Monkey

Scents and Sensibility

Neighbors raising stink over
local man's pet skunk

Scott Gardner loves pulling weeds and enjoying the natural setting of his backyard. 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.

    Taking in a wild animal that looks abandoned is a noble idea. However, in most cities and towns, you are breaking the law. Many animals, if they sense a predator around (yes that includes you), will run for it, leaving the injured animal behind. However, once they are sure there is no threat, they will come back. Also, a young bird learning to fly will fall out of the nest. Generally, the adult bird is near and will assist the young bird when you are out of sight. Here are five reasons why you should not make a backyard critter a pet.

  1. It is illegal. Many birds, reptiles and amphibians are endangered, and are protected by law. In Oregon, you could face a fine up to $6,250 and spend up to a year in jail for taking in an endangered animal.
  2. Most people are not knowledgeable enough to care for wild animals properly.
  3. Many vets will not care for wild-caught pets. Therefore, if the pet gets sick, what are you going to do with it?
  4. You are not trained to care for a sick animal (unless you happen to be a vet), so leave it up to the professionals.
  5. Wild animals are just that: wild. Let's leave them that way.