Are River Otters Legal Pets in California
Answer: You buy otters from a breeder or broker. They`re usually not available, and you should probably sign up for a waiting list. They are expensive to buy and host. Fortunately, people in California are rarely prosecuted for illegal possession of exotic animals. However, the State of California has the right to remove any illegal pets from you. Depending on the species, this can result in the rehabilitation and release of your california-illegal pet into the wild, sending it to a care facility, or even selling it to a lab or euthanizing it. It may come as a surprise, but rats are legal pets in California. You can actually keep rats as pets, but you definitely need more attention than large pets like cats, dogs, and gerbils. Otters are considered «wild animals» and are therefore considered by wildlife laws. This classification means that only native otters are covered, including a river otter.
You can keep an otter as a pet with the appropriate permits that allow you to house wild animals in captivity. They must be kept in a pen of at least 10 feet x 8 feet x 6 feet, and an additional 40 square feet are required for each additional animal. The otter also needs access to a separate cave of at least 4 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet. What is a good pet? I tend to say that there is no right or wrong pet – it depends on what you are looking for in an animal. However, although Asian small-clawed otters are the most suitable species for captivity, they are not often kept, even in the exotic breeding community. The 13 species of otters are wild animals, extremely sensitive to environmental changes and are a striking latrine species. More than half of the 13 species of otters are endangered or endangered and are not legally bred – they must be caught, usually by killing the mother and confiscating the puppies. Given their sensitivity, less than 10% are likely to survive until adoption. Another popular pet that is legal in many states is the hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are cute nocturnal mammals that are easily recognizable by their prickles, which, unlike those of a porcupine, do not easily detach from their body. Like ferrets, gerbils are popular pets in the United States. However, the climate in California resembles the natural desert habitat of a gerbil. As a result, state officials fear that gerbils that escape or are released into the wild could establish wild colonies that would harm native crops and plants and animals. This makes it illegal to maintain a gerbil in California. Nevertheless, thorns can still penetrate the skin, and hedgehogs can transmit diseases such as ringworm and salmonella to humans. However, as with ferrets, the main reason hedgehogs are illegal in California is the risk that escaped and abandoned hedgehogs pose to native wildlife. We hope you will never face the loss of a beloved pet or criminal charges for keeping an illegal pet in California. However, if you do — or if you or a loved one is accused of violating California`s animal cruelty laws — we`re here to help. We have our headquarters in Los Angeles, but we have offices throughout the state.
Simply contact us using the form on this page or call our nearest office for a free consultation with one of our California criminal defense attorneys. (See our related article What is Animal Abuse in California?) In Nebraska, only a permit for captured wildlife is required to keep river otters. Asian otters are legal and unregulated without permission. It costs $33 to buy a permit, and an official will visit your home to make sure you have the right pen and habitat for your pet otter to thrive. Another relatively popular fad for pets in Japan is the practice of keeping otters as pets. Unfortunately, this trend has led to the illegal smuggling of otters into Japan.[6] This illegal trade is harmful to wildlife populations around the world. It is also something that could see an increase in other countries if false information is spread. You can also keep guinea pigs as pets if you live in California. Guinea pigs are ideal for those who love small pets but are looking for alternatives to the hamster. The North American river otter is the only river otter found in northern Mexico. It is illegal in all U.S.
states to keep this native otter as a pet. Exotic animals have many policies regarding their maintenance in captivity, but property laws change depending on the state. It is illegal to keep almost all otters as pets in North America, with one exception. In some states, it is not illegal to keep a small-clawed Asian otter as a pet. There are several strict guidelines for their care and care, but theoretically, you can keep a small-clawed Asian otter as a pet in some states of the United States. Below is a list of reasons why you shouldn`t. Otters and most exotic animals do not like to be restrained, especially with strangers. People who like to physically interact with their pets will be disappointed.
When you see cute baby otters interacting with their caregivers – like the ones in the videos here – keep in mind that they are often socialized babies who are not yet mature.