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Giant pythons, anacondas and boa constrictors taking over an ecosystem... It sounds like a horror movie, but this is a reality in Florida’s Everglades.
None of the 150,000 Burmese pythons that inhabit the Everglades are native. They’re there because pet owners decided letting their beloved pets live in the wild would be a good idea.
Maybe you didn’t realize how big Sammy the snake would get (it’s a harsh reality to learn that a python can grow to be 12 feet long). Maybe you've moved into a new place where pets are prohibited. There are lots of reasons snakes are released. And while snakes are probably the best example of why releasing your pet into the wild is not a good idea, they aren't the only pets to get the heave-ho. Cases exist where rabbits, fish, parakeets, iguanas, chameleons, cats, and dogs have also been released.
But for every reason there may be to getting rid of your pet, there are even more reasons why you should not release your pets into the wild. Here are a few.
Populations Skyrocket When There Are No Predators
Like the case of the Burmese python, many non-native animals will not have natural predators to keep the population under control. This causes everything to be thrown out of balance. Some populations will be eaten; others will starve to death because they can no longer find the food they are used to surviving on.
Pets Can Be a Threat to Other Species
As with the Everglade snakes, some non-native animals are serious predators themselves. Burmese pythons eat bobcats, crocodiles and small deer. Introducing such an animal into an ecosystem puts everyone at risk. There are 36 endangered species in Florida’s Everglades, all of which are a tasty treat for the Southeast Asian snake.
Introduction of Species Disrupts Ecosystems
As many as 10,000 fish a year are released into the St. Laurence River by residents of Montreal, Canada who are bored with their pets. According to National Geographic, New Zealand Australia, and the United States are experiencing big problems with aquarium fish being released into the wild. Some fish will alter shorelines and disrupt vegetation, other non-native aquarium fish can prey on local fish, and some carry exotic diseases which can kill local populations.
Pets Can Disrupt Other Species
Even if an animal is native to an area, the pet could be carrying genes that can potentially cause mutations in local wild animals. There are concerns, for example, that the Corn Snake (which happens to be native in Florida, but is also a common house pet) is altering the normal color of outdoor native snakes. The “non-normal colored” snakes could then pose a threat to the snakes that were there in the first place. Another similar example: the red-squirrel and gray squirrel problem in the U.K.
Pets Have Few Survival Skills
Not all pets released into the wild are as lucky as the Burmese python. Most pets released into an unknown territory will starve to death. Some will get hit by cars if they make it to a highway. If they live a little while, chances are it will be a very stressful life as the pet tries to adapt and learn to fend for itself. In general, releasing any pet into the wild is a cruel and irresponsible practice.
Instead of releasing your pet into the wild, look for another pet owner or organization that is willing and able to take your pet off your hands.
More on pets:
How to Go Green: Pets
Plan Ahead to Protect Pets from Natural Disasters
Are Exotic Pets Really So Bad?
