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Posted by Larry Connor on 13:12:17 03/24/09
In Reply to: Amnesty Day posted by Tyler Beck
For those of you wondering, the Exotic Pet Amnesty events are sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in cooperation with a local entity. We worked with the Miami Metrozoo for last Saturday's event. The Nature Conservancy also picked up a few animals in the Keys and transported them to the zoo. The events allow individuals to surrender unwanted non-native pets, no questions asked. We don't deal with domestic animals, cats, dogs, etc., although we did take in a rabbit. Most of the animals are placed with adopters that we have vetted to be sure they have the appropriate experience, interest, no animal cruelty violations, and licenses if necessary. Occasionally we have to euthanize an unhealthy or prohibited animal and some species like red-eared sliders are placed with a dealer who sells them out-of-state where they are legal. The idea is obviously to provide an avenue for people to properly dispose of their pets and not turn them loose, and to develop a network of adopters who are willing to accept non-native wildlife at other times during the year.
We have done five events since May 2006, Orlando, Clearwater, Miami, Jacksonville, and Miami last weekend. Last year in Miami people surrendered 158 animals. The majority were reptiles. We did get a lot pythons, Burmese, reticulated, and ball. We also got a serval and a coati and a few birds. Jacksonville last fall was similar, but I don't have the numbers. This year we got 102 animals. Again the majority were reptiles, but not as many big snakes. Maybe most the individuals who are unwilling to obtain the reptiles-of-concern permit and get the snakes microchiped have already disposed of their pets. We did got number of sugar-gliders, a large number of red-eared sliders, and five parrots including a beatiful blue-and-yellow macaw. The numbers are not huge, but at least these will not be turned loose in the Everglades or your local park. These events do generate a large amount of media coverage. NBC, the Today Show, PBS, Animal Planet, and a number of print reporters were at the event Saturday. Hopefully the media attention will help get the word out to not release your unwanted pets.
Larry Connor
Eustis, FL
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