They have varying sizes across all species, weighing between 2.2 to 99.2 lb and having lengths between 2.0 to 5.9 feet. Question: Could an otter, raised from a young pup, make a unique and workable therapy animal or visiting moral animal for elderly / disabled / children? Keeping an otter as a solitary pet can make them very sad. All those things you find cute on IG are them showing their distress ! Cage should have a top and fencing needs to extend in-ground. Required fields are marked *. Can otters be released into the wild after being in captivity? Even if it is legal to have an otter as a pet, many exotic pet curators do not go through proper channels to capture and sell animals. This may not seem very big, but their high metabolism and intelligence mean they can take up a lot of space when they need to, or want to. "Oh honey~~~ you shouldn't have! They arent easily housetrained and theyre very active, social animals. Otters need space to roam. When theyre captured and sold as pets, otters are not living their full, natural lives. Unless you do what Joseph Carter does for his mink to keep them busy, I wouldn't recommend them as pets to most people. Let us learn more about this incredible creature as we read this article. In fact with a fast google search youll find that its 100% illegal but it seems theres a twist depending where you live. 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. My dogs have full access to run outside and play in the backyard but they choose to stay inside on a bed watching tv and eatting treats. There is a high chance of one of them getting bitten. However, pet owners must meet strict requirements, including providing a secure and appropriate habitat, proper nutrition, and veterinary care. You can have 2 of each of the following animals: American Bullfrog. It is the most common type trapped and sold as pets. Eastern Red-backed Salamander. Not all countries have strict protection laws and many otter populations are already in decline. Cats and dogs were bred to be companions and we couldn't even handle that. Laws change, and this list is not necessarily exhaustive. Fun fact: Otters have the thickest coats in the animal kingdom! They are semi-aquatic animals, and they are well adapted to life on both land and in water, like rivers, streams, freshwater wetlands, and the sea. Shes advising you not, To. Are otters legal in New York? Due to their high fish diet, an otter's excrement is particularly foul. Here is we collected all that you wanted about Can You Have An Otter As A Pet In Australia Watch free videos. With a degree in Animal Behaviour and over a decade of practical animal husbandry experience, Hannah's articles cover everything from pet care to wildlife conservation. Not only do these animals make terrible pets, but they're also nearly impossible to domesticate. The latter option may be ethically questionable given the species vulnerable status in the wild, and brokers are unlikely to tell you where the animals are obtained (which is standard in the industry). Question: Are otters legal in Pennsylvania? Lontra canadensis. Live animals and animal products from overseas could introduce some of the world's most damaging pests and diseases into Australia. They do not like intruders in their space or near their family and will defend accordingly. 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. Keeping an otter as a pet would be unfair to the animal and potentially dangerous for you. 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. 7080% of the diet can be meat-based and can consist of day-old chicks, chicken, venison, rabbit, etc. They also mark their territory by smearing their feces around, which contributes to the odor.. Can you pet otters? There are some 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 90% of fish and insects and 93% of amphibians that inhabit the continent are endemic to Australia. An otters diet can vary in captivity. Otters are accustomed to preying on live animals; hunting is an integral part of an otters life. Pet Guide: How to Care for a Pet Emperor Scorpion, Blue Parakeets: 5 Step Complete Care and Color Mutation Guide, How Long Do Budgie or Parakeet Live as Pets? In some cases, it is possible to obtain a permit to own an otter. Laura Tindle - Ecological Project Officer - Middlemarch Environmental Can you have a pet otter in australia. Thank you for taking the time to look at our personalised otter ceramic money box. Ive occasionally seen them offered for sale on exoticanimalsforsale.net in the past, but not for a while. I guess they'd much rather be coddled and have everything handed to them SMH. Yes, there are some health risks associated with otters. Film fundraiser showcasing Mori-made movies for cyclone relief They require about 2-2, 5 pounds of meat every day. I cannot recommend any otter species as a personal "pet," although a few have maintained a strong bond with their handler their entire life. Retrieved from, Smith, C. (2017). Additionally, otters are considered indicator species, which means that their presence or absence can indicate the health of the surrounding ecosystem. 4. They will need to be kept in an enclosure that is at least 10' x 8' x 6'. 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. Wild otters are the latest exotic pet trend - Animals Here are a few to get you started, plus some basic information about how they fit into the otter pet trade: 1. No. Serfass, T., Evans, S. S., & Polechla, P. (2015). Otter as a pet [Facts & Guides] | Pet Comments You can keep these animals as personal pets, but you cannot sell, barter, or exchange them. In such a case, the average dog run won't cut it. No, and you don't want one. That includes all game animals, birds and furbearers, including bear, beaver, coyote, deer,. You can usually visit the otter you have adopted, and some programs offer other perks, like behind-the-scenes tours. People who like to physically interact with their pets will be disappointed. Sea otters carry around a favorite rock in a pouch under their arms between meals, which they use to crack open the shells of various crustaceans. If you believe your state should be on this list, check with your local state department. It is illegal in all US States to keep this indigenous otter as a pets. Feel free to share this guide with anyone who loves otters! If I live in Australia can I own a pet otter? - Quora Most products include Include a 90 day warranty for your convenience and to ensure you're completely satisfied! There are several websites and online sources where pet otters are sold. Otters are very playful creatures. Answer: No, animals grouped in Carnivora, except wolfdogs, are illegal. I'm leaving school and need to know where to move to own one okay kids you really need to go move to where you can own a bear and just let it live with you in your house just do us all a favor and go get mauled people are really dumb holy shit lmfao. You see, otters are members of the weasel family. Supplement their diet with vegetables, soft-boiled eggs, and insects. Otters climb, so a roof or top is required, and they are keen diggers, so any fencing needs to be extended in-ground. Dont get an otter just because its adorable , you probably will not be able to care for her . Your email address will not be published. But. It is the smallest otter species in the world, reaching a length of just 3 ft, or 90cm. Well address some of the most frequently asked questions about buying an otter. Asian small-clawed otters - the only otter sometimes allowed as pets - need a mixture of land and water in their enclosure. Can you have an Otter as a Pet? - Petaddon Much more fun fact: Otter poop has an aroma that has been compared to jasmine tea. Hence the name. Even ferrets are not necessarily easy pets but the first thing I would recommend as a mustelid for a pet. No matter how much you fantasize about them, you must accept the fact that they are not house pets. The level of protection and types of otters present vary across different parts of the world. Most pet otters are actually owned by private zoos and animal educators. How To Care for A Pet Otter? 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. Yes, otters can be trained using positive reinforcement techniques. Otters can carry and transmit diseases that can be harmful to humans, such as salmonella and giardia. 10 dog breeds facing extinction in the UK: Rough collies, greyhounds Also They really have an annoying squeal. 25 million cats and dogs are euthanized in the US each year. 'Otterly' Amazing Facts Explained: Can You Have An Otter As A Pet? Exotic animals have many guidelines regarding their maintenance in captivity, but possession laws do change depending on the State. 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. 5 Step Pacman Frog Care: Are they good pets? Otters As Pets - Do Otters Make Good Family Pets? - Pet Blog States where Otters may be legal, New York. No, you cannot keep a jackal as a pet. Owning native otters is illegal in many countries including the UK, Japan, and the U.S. you, have, a, pet, otter, in, australia, can. As a vet you shouldnt explain people what to do if they still wanna keep a wild pet! Question: Are otters illegal in western Australia? When she isn't creating content for blog posts, Hannah enjoys long walks with her Rottweiler cross Senna, reading fantasy novels and breeding aquarium shrimp. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists several otter species as either endangered or vulnerable due to habitat loss, pollution, and hunting. Asian small clawed otters may be kept with a permit. 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. Living in captivity is simply not a good life for an otter. Otters arent as cute as you might think. Can Otters Be Pets? - wildlifefaq.com Parasites and general hygiene issues created by otters are also significant factors in why you shouldn't keep an otter as a pet. These include: This can be fed irregularly with a "scatter" method to ward off stereotypic behaviorsomething that occurs when certain animals are fed at specific times. Hi I'm looking to buy a otter I want to know how much they go for. They smear their droppings, which they produce constantly to mark their territory. In the wild, otters roam over a large area, including terrestrially and aquatically over land and water. If you are interested in adopting an otter, you will need to provide a specialized diet that includes a variety of fresh fish and shellfish. In some cases, otters that have been in captivity can be released back into the wild. Can I Have an Otter as a Pet? | FluffyStuffie.com There are owners who have domesticated otters. They are not commonly available, and you would likely need to get on a waiting list. Obtaining a permit for keeping an otter is difficult, if not impossible. 1. If you try to teach an otter right vs. wrong, for example regarding littering outside the litter box, it will likely perform the negative action just in order to elicit a reaction from you. These include many species of native birds (mostly parrots), some captive-bred reptiles and frogs from a licensed breeder or society. many native mammals have large home-ranges and need to kept in large outdoor enclosures. How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Petco? you, an, otter, as, a, pet, unit, australia, s, can, have, in. The heaviest weigh in at up to 100lbs again, you wouldnt want to get on the wrong side of an animal of that bulk. Asian small-clawed otters are one of 13 species of otters in the carnivore family Mustelidae. Theyll need a dry area as well as a pool. The fact that these otters require a tropical climate may be why they tend to be kept mostly by zoo professionals. Pet owners must provide proper care, including a secure enclosure, appropriate food and water, and veterinary care. No, you cannot keep an otter as a therapy animal. There are only 13 extant species of otter across the world[1]. In many states, do you think it's illegal to keep river otters, beavers and many exotic animals as pets? They live in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps in Southern Asia. This breed was thriving in the 12th Century and was used to hunt otters. ), Are jumping spiders friendly or harmful to us? 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. Tarka the Otter eBook : Henry Williamson: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store All pets have at least some bans on exotic pets, even if they sometimes don't make complete sense. North Carolina: Otter ownership is legal in North Carolina with a permit from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. When you see horror movies about canibbals or something you feel freaked out do you eat meat how do you think the cows,pigs and lambs feel and so on. 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? Remember when 101 Dalmations came out and everyone ran and got a Dalmation and thousands got dumped at animal shelters? Being A Pet Is Not Good For an Otter If you love animals, then please do not keep otters as pets! I completed my post-graduate studies at Nottingham Trent University in 2021, securing an MSc Biodiversity Conservation qualification. Otters are very playful and charming and it might seem easy to interact with them or have them as pets. You cannot keep one as a pet in the US. Otters have very sharp teeth and can turn aggressive quickly, if annoyed. Here is a list of states in which owning an otter is legal, along with some important information to keep in mind if you are considering acquiring an otter as a pet. Dont take this as an endorsement of keeping them, but in purely legal terms, you may be able to own an otter in the following states: In the majority of the US, it is completely illegal to keep an otter as a pet. Even if you could get an otter certified as a therapy animal, it would still be illegal to buy or sell one. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. I have recently embarked on this career change due to my passion for the natural world and our role within it. Who knew? Put a ring on it! The Answer May Surprise You! More on each of these later. If i found a fox or coyote i would raise it. That cute, fluffy sea otter you have in your photo? Pool should make up about 30% of the enclosure. One of the few ways to keep an armadillo as a pet is to be someone who holds an Animal Breeding License, but obtaining one is difficult. I have grown up in the redwoods of California. Specifically, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida, Nebraska and a handful of other states appear to allow the private-ownership of otters. If you cannot provide an outdoor area, you must provide a large, heated (it must not fall below 50F), secure indoor area, with a pool kept at 75-85F. They have exotic pet stores with meerkats in rabbit cages. How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at PetSmart? Plus I would never just have one. Online classified ads Sites such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace sometimes have individuals who breed or sell otters. Otters are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and their trade is heavily regulated. They are the smallest otter species in the world. However, owning an otter requires a permit, which can be obtained from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. But in Japan, where more than a dozen animal cafes now feature otters, they have . You are wrong. Poisonous bite symptoms and treatments, 8 AMAZING jumping spiders types you can get as pets, 31 Interesting Axolotl Facts That Will Blow Your Mind. After otter hunting was banned in the UK in 1978, their numbers dropped. To raise an otter away from its natural family group is a tragedy, so if you are still planning on keeping an otter, know that you will have to keep several otters in order to maintain the sanity and mental wellbeing of each one! Otter. There are many different laws and regulations regarding "exotic" animals as pets and they vary from state to state, so the answer depends on where you live. They force them, they are not pets, they are not our possession, they belong to nature! Very few are owned by private individuals and habited in domestic environments. Even with the best intentions we cant give them enough , enough playtimes, enough nutrition.l enough everything. Otters can be destructive and are difficult to housetrain. I don't approve but it amazes me the animals aren't showing obvious signs of distress. It is illegal to keep almost all otters as pets in North America, with one exception. Your bathtub or pool cant substitute for the large bodies of water otters are naturally found in. Everything You Need to Know About Owning a Pet Otter - PetPress