Monkey

Squatters in Local Swimming Hole

Swimmers meet new residents at area pond

Summer is a time for swimming and enjoying the sun. Local ponds and creeks are constantly crowded with people looking to cool off.

Exotic pets usually come with more work and time then traditional pets like cats and dogs.

Last week, a local teenager found a 3 foot-long alligator in the local pond while swimming with friends. Alligators are not native to the state. Local fish and wildlife personnel say a pet owner who didn't want the animal anymore probably released it. They also said this is a more common occurrence than one might think.

Many of the area's invasive species problems started because pet owners thought they were being humane by letting an animal go in the wild instead of euthanizing it. However, they are doing much more harm.

    There sometimes comes a time a pet owner's life when he or she no longer wants a pet. With dogs and cats, the options for taking the animal to a shelter or rescue are there. With exotic pets however, options are very limited. Many owners do not want to euthanize the pet, so they let it go in the wild. This is a bad idea for five reasons:

  1. You are breaking the law. Releasing pets into the wild is Illegal in most areas.
  2. This is a tamed animal and has relied on you for food and care for an extended period. In the wild, it might not know how to find food or care for itself and may therefore starve to death or die in extreme climate conditions.
  3. If the animal does manage to survive, it could find a mate and reproduce, putting a strain on existing native animal populations .
  4. If the animal reproduces enough, it could start to choke out native species.
  5. In the case of dangerous animals, such as certain snakes and reptiles, the released pet could hurt a person because it is scared and lashes out.