Wild and Exotic Pets

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I have had several wild animal pets that dramatically affected my life and expanded my understanding of life, the world and existence, in profound and inspirational ways. In general, I don’t endorse or support the keeping of wild animals as pets by most people. However, I do feel that more people, under certain circumstances, should be allowed to keep various types of wild animals. In this modern world, humans have moved further and further away from the natural world and have had less and less contact with other species. As a culture, we no longer know, respect or have sympathetic feelings for other species. Consequently, we don’t take our environmental health seriously and don’t protect other species from abuse, loss of habitat and extinction. Intimate contact with another species changes your perspectives and increases your awareness in a way that nothing else ever can.

I talk about my octopus, Doheny, on the Aquariums, Fish and Other Aquatic Animals page. I talk about my crows, Smudge and Iktomi, my emu, Aussie, and a barn owl, Sweetheart, on the Birds page. Here, I talk about my raccoon, Miriah.

My Raccoon, Miriah

I acquired Miriah as a kit (baby), only a few weeks old. I became her parent and bonded with her over several more weeks of bottle feeding. She was with me all the time, traveling in a special pouch I carried around my neck, in front, sort of like those dad baby carriers. A cute, sweetly chittering little baby raccoon around your neck is the ultimate conversation starter/babe magnet (or, in my case, dude magnet). She slept with me in my bed, in a little towel nest beside my head. She never really slept through the night (raccoons are up and down all day and night). But, because of my sleep schedule, she became a little more diurnal than nocturnal, an instance of levels of potential. When she’d wake up and wasn’t sure if I was there, or if she was hungry, she’d cry, sounding very much like a slightly high-pitched human baby. When I bottle fed her, she’d purr, like a cat. Even after she became a “teenager”, eating solid food, she’d still suck on my finger and purr.

As she grew, she explored more and more. I’d often wake up to her probing around with those human-like hands, pulling up my lips to feel my teeth, my eyelids to look into my eyes, sticking her fingers into my nostrils and ears. Raccoon hands are amazing. They’re almost as dexterous as human hands. The palms and finger pads are exceptionally soft and sensitive. I loved the feeling of her soft, smooth little toe pads on my skin. The claws are sharp, but Miriah was very aware of her physical attributes, and was always very careful not to scratch me. At about ten weeks, she decided she didn’t like the nest anymore and started sleeping on my chest. She spread herself out on me, with an ear against my chest, and pressed her hands against my chest, sometimes massaging almost as a cat might do. I’m sure she was comforted by my breathing and heartbeat. She would lie this way, making quiet little chittering sounds, before falling asleep. At all ages, she made the classic raccoon chitter much of the time, just to keep in contact with me and make sure everything was OK. But if I was out of sight somewhere, in another part of the house, and she couldn’t find me, or if she was scared or upset, the chittering became loud chattering, calling for me. When I came back, she’d jump on my leg and hold on, chittering happily again.

I heard the raccoon growl a few times, when we were outside, walking or playing, and a strange cat, dog or even man would suddenly appear, startling her. Then she’d stand high on her legs, arch her back and puff up the fur over her entire body and tail, while growling loudly. It was amazing how ferocious and formidable she looked and sounded. As soon as the intruder had retreated, she’d run over to me, climb up my leg and into my arms to be cuddled and reassured. The only raccoon sound I never really heard her make was the so-called bark. Wild raccoons use this to find each other in the woods, etc. But she had no use for it with me – another example of levels of potential modified behavior.

Miriah had a lot of toys to play with, plus the cat and dog, so she could entertain herself for periods of time. That allowed me to get some work done. But I did have to spend a lot of hours playing with her. She liked to chase items, just like a dog, and try to catch “things on a string”, like a cat. She liked to rassle with me, the dog and cat. She was always aware and careful, just like the dog and cat were, not to bite too hard or do anything else that might hurt me or the other animals. She loved the water. I’d toss certain kinds of food items onto the swimming pool steps for her to fish out. One of her favorite food items was shellfish – clams, mussels and oysters. She had learned how to whack the shells on the pool deck to crack them open. They were just one of a wide array of treats she got all the time. Being an omnivore, she liked most of the foods that I liked, so that was easy for me. Of course, she also had her special chow mixture I made up, with the appropriate amounts of protein, carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals. Specialty chows made for exotic animals are always too expensive, so I research the nutritional needs of my animals and make my own, using mixtures of commonly available feeds. Miriah would climb up into a big elm tree in the front yard and tease me by refusing to come down. That is, until I would wave at her and say, “OK, bye, Miriah, I’m going in now,” and open the front door. Then she’d chitter loudly, scurry down the tree and run past me through the door.

After Miriah grew too big for the pouch, she rode on my shoulder. Outdoors, she usually ran along beside me, but she also loved to jump onto my leg, hold on, and just ride. At that point, she weighed over twenty pounds. I had to learn how to walk with one light leg and one raccoon-heavy leg. It wasn’t until then that I understood what Grandpa had selflessly put up with, when, as a little kid, I rode his leg.

Miriah was incredibly clever. She knew where all the treats were kept, and she could easily get into any drawer, cupboard, the refrigerator, etc. No matter what kind of latch I put on, she’d defeat it, until I finally started using locking latches. It was a constant challenge to find new brain-teaser toys and contraptions for her to figure out, usually for favorite treat rewards. If she didn’t have something better to do, she’d steal and hide my personal items. She’d watch me looking for them and, when I started to get close, she’d sit up on her haunches and chitter loudly, as if she was saying, “You’re getting warmer!” What is it with crows and raccoons and thievery? Miriah was just a constant source of fun, challenging work and revelation. I was just barely smart enough to stay ahead of her.

When she was about two years old, I began to feel like maybe Miriah should meet some other raccoons. And serendipitously enough, I came upon an ad, in the local pick-up publication, for “racoon stud service”! I called the number, mostly just to see what other kind of nut like me with a raccoon was out there. We agreed to have our raccoons meet. I drove Mariah, in my rickety little blue Volkswagen bug, to this last-century house out in the orange groves, where I met a cool couple with an impressive-looking, maybe 30+ pound, male raccoon named Mo. I won’t go into all the funny details of the two days spent introducing and gradually getting Miriah and Mo comfortable with each other, but it was wonderful to watch. Miriah had just come into estrus, so Mo was definitely enchanted by her. Once I decided it was safe, I left Miriah with Mo in his enclosure for a nice honeymoon. Miriah wasn’t especially happy about that. I could tell she liked Mo, but when she saw I was leaving, she climbed up on the enclosure wire and chattered loudly at me as I drove away. It sorta broke my heart, but I knew she’d get over it. I went back every day to see how they were doing, and Miriah would rush to the enclosure door to meet me. I saw them mate once, and my friends said they had mated several times. After about three days, Miriah and I said goodbye and drove home.

After around two months of watching Miriah get fatter and fatter, she began to spend most of the day in this comfortable box I had fixed up for her behind the chair in my bedroom, looking anxious. That evening, she gave birth to four perfect, cute little kits, two males and two females. My friends and I got to go through the joyous experience of watching baby raccoons grow up all over again, but this time, Miriah did all the feeding and general motherhood chores. We just got to cuddle the little guys. Several friends had been clamoring for the babies ever since they became aware that Miriah was pregnant, so in a few weeks, when we were sure they were doing OK and we were ready to let them go, they went fast.

Miriah was still very clingy with me, even when we were visiting Mo. But I could tell that she liked him a lot, and he fawned over her. One afternoon, over beers and grilled burgers, my friends and I discovered that we had each been musing about doing a Joy Adamson-style “born free” thing, returning our raccoons to the wild, even though they were born in captivity and life with humans had been all they ever knew. Even back then, I had developed my concept of levels of potential, and I believed that we could help them to adapt to life in the wild, especially if they took on the challenge together. So we worked out our born free plan.

Nearby, there was a beautiful foothill canyon, with a permanently flowing large stream, that led through the local foothills, up into the mountains of a National Forest. There were alders, pines, willows and other trees, along with lush vegetation of numerous species. There were many large trees, snags (dead standing trees, many with roomy holes), and other cover. There were lots of natural food opportunities for raccoons. There were wild grapes, hollyleaf cherries, wild raspberries, toyon berries, California elderberries, and other plant foods. There were tree frogs, toads, salamanders, lizards, snakes, field mice, minnows, tadpoles, all sorts of insects and grubs, and other prey. It was basically raccoon paradise; we just had to teach Miriah and Mo how to use it.

So we started taking them on “field trips” up to the canyon. They loved those trips. Over the course of a month or so, we increased the number of days per week and the number of hours per day, until by the end of the month, we were spending most of every day in the canyon. We showed the raccoons all of the vegetative foods and how to find and catch different kinds of prey. It didn’t take them long to be able to do it all on their own. At first, they stuck pretty close to us. Miriah, as always, was especially attached to me. But we would gradually put more space between us and them for periods of time every day. Eventually, they didn’t seem to need to keep running back to us. Toward the end, they were liking it so much in the canyon that they didn’t want to go home, and we had to coax them with their favorite yummies, which we hadn’t been giving them anymore at home, to make them hungry enough to hunt food in the canyon.

The one thing we were a little worried about was their ability to avoid predators. But we had each had experiences with our raccoons and strange animals and people, and they had always reacted appropriately with fear/aggression. But would they be able to sense and avoid predators in the wild? Just fortuitously, one day in the canyon, as we were sitting on the rocks, drinking beer, while the raccoons were hunting, maybe a hundred yards away, we saw them suddenly stand up on their hind legs and look off to the other side of the stream. They suddenly took off and climbed up into a large tree. We didn’t see or hear anything. A minute or two later, a guy walking a huge Great Dane type dog emerged from the other side of the trees across the stream. The raccoons had detected him, recognized him as a threat and acted appropriately. So our concerns were pretty much allayed.

I knew raccoons in the wild don’t have expected lifespans as long as those in captivity, but ours would be heading off into nature, fat and happy, well-armed with vaccinations against any disease that could threaten a raccoon, and in the best of health. So I was pretty confident they would live to produce many more litters of kits.

Toward the end, there came a period of a few days when the raccoons mostly ignored us. Miriah would come up to me a few times during the day, just to give me a little lick, before heading back to Mo. Finally the day came when the raccoons refused to go home. Mo actually growled at my friends. Miriah gave me one last lick and hug of my leg before following Mo off into the trees. As we hiked back to the car, knowing that we had seen them for the last time, the wife and I were holding each other and crying. The husband just rolled his eyes, shook his head and walked ahead.

So, that was my 3 1/2-year relationship with my amazing raccoon, Miriah. It was definitely one of the best, most memorable and unique I ever had.

A Little About Possums and Skunks

At one time, for just about a year, I had two pet possums, Tweedledee and Tweedledum. I got them in what is, I think, the usual tragic way people get pet possums. Their mother was killed by a car, and they were left clinging to her lifeless body, where I found and rescued them. They were so little and cute. I raised them up to adulthood and they were great pets. They were affectionate and fun. They weren’t exactly playful, in the way that dogs, cats, ferrets and raccoons are, but they were interactive in their own sort of slow-motion way and needed mental stimulation, just like everybody else.

They were the easiest-to-care-for pets I have ever had. They made no demands, didn’t steal my personal items like some of the more “intelligent” pets I’ve had (Iktomi and Miriah, I’m talking to you), didn’t need a cage, learned to eliminate in a big litter box, were happy to just sleep anywhere when I was working, didn’t need to be walked or exercised and had simple dietary needs – they were happy to eat any old dog and/or cat food, as well as anything and everything I was eating. And, when they were ready, they just left the house, to live in the neighborhood. I left food out for them each evening. I saw them all the time, for about the next four or five years, which, as I understand it, is a decent lifespan for possums.

I hate that people are so derogatory and disrespectful regarding possums. They’re adaptable, flexible survivors and as clever as they need to be. Their presence throughout much of the country is proof of that. All they need are trees for cover and safety. And I hate people who, if they hit an animal while driving, just head on, without checking to see if there is any possibility of rescue, or at least calling animal control or someone else to come out and check. It’s such a simple and basic, respectful thing to do. Are you really so f***ing important and busy that you can’t spare a few minutes where a life is involved? I’ve never seen a possum in the Palm Springs area. The desert isn’t really their kind of habitat. I suppose if they could get out here, there are enough human-modified habitats, with trees and natural food items, to sustain them. Anyway, if you have a possum and need care for it while you’re away, just let me know.

I’ve never had a skunk, but I’ve known people who have. Skunk lovers swear that they’re fabulous pets. I have no reason to doubt that – from what I’ve seen watching the interaction between skunks and their owners, that does indeed seem to be the case. I don’t know a lot about skunks, but I feel perfectly qualified to provide care for yours if needed, with your explicit instructions.

Services to Wild and Exotic Pets

I know it can be a source of stress and aggravation to try to find someone qualified to provide care and attention to your pet(s) when you need to be away from home for an extended period. This is especially true for owners of exotic, wild or otherwise unusual animals. So, I try to offer care service for every pet I can. I’m able to provide service for some wild and exotic pets, but not all.

Let me begin by briefly summarizing my views and policies regarding wild and exotic pets. I’m not making any judgements about anyone or trying to tell any pet owner what they should or shouldn’t do. My intent is simply to let people know what I can and can’t do for them and why. My personal views on the keeping of wild and exotic animals are based on extensive study and experience. They take into account specific circumstances and considerations.

There are certain animals that are prohibited or restricted from being kept as pets in California. These restrictions are based on considerations such as any danger to humans posed by the species, any danger to native species, any danger to agricultural interests, or the endangered status of the species. Some of these policies are strict, some are apparently more flexible, and some are rather vague. These policies are usually based on legitimate research and facts, and any reasonable person should support them. Occasionally, a policy may be based on misinformation and unsubstantiated assumptions, as is the case with the prohibition on keeping ferrets. But, in general, these policies are valid, and I support them. I try not to do anything that that would facilitate their violation. I am neither a law enforcement official nor a tattletale, so if you own a prohibited species, I’m not going to judge you or tell on you. But, depending on the species and the unique situation, I may or may not be able to provide services to you. If you wish to know if I can provide services for your particular pet species, please feel free to contact me.

Lists of some species for which I can and cannot provide services are provided below. These lists only present some examples and are not necessarily complete.

These are some of the species for which I can provide services:

Chinchillas

Exotic Birds (Hookbills, Mynahs, Toucans, Crows, Ravens, Canaries, Finches, etc.)

Possums (endo- and ectoparasite-free)

Raccoons (vaccinated for canine and feline distemper, parvovirus, canine hepatitis and rabies, and parasite-free)

Ratites (Emus, Ostriches, Rheas, etc.)

Skunks (descented, vaccinated for canine distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus and rabies, and parasite-free)

Sorry, but these are some of the species for which I cannot provide services:

Gerbils

Monkeys

Prairie Dogs

Raptors (Birds of Prey)

Venomous snakes or Other Venomous Animals (Invertebrates excepted)

Very Large Constrictor Snakes (Over about 8-10 feet or about 100 pounds)

Wild/Large Cat Species

Wolves or 1st-generation Wolf Hybrids