What's up with everyone wanting to let their pets go?

Question

Don't they realize that most areas have fines for releasing non-native species into the wild? What about the effects of a captive lifestyle upon an animal? Or introduction of parasites and diseases into wild populations?
"Oh, they have instincts, they'll be fine." No, they won't. If they don't learn the hard way how to stay away from raccoons, hawks, alligators, otters, whatever other native predators including cars you have in your area while they're young, how are they gonna learn now? Also, instinct doesn't have any effect upon climactic differences between where that animal is native to and the pond in your backyard or at a park or down the street, whatever. And if it DOES manage to beat the odds and live, things like this happen:

Various species of monitor lizards have established breeding colonies in Florida, these lizards eat anything they can catch, and have been filmed entering endangered burrowing owl nests to feast. They are also known to dig up alligator, turtle, and and snake nests. They climb, run, and swim, so there's no going and catching them by hand, so what's next?

Boas and pythons have established their own breeding colonies in south Florida with unknown effects upon native wildlife. However, it is known, that them and alligators are both giving each other a run for their money.

No sure answers on what changes will happen from all the iguanas and tortoises and stuff we're getting here too, but I know spurthighs and redfoots and stuff eat a lot more than our gopher tortoises, and THEY don't have enough room any more.

STOP LETTING YOUR UNWANTED PETS GO!! LEARN ABOUT THEM BEFORE BUYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anacondas.... *shudder* that's just what we need. At least up north all the really scary stuff dies off when it gets cold. There's one down in Melboring that's like that, but instead of lemurs they have sloths..... *mutter*

Lindsay- To make you feel better, all the captive hatch sea turtle programs, where they grow the turtles out before letting them go, you know the ones i'm talking about? they tag those turtles before they're released. the idea is if you grow them out, you have more turtles surviving to that size. Take a guess how many of those sea turtles that have been tagged have been found in the 20 years this program's being going on?






1.

Answer 1

Yes it is horrible, I live in Florida and actually live in a town that has nile monitors and it is truly affecting the borrowing owl which is sad. I have yet to see one in the wild but it seems that I am seeing less of the owls. It is horrific that there are irresponsible pet owners letting their pets go into the wild...in the Everglades there are anacondas and pythons that if they are not attempting to eat the alligators they are competition for their food but a good thing is that they are trapping them and watching out for the jerks that are releasing them....there are also a large population of black iguanas on a nearby island and they are going to capture thousand and euthanize them....now about the nile monitors it is suspected that they were actually bred in the wild but the population got out of control.....of course the problem is not just here in Florida there are other fish, snakes and reptiles being let loose all over the country sometimes wiping out the local ponds and lakes and so on....I agree with you it is horrible and sadly there is not enough control on exotic pets as there should be. You will never here them say have your snake spayed or neutered.

Answer 2

I've lived here in Florida for about a year and a half now, and it seems that even in Lake Bumfuck *Butler* there are hundreds of idiots with a fondness for exotics. Their impulses are fed by the only two petstores in Lake City *Butler ain't got jack, for rizzle* both specialize in exotics. one goes so far as selling lemurs, and has a male adult on display in the store. The other regularly has skunks and snakes and sugargliders and ferrets. It's crazey. All the freaking rednecks think it'd be a great idea to own an animal that can eat them *reffering to the anaconda i saw at belle's pet alley last time i went in their reptile room*

Answer 3

Thank you!!! Finally someone else realizes domesticated animals do not survive in the wild! I have a red eared slider who I got at 3 inches long and now she lives in a kiddie pool because she got so big. I have had so many people tell me to just let her go. Finally someone is backing me up. Thank you!