORLD ANIMAL PROTECTION: Why You Shouldnt Share That Cute Pet Otter Video.. I do not even need to mention you all the reasons why. It's scary to think of what it'll be like in just 5-10 more years. No. Otters like to climb and dig, so your enclosure will need a top and to be dug into the ground. The best enclosure for an otter is outside. Do you know they have a higher rate of dying of starvation in the wild or dehydration or cars or other animals or hundreds of other things can kill them.my home is a safer place for most animals. As wild animals, otters will not want to be kept in a small enclosure and their dexterous claws mean they will try to climb or dig their way out. Point is people that invest this kind of money on pets love them. Additionally, if you live near a river, lake, or other natural body of water, you may be able to spot otters in the wild. Other members of this family include weasels, skunks, and ferrets. The ideal temperature for their pool is 7585F, but they also need a dry area because if they are wet all the time, they can develop health issues. Not all countries have strict protection laws and many otter populations are already in decline. Wildlife rehabilitation centers - These centers take in injured or orphaned wild animals and care for them until they can be released back into the wild. They have sharp teeth, powerful prey drives, and they're little bundles of furious energy in motion whenever they are awake. If they are constantly wet, they can develop health conditions.. When you are walking, you have to focus on walking because there are so many factors that come into playbalance, proprioceptionand you can't take those for granted.". North Carolina: Otter ownership is legal in North Carolina with a permit from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. No, you cannot keep an otter as a therapy animal. The short answer is yes, but it comes with many caveats or catches. As always, wed be delighted to read your comments. 3. Can you own an otter in BC? What is a good pet? I thank you for the info! She did nothing wrong shes a vet giving you advice on a animal that people love and right now have are popular. Another relatively popular pet fad in Japan is the practice of keeping otters as pets. Yes, in some cases, you can adopt an otter. If the otter is not able to be released, it may be possible to adopt it as a pet. Over half of all 13 otter species are endangered or vulnerable and are not legally breed - they have to be capture, usually by killing the mother and confiscating the pups. Otters have very sharp teeth and can turn aggressive quickly, if annoyed. They also mark their territory by smearing their feces around, which contributes to the odor.. chief executive lancashire county council, ges2 bond angles,