Dog and cat getting you down? Longing for something truly unique, unusual or exotic? Kentucky defines exotic wildlife as species which have never naturally existed in the wild in the Commonwealth, including introduced species that have become naturalized. Let's take a look at some of the more interesting ones and find out which could be your next best friend or business venture.
In most cases, it's illegal to own or transport an exotic animal unless you have certain permits - usually granted to zoos or academic institutions - but there is a very specific list of permit-exempt animals, which don't require permits for importation, transportation or possession.
These hairy herbivores have been domesticated on the mountains of northern Peru for thousands of years. In fact, they are so domesticated that there are no known alpacas in the wild. They were, and still are, bred for their fiber - used to make blankets, sweaters, scarves, hats, ponchos, you name it. They typically eat hay and grass and are so tidy, they share a communal dung pile. The Alpaca Owners Association suggests starting with one pregnant female and one young female, which could cost upwards of $35, 000! Steep, but hard to resist that face.
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The American Bison were king of the Great Plains, once numbering in the 20-30 million, but now around 500, 000. Grazing on the native grasses and rooting in the soil with their hooves, they were the original American landscapers, shaping the prairies long ago. Today, they are domesticated for their hides and meat. To get one of these shaggy sedge grazers, you'll likely need to attend an auction and be prepared to shell out at least $1, 500 per bovine. It's recommended to start with at least two. It might be easier to simply admire the herd at LBL.
One hump or two? In Kentucky, you can own either. These even-toed ungulates, beloved in the Middle East, are no stranger to the United States - having once served in the US Army Camel Corps. Camels are typically gentle and will eat out of your hand. You can also milk a camel, which is a rare commodity but also illegal to sell in the United States. Well-bred females garner a higher price, but it may be best to start out with a less expensive calf, though you'd have to wait a while before you can ride it to work.
These crepuscular critters look like an adorable mix of squirrel and rabbit. They are native to the Andes Mountains, but have recently become listed as critically endangered in the wild due to over hunting. Ideal for night-owls, chinchillas are nocturnal, but can adapt to daytime activity. Keep a dust bin nearby because they like to bathe in it to keep their fur soft and clean.
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There are over twenty species of cockatoo, but the three most common as pets are the umbrella, Moluccan, and sulphur-crested. Cockatoos have a steep price but it's a good investment, because they can live up to 100 years. These birds are incredibly intelligent and need constant mental stimulation, so we would encourage they listen to your favorite NPR station. Yes, many cockatoo parrots mimic human speech and other household sounds - but please keep it PG.
If you've seen Ratatouille, you've probably thought about it. While they may not actually help you cook, pet rats do enjoy riding on your shoulders and napping in your lap. Domestic rats are often mistreated due to revulsion and fears regarding their wild counterparts. Pet rats rarely bite and stay clean by grooming themselves like a cat. They can also learn tricks like a dog: sit up, fetch, walk on a tightrope and jump through hoops. Now if they could only make a perfectly round pancake.
These meat-eating mustelids are native to North America and are classified as an invasive species in many parts. Mink are aggressive and bold and for that reason don't make particularly good pets. Most are domesticated for their lustrous fur. There are some particular rules in Kentucky for owning a mink: adults must be heavier than 1.15 kilograms or the fur must be distinguished from wild mink. Domestic mink tend to be much larger than their wild counterparts and ranchers have bred a range of color patterns whereas wild mink are typically black. Beware, they have anal glands like skunks.
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Let's talk yak facts: these long-haired, grunting grunniens were domesticated by Tibetan ranchers thousands of years ago. They require roughly half the amount of forage as their American cattle cousins, are very winter hardy and good at hauling heavy loads. They are currently a good investment as their ROI is very high due to yak meat, fur, milk and cheese growing in popularity worldwide. Mmm, yak cheese.
Imagine sipping tea on your back porch and a peacock fans out his beautiful feathers at you. Would you be flattered? These pretty pheasants are the national bird of India. Males are peacocks and females are peahens. They are quite loud all year long and can be stand-offish. Peafowl are fairly free-range and like to fly on top of things like the house or barn. It's recommended to buy at least three: one male and two females. If you have room for these big personalities, they'll be a lot of fun... Just hope the neighbors are okay with it.
Owning an ostrich is legal in Kentucky in adherence to special definitions. Ostriches are the largest and heaviest bird in the world and have the largest eyes of any land animal, measuring twice the size of their brain. They can run up to 40 miles per hour and one kick could be fatal. Ostriches will eat anything in sight, too, but have a very advanced immune system. A special definition in Kentucky law classifies Ratite as members of a family of birds who have no keel and cannot fly. They must be raised for the purpose of producing feathers, meat, hide, animal by-products, and breeding stock. They must be considered farm products for the purpose of financial transactions. They are to be treated as livestock and are not to be hunted. Their eggs make quite the omelet, though.
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Their brightly colored bills are unmistakable. Tame toucans are highly adaptable and trainable and will cuddle, sit on your shoulder (Arr) and love to be petted and scratched on. Despite the large bills, their bites are actually fairly weak, so they can't crunch hard. Toucans are expensive and prices very depending on the specific breed, just make sure you get one from a reputable and certified dealer and that they weren't taken from the wild. Toucans eat pellets and fruit and it is not recommended to give them Fruit Loops.
Matt Markgraf joined the team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.As a child, I considered an exotic pet to be anything that wasn't a dog or a cat. Before I was born, my dad had a pet duck named Patrick. I thought that was weird but cool.
Later, Mom and Dad bought us a couple of ducklings and I thought THAT was exotic. They caught colds and died. No more ducks.
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But we really DID have an exotic pet. When our neighbor, Mrs. Bowman, passed away, she left her spider monkey, Joe, to Mom in her will. That was a lot of fun for about 10 minutes. Joe really took to Mom and HATED everyone else. He slapped me in the face when I tried to talk to her one time. But then he bit my dad's hand and that was the end of Joe.
And that's fine. Monkeys are way too unpredictable to keep as pets, and many of them are too DANGEROUS to live in your home. And it's a moot point; Kentucky outlawed domestic ownership of monkeys several years ago. But if you DO want an exotic pet, you have options, although a good many of them are GREAT big.
I mean, it's one thing to invite your dog to sleep with you in bed, but it's quite another to do the same thing with an American bison. Yes, you can legally own one in Kentucky, but the Bison Producers of Alberta don't recommend it:
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Bison tend to make poor pets. Although they have been domesticated, they retain a lot of their wild instincts. They can be tamed but when they are frightened they usually resort to their flight or fight response in order to save their skin. They are difficult to tame to a level that I would consider a pet.
Ostriches, however, do NOT, in my humble opinion. But ostriches are not on this list. Ratites, however, ARE, and I don't understand why because they are a blanket term for creatures SUCH AS ostriches, cassowaries, and emus,
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