Why Do Wild Animals Not Make Good Pets?

Some creatures make wonderful pets. Dogs, cats, birds, and many other animals have earned a place in our homes for excellent reasons. Most of our common companions have adapted and thrived in domestication, forging mutually beneficial bonds with humans that can be helpful and emotionally gratifying for them and us. Indeed, we love our pets as much as any other family member. (And sometimes secretly even more.) 

But sadly, we are not always that smart about our selections. We love wildlife too, and when an opportunity comes along to treat a wild animal like a pet, it can be an irresistible temptation.

Most of the time, we have the best intentions. It might be something exotic being sold in a pet store, an injured creature needing rescue, a hungry visitor to your yard, or our biggest kryptonite, a cute, orphaned baby animal. However, when we attempt to turn a wild animal into a pet, it is rarely the fairy-tale relationship we envision. Not some but most of these attempts end badly. Wild animals don't make good pets, and there are many reasons why you should not attempt to domesticate them.

Their Inherent Behavior Is A Risk

There is a vast difference in behavior between the animals that evolved over millennia to be our companions and the animals that have always lived in the wild. For example, all dogs evolved from wolves over thousands of years, and their DNA has changed to help them thrive in the human world. Now, consider the floppy-eared basset hound and compare it to a wolf. The adaptations that have taken place are more than just in appearance. The hound is now instinctively docile and predisposed to live alongside humans. The wolf, however, doesn't do well in captivity. Even when raised from a pup, its behavior can be dangerously unpredictable because its DNA is essentially a complicated list of preprogrammed instructions that tells it how to survive in nature, not in human habitats.

Wild animals have these genetic, built-in survival instructions. They do not conform well to the kind of environments they find themselves in when kept as a pet because those instructions don't apply. So, what happens? They bite and scratch. They tear up and destroy things. They escape from their confines because they instinctively want to be free. And more often than not, they don't form the deep, loving bonds with us that we want them to.

They Threaten Our Health

A bite or scratch from a wild animal can be dangerous. Many carry strange bacteria, parasites, and diseases that can devastate human populations. Our immune systems haven't been exposed to them and thus cannot handle these pathogens well. As a result, people get very sick. It's exactly the kind of thing that launches deadly plagues and epidemics.

We Cannot Give Them What They Need

Another factor to consider is the animal's happiness. People can't replicate many of their basic needs, and your wild pet won't be able to live a contented life in confinement.

One case in point is the common squirrel. People tried to domesticate squirrels once and on an extensive scale. We didn't just introduce them to parks; we brought them inside our homes. In the 1800s, they were as popular as cats and dogs, but it didn't last. Squirrels have teeth that never stop growing, and they never stop chewing because of that. They also have an uncontrollable bite reflex and an incredibly manic energy level that we could not accommodate. As a result, they trashed our homes and injured us, too. Eventually, we wised up, but it was a hard lesson. Squirrels still can charm us with their quirky behavior, but nowadays, we mostly leave them in the wild where they belong.

It's Against The Law And Supports Criminal Activities

Another reason you should never keep wildlife as pets because it is unlawful to do so. Most states have these laws, and the list of banned animals in California alone is long. These laws exist to protect both you and the animals, and they are vigorously enforced. Furthermore, taking in a wild animal may promote criminal activities. An illegal exotic pet trade exists when there is a demand for them. If you support it, you are facilitating a crime.

A Better Solution

If you find a wild animal that needs rescue or rehabilitation, please don't be tempted to take on the challenge yourself or try to turn it into a pet. There's a better way. Contact Gold Country Wildlife Control instead. We are your local, humane solution for wildlife control, and ready to help. Contact us today for an estimate.