Information Possibly Outdated
The information presented on this page was originally released on January 6, 1997. It may not be outdated, but please search our site for more current information. If you plan to quote or reference this information in a publication, please check with the Extension specialist or author before proceeding.
Wild Animals Make Risky, Illegal Pets
By Allison Powe
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Wildlife, especially young animals, may be cute, but capturing and trying to tame Mississippi wildlife is against the law and against nature.
In October 1988, Public Notice 2887 made keeping any wild game or furbearing animal illegal, said Randall Miller, chief of law enforcement at the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
The consequences of breaking a law may prevent some people from becoming attached to a wild animal; however, the law can be hard for officials to enforce.
Dean Stewart, extension wildlife specialist at Mississippi State University, said other than the risk of getting caught, there are plenty of reasons not to keep wild animals for pets.
"People commonly see young animals, such as a fawn, in the woods and think they have been abandoned by their parents. But 99 percent of the time the mother is nearby and will return to it," Stewart said. "It's best to leave young animals alone."
The potential spread of diseases is a significant problem when humans decide to interact with wild animals. Not only are people susceptible to many diseases wild animals may carry, but domestic pets are vulnerable also.
"Many small mammals, such as skunks, squirrels, foxes and raccoons could have dangerous diseases such as rabies. Raccoons are also a common carrier of parvovirus, which is fatal to dogs," Stewart said.
"As pets, wild animals are likely to become stressed easily, which can cause them to develop diseases they may not have gotten if they were in their natural environment," Stewart said.
Another concern about wild animals is the external parasites they often carry. Stewart recommended wearing latex gloves when handling any wild animal.
Under no circumstances should someone with a weakened immune system ever be exposed to a wild animal.
"Pets and raccoons are susceptible to many of the same diseases," said Dr. Richard Hopper, extension leader of veterinary medicine at MSU. "Since there are no licensed vaccinations for wild animals to prevent rabies, it's best not to keep wild animals around. If they bite a person or pet there would be no choice other than to destroy the wild animal."
Dr. Skip Jack, associate professor of veterinary pathology at MSU, said although rabies is not very common, it is a disaster disease and will kill anything that contracts it.
"The best way to treat any disease is to avoid it," Jack said.
Jack said there are a handful of diseases which can be spread from wild animals to domestic pets, and vice versa. Diseases domestic pets are vaccinated for, such as canine distemper, can be caught easily by a wild animal.
"One of the biggest problems with trying to keep wild animals captive is the fact that normal care and management needs of the animals are beyond the scope of most people," Hopper said.
"Not only do most people not have the resources to meet the dietary needs of these wild animals, but the animals also can become aggressive and difficult to handle," he said.
Hopper said wild animals often become destructive in a house setting because of their inability to cope with such a different lifestyle.
"From a behavioral standpoint, they are wild and they will always be wild. Their behaviors just aren't compatible with being a domestic pet," Hopper said.
To report any information or ask questions about a wildlife animal, contact the district office for the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks or contact your local conservation officer.