Squatters in Local Swimming Hole
Swimmers meet new residents at area pond.
Exotic pets usually come with more work and time than traditional pets like cats and dogs.
Last week, a local teenager found a 3 foot-long alligator in the local pond while swimming with friends. Alligators are not native to the state. Local fish and wildlife personnel say a pet owner who didn't want the animal anymore probably released it. They also said this is a more common occurrence than one might think.
Many of the area's invasive species problems started because pet owners thought they were being humane by letting an animal go in the wild instead of euthanizing it. However, they are doing much more harm.
See Exotic pg 5New Pet's Monkeyshines Drive Owners Ape
New addition makes his debut with a BANG!
Cindy Dunce plays with her new pet. Clyde was a great addition to the family for the first few weeks.
However, as Clyde grew, so did his tendency to chuck china. Once Clyde hit adolescence, his behavior became unbearable, and the Dunces were forced to keep him kenneled. For the family's safety, Clyde stayed in the small space for 23 hours a day.
See Monkeyshines, pg 2Cute, cuddly and babylike is how the Dunce family imagined Clyde, their pet. Initially, that is exactly what they got.
Chris, the Dunce's 7-year-old son, had begged his parents for a monkey just like the ones he had seen at the zoo. After a short Internet search, they found a breeder on Craig's List and adopted the precocious primate.
Local residents like Billy Gullible really wanted a pet, but didn't want to spend a lot of money.
Deals That Deal Out
Exotic pet sales can reach further than the wallet
By not doing adequate research, many pet seekers are unknowingly helping the black trade. There are a few ways to protect both yourself and the animals.
See Parrot pg 3Many of these species are endangered, and pulling them out of the wild pulls them out of the breeding pool. This adds exponentially to all the obstacles these species face.
Mom always said to shop around for the best deal. However, in the animal trade market, the cheapest deal is not always the best.
There is currently an active market for wild-caught birds, turtles and other creatures.
Scents and Sensibility
Neighbors raising stink over local man's pet skunk
Scott Gardner loves pulling weeds and enjoying the natural setting of his back yard. Late one evening he discovered a young skunk hiding in his hydrangea bush. Gardner left the little critter alone for a while and went about finishing his yard work. But when he checked back an hour later the little skunk was still in the same place. Since temperatures were to dip to freezing that night, Gardner scooped up the scared skunk and brought him in for what he thought would be just a short time.
However, after looking after the animal all night, Gardner could not let him go back to the wild. He ended up keeping the skunk for a pet, until neighbors complained and Johnny Law came to inform him his good intensions had broken the law.
See Skunk pg 4
