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Show Wild Animal Pets are popular but new laws don't allow them f J J . ' ' ' ' , I i k j -j j . - - 'I f k i I ; J f . ? ; " 1 1 1 i J ' , . ; - -4 y 1 ? , 1 I . i f f ' y ' 't j ? i I .... I : -- - I r" -: 'v A : i r V. j' r F r F r X g o o Z o z o z J f V w Wiwr "Ws. r 'l ' ' I i J t: J Si I ; r I "i 1 i . ; . y j I . I y , ... . J ' fW . '-.. r r x V ' L f 1 Rueben Larsen of Bountiful talks to "Rocky" the raccoon. Rocky is well known for his communication abilities and can point out different body parts when asked to do so. Outdoor Editorial By JOHN W. CANNON BOUNTIFUL - A number of local residents enjoy raising wild animal pets. Some popular species include timberwolves, raccoons, coyotes, ferrets, alligators, snakes, etc. Earlier this year the Utah Legislature passed a law making it illegal to own or obtain most wild animals as pets. Wild animal owners were very upset and lobbied for repeal of the law. In response the Legislature added "Timber" was a timberwolfmalamute hybrid raised by the author au-thor several years ago. Timber was an intelligent and loyal pet but had to be surrendered to authorities when new laws were passed restricting their ownership. Undoubtedly she was destroyed. r x x x . ' - -s n '- ' ' .v - ' t ft $ ' fly v , . I f i & :- : 1' -- j Jo 1 w ! 1 1 i z 1 I z ' z o I ' , . ' :t i' . ; ' - -.- . . . v . I - 1 ' ' :rv ' 'V. . - 1 J ' - -i - - : - - - - . . . . , - - -' " -. - v - V v (- " ;" : $ . -- :- Sherrie Larsen waltzes into the living room with Rocky. The raccoon has a special cage in the dining room and is an integral part of the family. "He's just like one of the kids," said Larsen. "Coon" is owned by K.D. and Linda Simpson of Bountiful. Coon was very camera shy but this photo was managed while he played with a piece of ice under the bed. Coon is considered one of the family. a .. . .-j6.- .f,'"if. MimmMMM)m&',?r--7'-''-'& a grandfather clause stating that if you already owned one of the specified wild animals you could keep it. However, under this law no one else may obtain them in the future. Ryan Simpson, son of K.D. and Linda Simpson, has helped to raise "Coon" the family pet. Says Ryan, "When I grow up I'd like to be able to have my own raccoon. ' ' Many residents feel the same, however, animal control and wildlife officials feel that critters like raccoons are pests. They also contend that previously domesticated dom-esticated wild animals that are later released back into the wild cause many problems. First of all they cannot fend for themselves and secondly they no longer fear humans. Sherrie Larsen, owner of Rocky the raccoon, said "It's a real commitment com-mitment to raise a raccoon. It's as much if not more work than raising a human baby. You have to spend a lot of time with them'... it's definitely definite-ly not for everyone ... even when they're full grown it's like living with a perpetual two-year-old child. They require constant attention and supervision,' he said. No doubt wild animal pets require re-quire special attention and cause special problems but they also bring unique rewards. Many wild animals like raccoons are extremely intelligent. intel-ligent. Wild animal pets also help to instill in-still interest in wild things and respect for their environment. Many prominent conservationists and naturalists have felt the importance impor-tance of maintaining a good relationship rela-tionship with nature and the necessity necess-ity of allowing a certain element of the population to keep wild pets. "Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States and leader of the first great conservation movement, acquired an interest in wild things as a small boy in New York City, keeping a snake in a wash-basin, a raccoon and several rabbits in cages, and at times arriving arriv-ing home with frogs in his pockets." (George Harrison, Sports Afield, March 1985). A better law would require citizens to take a test showing that they understand the special needs of the particular wild animal that they hope to raise and then demonstrate that they have adequate facilities to care for it Upon completion of these requirements re-quirements a permit of some sort should be issued. Perhaps, a similar system to that for obtaining birds of prey. . The requirements should be thorough yet basic enough so that the average citizen willing to put forth a little effort might obtain one. Concerned citizens should contact con-tact their lawmakers. r "' ' ' ' ' f ' i -r : ... ' .... . . . , X . A- ' I S ' W ' "; ' - ' " ' i I 1 - --a - ' s '- I I ' -y ' 1 1 1 h j , ' ... . A'' s ' t X J r I o 6 vt w o Z o z z o : Z " f ' : - " . 4 .... y, . t - f - a x w 1- , I ! ! V ; ' .... - " -m T' i ,v - -s ; " xv - s - -f- i " ' ' ' - '' t I ' ; . - A v ' . . 4 h- " - - . -v "1 I x . . v. , . ; . i "Babe" the raccoon was raised by the author several years ago. During a visit to B.Y.U. Babe was eating Oreo cookies while sitting on a student's shoulder and mistook a mole for an Oreo cookie crumb and tried to bite it off. Later after teasing from friends the student reported the incident to health officials and a weeklong state wide manhunt was launched to find the j author and Babe. She was confiscated, decapitated and her brains dissected to test for rabies. P t rrrrhhrrrrjrrrrprfprrjppprp pvf f ppppf pFFppPr ft ppp-r pp' . TFFprppppTFppppHFpppHpjppppippFT pdpfpjPfpVpBppIpppjBPBpppfprp.pPpHp t F "Wiley Coyote" was brought home after the author ran over him with his Blazer. The six-month old pup was fed a jackrabbit a day for over a month before being released back into the desert. |
