Game and Fish Department urges responsibility when dealing with exotic pets

PHOENIX - It was just an average, ordinary day for the Forest Service Officer who stumbled across a 4-foot black throat monitor cruising down Dynamite Road near Rio Verde three weeks ago. He pulled over, captured the reptile and hand delivered it to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Mesa office. The black throat monitor is one of several large lizards native to Africa, although it is legal to have in the United States.

"The monitor was clearly someone's pet. We have lots of lizards here in Arizona, but none of them get close to reaching the size of this guy. Monitors are notoriously difficult to handle, but this one was quite mellow. This animal was either released or escaped, we see this type of situation quite often in the Valley," says Randy Babb,
a Game and Fish Department biologist.

The department turned the animal over to the Phoenix Herpetological Society, which is currently caring for approximately 400 critters, including an 18-foot python, an anaconda and many venomous creatures. The facility is also home to 62 alligators, including the more than 30 alligators seized by the Game and Fish Department earlier this year during a traffic stop along Interstate 10 in Phoenix.

The incident of the wandering black throat monitor underscores the problem of people and exotic pets.
"Often people will purchase exotic pets, such as iguanas, boa constrictors or other snakes, and Savannah cats. When the animals get too big or become a problem, people often look for a way to dispose of them and sometimes release them into the wild. These animals can create a host of problems for Arizona's native wildlife," says Babb.

When exotic pets get released into the wild and breed they can become an invasive species. For example, Arizona has a huge crayfish problem right now because they were brought in from another state, released into Arizona waterways, and now destroy native fish and the waterways they inhabit.

"Exotic pets must be cared for properly and responsibly. It's incumbent on owners to properly contain and care for their pets. Should a pet become a problem or no longer wanted, it should never be turned loose in the wild. The released animal often languishes and dies a slow death. Those that do survive can end up competing with or even forcing out native wildlife. There are always people and places who will take exotic pets off your hands if they're no longer wanted," says Babb.

When it comes to live wildlife, Arizona is one of the more restrictive states in the nation. This is an effort to protect the state's diverse wildlife resources, their habitats and the general public. The majority of Arizona's native wildlife and a large number of wild animals found throughout the world are restricted; meaning, they may not be captured or possessed alive without a special license. Generally speaking, any carnivore or venomous reptile found anywhere in the world is restricted.

A number of special licenses are available that allow for possession of restricted live wildlife, but only for individuals with a legitimate need or use for these wildlife species. In Arizona, possessing restricted live wildlife to keep as a pet is not recognized as a legitimate use. The Arizona Game and Fish Department will not issue special licenses in these cases.

"Even though you may be able to buy a number of restricted live wildlife species in other U.S. states, that does not mean you may legally transport them into or possess them in Arizona," says Arizona Game and Fish Department Law Enforcement Branch Chief Ron Day.

Arizona's live wildlife rules, including a complete list of those species that are restricted, may be found on the department's Web site by clicking here and scrolling down to Article 4 "Live Wildlife."