EXOTIC PETS RUN AMOK!

Exotic pets require extra care and caution!

Many of the exotic species we have today in the wild were once someone's pet. For example, a person enters a pet store and purchases a little African Monitor Lizard for $10. A compulsive buy quickly turns into a 7-foot aggressive omnivorous predator. Since the "pet" is now out of control and the owner can no longer take care of it, they release it into the wild.

Millions of exotic animals are imported each year into the U.S. Some are released and others escape. Some of these animals are now surviving here in Florida. They are breeding in the wild and many have become a nuisance. At its worst, the problem animal can become so invasive that it disrupts the natural ecological systems, uprooting and killing native flora and fauna.

For instance, the Cane Toad (third picture on the left) were originally introduced into agricultural environments to eradicate parasites and beetles from valuable crops, in many cases sugar cane, hence the name. However, without much foresight to the future ramifications of such an introduction, the Cane Toad's prolific reproduction cycle, coupled with its toxicity have disrupted the natural ecological order of their adoptive habitats. Their poison has killed many predators who have tried to eat them, predators that play a vital role in the local ecology.

If you have an exotic pet roaming your neighborhood, please call a professional to safely remove it. Many of these species can be very aggressive and dangerous to handle, not to mention very destructive to native habitats. Call 239-908-1130 or go to our contact form for more information.