They deserve to be out in the world in environments which we do't interfere with. Their temperaments are unpredictable they are wild animals at heart and can be dangerous, especially if not under supervision near children. Answer: No, animals grouped in Carnivora, except wolfdogs, are illegal. A otter is a species protected by both state and federal wildlife laws, and it is illegal to take them from the wild. Therefore, purchasing an otter can do more harm than good and is not advised. Keeping an otter as a pet has become fashionable in some countries for some time. White ceramic money box Personalised. Fr Rudi, as . The only way to know for sure would be to contact your state's Department of Agriculture/Fish and Game, and even they sometimes don't know. amanda panda There are many exotic pets that people fantasize about owningbaby penguins, panda bears, dragonsbut they are often shocked to hear that some people can and do legally keep exotic pets like fennec foxes, wild cats, and marmosets. Please be better than that and get a pet that we breed for generations. Supplement their diet with vegetables, soft-boiled eggs, and insects. It is important to work with trained professionals and follow guidelines for releasing otters back into the wild. Other zoological animals like meerkats, raccoon dogs, slow lorises, and pangolins can't be owned privately for many reasons, at least in the United States. Are there any health risks associated with otters? It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Answer: Sea otters are not legal anywhere under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Otters are social creatures. The space aka property with a huge pond that I would build a huge enclosure around. The best enclosure for an otter is outside. In some cases, it is possible to obtain a permit to own an otter. Note that you still require special permits in many of these states, and local city governments also stipulate whether it is legal or illegal to keep exotic animals within city limits, so make sure you find out this information before buying an otter! A lot more animals are legal in New York State, as opposed to New York City, where most animals are illegal. I cannot recommend any otter species as a personal "pet," although a few have maintained a strong bond with their handler their entire life. Not needing to be walked or taken out for exercise is a big plus for many people. Otters can give dogs Salmonella, just like humans. Thank you for taking the time to look at our personalised otter ceramic money box. How otters are protected. Licences to possess, sell or capture otters European protected species: apply for a licence to possess them (A37 and LR37) 8 March 2022 Form Licence to possess plants and animals for scientific. Otters should not live in a domestic household, and a demand for pet otters helps drives illegal animal trade and decimate wild populations. Due to their high fish diet, an otter's excrement is particularly foul. Otters are cute, furry water animals that hold hands and groom each other to bond. Their ideal temperature is 75 to 85 degrees. Exotic animals have many guidelines regarding their maintenance in captivity, but possession laws do change depending on the State. Trained professionals can provide the care and rehabilitation necessary to ensure the otter can be released back into the wild. -They have a lot of personality and can be very affectionate with their owners. Otters are protected under the law, and it is illegal to keep them as pets or attempt to care for them yourself. Your bathtub or pool cant substitute for the large bodies of water otters are naturally found in. EXOTIC ANIMALS ARE NOT PETS. (Lifespan Guide). Otters in this genus are characterized by only partial webbing between their toes, and small, blunt, peg-like claws. Many zoos and aquariums have volunteer programs that allow you to work with otters and other animals. Otters are much happier (and quieter) in their natural habitat. you, an, otter, as, a, pet, unit, australia, s, can, have, in. 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. In this AnimalWised video, we talk about the lifestyle of these mammals, what types of otter exist and why you should never have them in a. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on December 21, 2016: People in Japan are notorious for doing whatever they want and making it work. Theyre not for us to put them in cute hats ! Otters can be legally obtained for private ownership. Otters can be destructive. Tremble with Tarka as the sounds of the otter hounds come down the valley. 7 Caracal Cat Facts. The bad news is that this leaves them vulnerable to poachers, who hunt them for their velvety fur. If the otter is not able to be released, it may be possible to adopt it as a pet. They are easier to care for, cheaper to buy, require zero, or at least fewer, licenses and permits to keep as pets, and are significantly easier to find willing veterinarians for. You can give them a complete cat food as the base, but make sure that over half of their diet is meat-based. How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at PetSmart? Scent and Body Odour The otters emit an odour and that is the reason they are kept outdoors. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, Protect Your Cat From These Household Hazards. Call state wildlife officials to confirm. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/otters-protection-surveys-and-licences#how-otters-are-protected, http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Library/TaskForces/OCT/OCT_ASO_Husbandry_Guidelines_Summary.pdf, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/17/national/otters-smuggled-sale-japan-demand-pets-grows/#.XeDfjZNKiUl, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12302/21936349, https://ptes.org/get-informed/facts-figures/otter/. Even many experienced pet owners would not try to take on an otter. Laws change, and this list is not necessarily exhaustive. Otters are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and their trade is heavily regulated. 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. 12:16. People's Trust for Endangered Species. In most countries, otters are considered wild animals, and it is illegal to buy or sell them. Pet Collars & Leashes Pet Furniture Pet Clothing & Shoes . Question: Are otters legal in Pennsylvania? 5 Step Pacman Frog Care: Are they good pets? These can grow up to 6 ft long, almost 2 meters, and have a nasty bite, so you probably wouldnt want to own one anyway! Also, according to mink expert Joseph Carter, their bites can cause severe injury, although this is likely not worse than anything an otter bite can inflict. Feel free to share this guide with anyone who loves otters! Otters play an important role in their ecosystems. What Does It Cost to Adopt a Pygmy Marmoset (or Finger, How To Setup a Red-eared Slider Turtle Tank, How Long Do Red-eared Slider Turtles Live? (8 Best Scorpions Types as Pets), How Often Do Scorpions Eat? Serfass, T., Evans, S. S., & Polechla, P. (2015). Living with a Pet Otter There are many effects which you should be aware of before getting a pet otter. No, it is not safe or ethical to swim with otters. But. From a legal standpoint, owning an otter can be trickier than a skunk, but it is possible. Weird Pets: Sugar Gliders Sugar gliders are quickly becoming America's new exotic pet darling. However, there is also DNA evidence to suggest that cats were susceptible to the process of domestication and may have even domesticated themselves[3]. Eastern Red-backed Salamander. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 26, 2020: Nixie Nox I guess this also means dalmatians shouldn't be pets then. These animals include bears, primates, big cats, canids, venomous and large reptiles (crocodilians, large constrictor snakes, and large monitor lizards). Mrs Smith, inform yourself, go back to University to learn the BASIC ethics of your job. Thanks. Otters mostly eat fish and planktons, but they also feed on the ground with small birds, snails, frogs, or other amphibians. DeKay's Brown Snake. Online classified ads Sites such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace sometimes have individuals who breed or sell otters. In some cases, otters that have been in captivity can be released back into the wild. Otters can be destructive and are difficult to housetrain. Have you ever seen an otter in the wild? Buy iPhone 11 Otter + Pop Symmetry Series Case at Amazon. Taking feathers directly from the bird so the scent is present, and scatter them in various places. Squirrels as Pets - Is It OK to Have a Pet Squirrel? Here is we collected all that you wanted about Can You Have An Otter As A Pet In Australia Watch free videos. Living in captivity is simply not a good life for an otter. Despite being the state small mammal of Texas, they are illegal as pets there because they are one of the few animals which can transmit Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy. Heres what you need to know to provide adequate nutrition to a captive otter: Otters emit an odor, and smear their spraint (a fancy word for otter dung) at latrine sites, using their hind feet and tails, in order to mark their territory. To stay warm in the water for so long, otters have incredibly thick fur, and very fast metabolisms, which means they need to eat a lot 20% of their body weight per day, during certain months. They live in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps in Southern Asia. This species is not for beginners. If you believe your state should be on this list, check with your local state department. Canadian Arctic Marble Fox as Pets (Are they good pets? Maybe they are for you, maybe not! Not only do these animals make terrible pets, but they're also nearly impossible to domesticate. Likely, your otter will spend most of its life in the enclosure. They have specific dietary and environmental needs, and not everyone is equipped to meet them. This is the otter species Ill be focusing on in this guide, as it is the only one you could, feasibly or otherwise, keep as a pet otter. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists several otter species as either endangered or vulnerable due to habitat loss, pollution, and hunting. Remember to always treat otters with respect and caution, and support conservation efforts to protect these important animals. Retrieved on 29 November, 2019. I guess if someone owns a exotic pet then theyd really need to keep it in a space like theyre natural environment and take really good care of it, not just like its a dog or cat. Otters are notoriously difficult to potty train, and even when they are, they may decide to go against their training. Habitat destruction, hunting, and pollution threaten their conservation. Here are a few to get you started, plus some basic information about how they fit into the otter pet trade: 1. 70-80% can be meat-based, and can include chicks, chicken, venison, rabbit, etc. They travel in groups and maintain family ties, for life. Some of the different types of otter species include: The North American river otter is the only river otter found in north of Mexico. Australia boasts a huge variety of animals. People in Indonesia, Thailand, Japan,. However, if youre still keen on the otter, and live in a state where you can legally own one, youre welcome to take the next step. Theyre destructive and will hurt you or your kids and they will get depressed ! For instance, in Nevada, lions and elephants are technically legal to own but not 3-pound fennec foxes. Otters can also be loud and destructive. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. "Oh honey~~~ you shouldn't have! There are owners who have domesticated otters. Do otters cuddle? In addition to common domesticated pets such as cats, dogs, aviary birds and aquarium fish, some native animals can be kept as pets under a special licence from NPWS. Eastern Racer. AnimalWised takes a look at the different aspects of domestic otters. Just saying because you want an exotic pet doesnt make you a bad person. You should be ashamed Mellissa! 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. Can you own an otter in BC? Guess what, they are picked off by predators within 3 days. This has spread to the opening of various hedgehog and even owl cafs. [removed] Dv Kaufman's Adventures 44.5K subscribers OTTERS AS PETS?!? Who knew? They are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. So why don't you see more otters playing in the park on a Sunday afternoon? Background on Otter Otters eat 15 to 25% of their body weight daily. They are hard to potty train, and their fast metabolism means they poop a lot, and often. Poor animals in those cages, would you like to be in jail ? Nevada: In Nevada, owning an otter is legal as long as you have a permit from the Nevada Department of Wildlife. All those things you find cute on IG are them showing their distress ! Otters are considered to be wildlife, so you will need to follow the state guidelines for ownership. They also mark their territory by smearing their scent; which is known as sprinting. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. (Diet and Feeding Frequency). As such, captive otters need ample space to move around, including a deep enough freshwater source in which to swim, bathe, and socialize. They are carnivores with a high metabolic rate, requiring them to consume 20% of their body weight per day. Otters can carry and transmit dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and Streptococcus phocae to you and your other animals. Asian small-clawed otters - the only otter sometimes allowed as pets - need a mixture of land and water in their enclosure. As a vet you shouldnt explain people what to do if they still wanna keep a wild pet! The oldest known otter lived to be 21 years old. Complex care requirements: Otters are not domesticated animals and require specialized care. Well address some of the most frequently asked questions about buying an otter. If left untrained, they can leave many droppings around the house. However, this is a highly regulated process and requires meeting strict requirements for the care and housing of the animal. They are not commonly available, and you would likely need to get on a waiting list. This is highly recommended if you want to keep your otters happy and in good mental and physical health. Aggression in otters is also something important to consider. The short answer is yes, but it comes with many caveats or catches. 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. many native mammals have large home-ranges and need to kept in large outdoor enclosures. most native mammals are nocturnal and some, such as possums and gliders, can only be kept . As a result, these pets are often abandoned. It is the smallest otter species in the world, reaching a length of just 3 ft, or 90cm. Dont get an otter just because its adorable , you probably will not be able to care for her . What exotic pets can you own in Australia? Yet otters are still being illegally smuggled into these countries to be sold as pets., Loud noises. Your email address will not be published. If you do not live in a warm climate, supplementary heat is necessary for land. Not only is a home environment not suitable for the welfare of otters, but this relationship can also have some undesirable consequences for their human owners, as they can be loud, destructive and can inflict nasty bites. Keeping an otter as a solitary pet can make them very sad. If you want to interact with otters, consider visiting a zoo or aquarium or volunteering with a wildlife rehabilitation center. I greatly agree that some animals are better of wild but I read somewhere as well that as more human encroach on their natural habitats, these animals need to be protected. I will stick with my donations and wish them love. Put up you have it off otters every bit pets uk How To Get A Pet Otter (Realistically) 11:06. Even if it weren't, keeping wild animals as pets is not a good idea. Otters are adorable animals, but keeping them as pets is not a good idea. Unfortunately, this fad has lead to the illegal smuggling of otters into Japan[6]. Asian small-clawed otter: This is the only otter to have entered the pet trade. You may not realize that the otter is likely there only as a stop gap in a larger conservation effort. Unfortunately we humans have too often put our own desires in front of what is best for nature. However, just like any other wild animal, otters can be dangerous and aggressive. slowelevator . Otters can also dig, so the enclosure will need to have deep walls underground. However, there are few countries which appear to favor having otters as pets. I know a lady who owns an otter , she displays her on insta with her other exotic pets that rescued and even doing so much for her baby she still sees signs of distress! Otters arent happy to be one or two with a child pool and a bathtub ! 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. The food they eat will also need to be considered with an appropriate diet and at least 350 g of food per day for each animal. Many of these facilities have otters on display, and some even have interactive exhibits where you can watch them play and swim.