Wildwood Exotic Pets

A woman in New York paid $1,800 for a 9-week-old black leopard. She thought it was cute and friendly – until it attacked her.

Ask an Expert - Wild Animals Are Not Pets A red fox pup was turned into a shelter by a family that had kept it in captivity. The fox became blind because it was not being fed properly. These are examples of people who attempted to make pets out of wildlife, and the unfortunate situations are not isolated. Terry Messmer

Kinkajou also called honey bear, an unusual member of the raccoon family distinguished by its long, prehensile tail, short muzzle, and low-set, rounded ears. Native to Central America and parts of South America, the kinkajou is an agile denizen of the upper canopy of tropical forests.

The kinkajou is the only species of the genus Potos. Though related to the raccoon and coati, its appearance, behaviour, and ecology more closely resemble those of a primate. Indeed, the kinkajou was originally described to the scientific community as a lemur. It has soft, gray or brownish fur and large eyes set in a small, round face. The eyes are highly reflective of light, giving them a bright orange eyeshine. The kinkajou’s feet can be rotated 180° and have a thick covering of short hair on the soles. Its body length is less than 61 cm (24 inches), excluding its 40–57-cm (16–22-inch) tail. Adult weight ranges from 2 to 3.2 kg (4.4 to 7 pounds).

Nocturnal and arboreal, kinkajous generally feed alone or in pairs but will form stable groups in which members, particularly the males, groom each other and return each morning to established tree holes to sleep together. Kinkajous are highly vocal, emitting screams, barks, and a variety of softer sounds, including some described as “sneezes.” It rarely leaves the trees, feeding mostly on fruit and insects; it also drinks nectar from flowers during dry periods. A litter consists of one or two young, born in spring or summer.

The kinkajou often shows little fear of humans. It is sometimes kept as a pet known as a “honey bear,” although the animal cannot be litter-trained. Considered gentle if they are obtained when young, kinkajous do possess a**l glands that produce a musky odour when the animal is angered or frightened; kinkajous can also deliver a sharp bite. In captivity, they can live 20 years or more.
The cacomistle and especially the olingo are similar members of the family Procyonidae. These animals, however, do not have prehensile tails.

You can say I am more of a dog kind of girl. I am happy having my four dogs and enjoy all their crazy antics. However, for those of you who are looking for more of a challenge and feel that cats and dogs just aren’t cutting it, we have a list of weird pets and cool animals to own.

30 Unique and Weird Pets You Can Own - CRAZY RICH PETS Are cats and dogs too mainstream for you? Check out these 30 weird pets that you can own!

The words “exotic” and “wild” are commonly used interchangeably and most people do not understand how these categories differ when it comes to pets. It is important to understand the difference between wild animals, exotic animals, non-traditional pets and the requirements and responsibilities of owning such animals as pets.

Ownership of Wild, Exotic, and Non-traditional Companion Animals The words “exotic” and “wild” are commonly used interchangeably and most people do not understand how these categories differ when it comes to pets. It is important to understand the difference between wild animals, exotic animals, non-traditional pets and…

There are millions of wild animals kept as pets in homes across the U.S. These animals face lives of unnatural captivity, which often includes inadequate care, food, and living conditions. Below, read 10 Fast Facts about exotic “pets” and click here to learn more about Born Free USA’s work to keep wildlife in the wild.

Ten Fast Facts about Exotic “Pets” | Born Free USA Millions of wild animals, including reptiles, large felines, nonhuman primates, and others, are kept in private possession in the U.S. The trade in exotic animals is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry.

What Are Exotic Pets?
There is no conclusive definition of an “exotic” pet. Traditionally, the term has been applied to wild animals taken into captivity. However, the definition has expanded to include any non-domesticated animal brought into homes.

Some states have laws that identify certain species as exotic. State and local laws may also disallow owning some or all exotic species as pets. These laws are designed to protect exotic animals since they need specialized care.

Types of Exotic Pets Before you get an exotic pet, there are some things you should know about what kind of animal you want to adopt.