Social media has changed the way many people operate in today’s world. It has brought fame and wealth to some people and in recent times, wildlife animals have been getting in on the action. Unconventional pets such as raccoons and opossums are taking social media by storm as people around the world are fascinated by their online shenanigans. Raccoon removal experts in areas like Pickering are accustomed to receiving calls about wild raccoons, but they also need to be aware of domesticated ones as well, especially in order to be able to distinguish between the two.

Unconventional Pets & Verminfluencers : A Growing Trend

A movement of sorts has started, birthed by the affinity of a few people for unusual pets. These unconventional pet owners have been posting cute moments with their pets on social media platforms. Their owners, to doubt reap financial and other rewards from sharing some of their pets’ lives with the world.

Images and videos of (somewhat) domesticated squirrels, raccoons, and skunks among others have been taking social media by storm. These vermin have such a huge online presence that they are being referred to as Verminfluencers. People can’t seem to resist clicking on images and videos to see these darlings in action. Leading the revolution of cute wildlife online is Pumpkin the raccoon who is currently and Instagram star, having amassed in excess of 1.5 million followers.

Five Reasons to Steer Clear of Unusual Pets

Naturally, this has spurred a craze around owning unusual pets. Many who try to adopt these animals as pets face several roadblocks though. Chief among these are the legislative barriers as well as the inherent challenges that come with making these animals your pets. In many jurisdictions, it is against the law to own wildlife animals such as skunks, squirrels, raccoons, and opossums as pets. For residents of Pickering, the Toronto Animals Bylaw applies. This legislation stipulates that animals such as cattle, raccoons, goat, sheep, pigs and others in the Artiodactyla family as well as Canidae (coyotes, foxes, etc) except dogs should not be kept domestically and most marsupials (opossums, wallabies and kangaroos). A fine of $240 is applicable for those who are found in breach.

In addition, the very nature of these animals often makes it difficult to keep them in a domestic setting. Raccoons, for example, have a natural affinity for digging and rummaging and can get into stuff around the home even after being well fed. The mess they make can be difficult and expensive to undo.

The domestication of these animals is also discouraged because it forces the animal to adopt characteristics that are against its nature. In the event that these animals are returned to the wild, they will struggle to survive. Many are foragers and domestication reduces and weakens these skills which means they may not be able to find food in the wild.

Owners of these pets will find it difficult to get expert health-related assistance when they need it. This is because very few veterinarians are trained or experienced to treat domesticated wild animals like skunks and raccoons.

Another problem owners of these animals will face is finding a sitter. Imagine having to cancel your vacation plans because no pet sitter is willing or able to sit with your raccoon. Most pet sitters are familiar and comfortable with traditional pests such as cats and dogs. They are usually hesitant when it comes to those animals that are typically considered wildlife. As an owner of an unconventional pet, you may have to restrict your vacations to those locations and accommodations that allow the inclusion of your pet.

If you’re thinking about adopting an unusual pet we strongly advise that you do some careful research so that you know exactly what you are getting into and avoid breaking the law. If you are currently experiencing issues with uninvited wildlife on your property, call in raccoon removal services in Pickering to help.