For instance, in Nevada, lions and elephants are technically legal to own but not 3-pound fennec foxes. Dont get an otter just because its adorable , you probably will not be able to care for her . Eastern Garter Snake. Keeping an otter in a home is a surefire way to destroy anything valuable you own. 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. Put up you have it off otters every bit pets uk How To Get A Pet Otter (Realistically) Hence the name. It could benefit the scientific community as well since little is known about their behaviors. Can you have a pet sea otter? From a legal standpoint, owning an otter can be trickier than a skunk, but it is possible. Keeping an otter as a pet has become fashionable in some countries for some time. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 4. They are mustelids which means they belong to the same family as weasels, minks and badgers, but form a part of the subfamily Lutrinae. I am currently an ecological project officer at Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. They live in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps in Southern Asia. In conclusion, it is not advisable to keep otters as pets. Do otters stink? Can you have a pet otter in australia. Listen people, trying to stifle information will only lead to more of that thing your trying to stop dont be ignorant. AnimalWised takes a look at the different aspects of domestic otters. Otters can be dangerous around children, full grown adults as well as pets. Being A Pet Is Not Good For an Otter If you love animals, then please do not keep otters as pets! Background on Otter Otters eat 15 to 25% of their body weight daily. All pets have at least some bans on exotic pets, even if they sometimes don't make complete sense. Dogs can infect otters with canine distemper and rabies. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on December 16, 2018: Can you have an Asian small clawed otter as a pet in the state of Georgia. Pet otters are sought after in many Asian countries like Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia.. Smitten. But shipping can be stressful, even if managed by a careful courier, so it is advised to go directly to a zoo, private breeder or animal educator, and enquire in person. There are owners who have domesticated otters. I have to say that most though not all of the comments cause me extreme concern regarding our society today. Unique or exotic pets. Otters are delightfully cute. This craze of having exotic pets like fennec and foxes (in Russia its popular ), beautiful exotic reptiles and so much more is so wrong ! They are apex predators that help keep populations of fish and other aquatic creatures in check. Taking feathers directly from the bird so the scent is present, and scatter them in various places. Therefore, purchasing an otter can do more harm than good and is not advised. Put a ring on it! 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. In the U.S. there is only one otter species that can be kept in the home so to speak - the Asian Short-clawed Otter . Retrieved on 29 November, 2019. Don't even get us started on baby otter pups. Otters are carnivores and primarily eat fish, shellfish, and other aquatic creatures. Hi I'm looking to buy a otter I want to know how much they go for. Answer: I would guess no, but it might depend on the animal and your particular talent in animal training. Because theyre so cute, theres been a high demand to own them as pets., Illegal poaching and sales have hurt the global otter population. However, owning an otter requires a permit, which can be obtained from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Are Emperor Scorpions Poisonous? It is important to work with trained professionals and follow guidelines for releasing otters back into the wild. As a pet, otter ownership can be difficult for a variety of reasons, but owning one is not an easy choice. Owning a pet otter is considered illegal in several countries including the US, Japan, and the UK. Living inside comes with many challenges, like cleaning up otter feces and keeping your furniture intact. Captive otters are also required to have a registered veterinarian who is happy to see them whenever required, which is hard to find at the best of times. Instead, consider visiting them at a zoo or wildlife sanctuary, where you can observe and appreciate these amazing animals in a safe and responsible manner. For example, in Nevada, lions and elephants are actually legal to own, but fennec foxes (which weigh 3 lbs) are not. Fun fact: Otters have the thickest coats in the animal kingdom! You can keep these animals as personal pets, but you cannot sell, barter, or exchange them. However, there are few countries which appear to favor having otters as pets. 07:55. There are only 13 extant species of otter across the world[1]. However, this is a highly regulated process and requires meeting strict requirements for the care and housing of the animal. If they are constantly wet, they can develop health conditions.. Even cats and dogs require a team of people to help you. Theyre not for us to put them in cute hats ! People's Trust for Endangered Species. As stated in the introduction, otters are mustelids. Unfortunately, we would not be able to list every country where keeping otter as a pet is legal or illegal. [removed] 7 Caracal Cat Facts. 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. If the water is not sufficiently well cleaned, it can lead to the quick death of the otter. Otters play an important role in their ecosystems. No, otters are not good pets. 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. In some cases, otters that have been in captivity can be released back into the wild. Trained professionals can provide the care and rehabilitation necessary to ensure the otter can be released back into the wild. It is illegal to own most otter species as pets. 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. As a result, these pets are often abandoned. While it's common to keep dogs and cats as pets, other unique and interesting animals including reptiles, insects, amphibians and terrestrial . 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. Guess what, they are picked off by predators within 3 days. Habitat destruction, hunting, and pollution threaten their conservation. People in Indonesia, Thailand, Japan,. They like attention but do not like to play with humans, in the way humans like to interact with pets. Otters are restless and do not like to be restrained or restricted. You may not realize that the otter is likely there only as a stop gap in a larger conservation effort. They force them, they are not pets, they are not our possession, they belong to nature! Fr Rudi, as . Dont get a pet to show off get a pet because you have heart ! The answer is no. They can cause damage to your home and hurt other animals in your family. 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. It is illegal to keep almost all otters as pets in North America, with one exception. Domestication is a process that occurs over generations of selective breeding, and it is not possible to fully domesticate a wild animal like an otter. Dv Kaufman's Adventures 44.5K subscribers OTTERS AS PETS?!? Otters need plenty of environmental enrichment. Question: Are sea otters legal in Kentucky? Before they used to be chased by humans for destroying rice cultures but now the parents are killed at first sight to get the youngs to make money! People who like to physically interact with their pets will be disappointed. if you want to have a wire sort of cage and live in a winter climate would i have to make a little room with heating. And pets are different again to 'keeping otters'. Hundreds of thousands of newborn kittens are euthanized at shelters because no one can take care of them. Otters are excellent diggers and have sharp claws and teeth. Answer: Yes, but you would have to be granted a permit, which isn't easy. Who knew? Several countries have legislation protecting otters from being kept as pets. Not to mention the sad ways in which they are breed, in cages, only to then be separated from their significant others. Instead of citing specific sizes, I would recommend simply imagining what you would deem an acceptable length and width for a very energetic and playful carnivore that will spend most, if not all, of its life in the enclosure. Most products include Include a 90 day warranty for your convenience and to ensure you're completely satisfied! This classification means that only native otters are legal which includes the river otter. They are wild animals and do not like to be restrained., Owning an otter is a big commitment. Answer: Australia is extremely strict with entry and exportation of exotics, so no. Aggression when stressed. The water not only needs to be the right temperature (your local climate may not be able to maintain this correct temperature), but it needs to be free of disease-promoting bacteria. Many Asian countries have taken measures to protect them through bans and regulation.. slowelevator . For example, most states have bans on big cats, primates, and bears, but in states that allow more surprising species as pets, the majority of counties and towns dont allow it. Retrieved from. Otters are considered to be wildlife, so you will need to follow the state guidelines for ownership. Let us learn more about this incredible creature as we read this article. However, they also mark territory with scent glands at the base of their tail. Additionally, otters can have sharp teeth and claws that can cause injury. In the majority of the US, it is completely illegal to keep an otter as a pet. The woman in the video DOES SAY she would 100% NOT recommend an otter as a pet Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 27, 2019: Shame on you! Most states make their laws for certain animals unclear and otters could be regulated under some laws when it appears they are legal under another law. Even many experienced pet owners would not try to take on an otter. The lifespan of otters varies depending on the species and their environment. Asian small-clawed otter: This is the only otter to have entered the pet trade. They love water so it is best if you have a body of water nearby for them to frolic in. Its so sad everyone just dont care about an species wellbeing just for the fact you as a human want to be cool having a otter pet. Unless you are an expert or biologist or zoologist, you should not own an exotic pet. Can Caracal Kitten be good pets? (Lifespan Guide). As always, wed be delighted to read your comments. No matter how much you fantasize about them, you must accept the fact that they are not house pets. Otters should not live in a domestic household, and a demand for pet otters helps drives illegal animal trade and decimate wild populations. Pet owners must provide a secure and appropriate habitat, as well as proper nutrition and veterinary care. The cage should have a decent size that allows the animal adequate room to exercise and forge. Sometimes people can't handle the truth. Participants must be able to squat/kneel down and stand up quickly and without assistance. So, here are some of the reasons you should not keep an otter as a pet: Above all, otters are wild animals that are happiest in their natural habitats and are not meant to be kept in our homes. So why don't you see more otters playing in the park on a Sunday afternoon? Otters can be legally obtained for private ownership. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest species of otter. Most people do not know what they are doing.