Many of us have had the thrill of spotting a wild animal in our backyard or nearby park. Sometimes, the urge to take these animals home arises, especially if they seem young, vulnerable, or injured. However, bringing wildlife into our homes can cause serious harm to both the animals and us.
Why Wild Animals Should Stay Wild
- Unique Needs That We Can’t Meet
Wild animals have highly specialized diets, behaviors, and environmental needs. Unlike domestic pets, wildlife cannot easily adapt to captivity and often suffer from malnutrition, stress, and even health problems when kept as pets. Animals like baby raccoons or songbirds rely on highly specific care that is best provided by nature or wildlife experts. - Health Risks for Humans and Other Pets
Wild animals can carry diseases, such as rabies, salmonella, or parasites, that pose risks to humans and domestic pets. These diseases can spread easily through close contact and could endanger your household or community. - Legal Restrictions and Conservation
Many laws in New Jersey and across the U.S. prohibit keeping native wildlife as pets. These laws are in place to protect the animals and maintain ecological balance. Removing animals from their natural habitats can disrupt ecosystems and make it harder for species to survive in the wild. - Risk of Becoming an Invasive Species
If a wild animal kept as a pet is later released or escapes, it could become an invasive species, competing with local wildlife for food and shelter. Invasive species can cause harm to native ecosystems, spread disease, and threaten local wildlife populations.
What to Do if You Find Young Wildlife
If you come across a young wild animal that seems abandoned or vulnerable, remember that not all babies need rescuing. Here’s what to do if you encounter common species in New Jersey:
- Baby Rabbit: Mother rabbits typically visit their nests twice a day, early in the morning and late in the evening. If you find a nest of baby rabbits, it’s best to leave them alone unless they are visibly injured. Cover the nest lightly and check if the mother returns within 24 hours. If the babies are cold or injured, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
- Baby Songbird: If the bird is featherless or has very few feathers, it’s likely a nestling and should be placed back in its nest if possible. If it has feathers and is hopping around, it’s likely a fledgling learning to fly. Leave it alone unless it is in immediate danger from predators.
- Baby Raccoon: Mother raccoons often leave their young hidden while foraging. If a baby raccoon is alone but not injured, observe from a distance and wait for the mother’s return. If the baby is sick, cold, or the mother doesn’t return, call a rehabilitator.
- Baby Squirrel: If a young squirrel has fallen from its nest, give it a chance to reunite with its mother by placing it in a shallow box at the base of the tree. If the mother doesn’t return after several hours, reach out to a wildlife expert.
- Baby Deer: Fawns are often left alone by their mothers for hours. Unless the fawn is injured or in immediate danger, it’s best not to interfere. A lone fawn isn’t necessarily abandoned, and its mother will likely return.
Keeping Wildlife Wild for Their Safety and Ours
By observing wildlife from a distance, refraining from keeping wild animals as pets, and knowing when to call a professional, we can help protect New Jersey’s native species and support the health of our ecosystems. Wildlife belongs in the wild, where it plays an essential role in nature. Let’s appreciate it there and do our part to protect it.
In New Jersey, keeping native wildlife as pets is generally illegal, but some species are still commonly taken from the wild and kept, sometimes out of a misunderstanding about their needs or status as wildlife. Here are some native species that people often try to keep as pets, as well as reasons why they don’t make good household companions:
1. Eastern Box Turtle
- Why They’re Kept as Pets: Their small size, gentle nature, and colorful markings make them appealing.
- Challenges in Captivity: Box turtles have complex dietary and environmental needs, including specific lighting, humidity, and temperature requirements. They are also known for having long lifespans, sometimes up to 50 years or more, which can make them a long-term commitment. Removing them from the wild can lead to health issues and threatens wild populations.
2. Eastern Gray Squirrel
- Why They’re Kept as Pets: Baby squirrels that are orphaned or found by people may seem like cute, friendly pets.
- Challenges in Captivity: Squirrels are highly active and need lots of space, stimulation, and social interaction. In captivity, they may become aggressive as they mature, and they often chew through furniture and wires. Their dietary needs are complex, and they are prone to metabolic bone disease in captivity without proper nutrition and UV exposure.
3. American Toad
- Why They’re Kept as Pets: Toads are small, easy to handle, and can be found frequently in backyards.
- Challenges in Captivity: Toads require specific diets of live insects and proper moisture levels to thrive. Without appropriate care, they can quickly become unhealthy in captivity. Additionally, wild toads play a role in controlling insect populations and supporting local ecosystems.
4. Raccoon
- Why They’re Kept as Pets: Orphaned raccoons are often kept as pets when found as babies because they seem cute, intelligent, and affectionate when young.
- Challenges in Captivity: Raccoons are wild animals and often grow aggressive and destructive as they reach maturity. They require large spaces to explore and highly specific diets, and they can carry diseases like rabies and roundworm that pose risks to humans and pets. Raccoons are also illegal to keep as pets in most states, including New Jersey.
5. Red Fox
- Why They’re Kept as Pets: Their playful behavior and resemblance to domesticated dogs or cats attract some people.
- Challenges in Captivity: Foxes have strong odors, are difficult to house-train, and require specialized diets and large enclosures to remain healthy. They are naturally solitary and skittish animals, often becoming stressed and destructive in captivity. Keeping foxes as pets is also illegal in many places due to their complex care needs and potential health risks.
6. Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
- Why They’re Kept as Pets: People often pick up wild baby rabbits, believing they’re orphaned or abandoned.
- Challenges in Captivity: Eastern cottontails are much more high-strung than domestic rabbits, becoming highly stressed in captivity, which can lead to health issues. They have specialized diets and a strong flight instinct that makes them unsuitable as pets.
7. American Crow
- Why They’re Kept as Pets: Crows are intelligent and social animals that can learn tricks and mimic sounds, making them fascinating to some pet enthusiasts.
- Challenges in Captivity: Crows are highly social, need a lot of mental stimulation, and can become destructive when bored. They also play an important role in ecosystems as scavengers. Federal law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to keep crows and other native birds as pets without a special permit.
If you’ve been keeping a wild animal as a pet in New Jersey, unaware that it was a native wildlife species, it’s understandable to be concerned now that you know more about state laws and the animal’s welfare. Here’s a guide on what you can do if you’ve found yourself in this situation and want to prioritize the animal’s health and well-being.
Steps You Can Take to Provide Medical Care for the Animal
- Reach Out to a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in New Jersey
Wildlife rehabilitators are licensed professionals trained to care for wild animals, including those that need medical treatment. By transferring the animal to a rehabilitator, you can ensure it receives appropriate care and, if possible, help it return to the wild. Rehabilitators understand the complexities of treating wild animals and have the permits to handle them legally. - Discuss Your Options Honestly
When you contact a rehabilitator or a veterinarian, be honest about your situation. Explain that you weren’t aware the animal was wild when you obtained it, and now you’re trying to do what’s best for its health. All our veterinarians at MLAH and many rehabilitators understand and prioritize the animal’s welfare over past circumstances, working with you to transition the animal to a more suitable environment. - Avoid Attempting to Provide Treatment Yourself
Wild animals have very specific medical and dietary needs that require professional knowledge and equipment. Attempting to treat an animal on your own can cause more harm, and handling wildlife without a permit can have legal repercussions in New Jersey. Rehabilitators have the expertise to address the animal’s unique requirements safely. - Transferring the Animal to Pennsylvania
If you’re considering taking the animal to Pennsylvania, which has more relaxed wildlife rules, it’s important to confirm that transporting it across state lines is legal. Many states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, have specific regulations regarding the transport of wildlife. Contact Pennsylvania’s wildlife agency or a rehabilitator licensed in both states to get guidance on safely and legally relocating the animal for care. - Commit to Helping the Animal Thrive in its Natural Habitat
Even though your initial intentions were good, the best way to care for wildlife is to ensure they remain in their natural environment. Wild animals often struggle in captivity due to their complex social and survival needs, which aren’t easily met outside of their habitats. Moving forward, by appreciating wildlife from a distance and reporting injured or abandoned animals to rehabilitators, you’re helping preserve New Jersey’s biodiversity.
Author: Dr. Lindsay Wilfong