Be Very Careful With These Pets
Transcript
00:00 Mankind has braved mountains and trenches in the harshest of forest and desert conditions.
00:08 We are experts at living off the land and adjusting to our environment.
00:12 But there's a difference between embracing nature and taking in wildlife as domestic
00:16 pets.
00:17 Exotic animals, in general, cause quite the stir, and attempting to keep them as pets
00:22 is never a good idea.
00:26 Some of them endanger human lives, others simply can't survive in a home environment.
00:31 Even when raised in a home from a young age, they retain their wild instincts, making them
00:36 wildly unpredictable and challenging to manage.
00:42 Welcome back to Forever Green, where today we're going to look at 15 most dangerous
00:46 pets you should be careful with.
00:48 Let's dive in.
00:49 15.
00:57 Wolfdog Mixes
01:00 As enticing as they may be to keep as pets, you might only hear about them being kept
01:05 as pets after some kind of tragedy struck the family.
01:10 Owners are attacked, or in some cases, killed, and the wolves get a bad rep for it.
01:15 The USDA estimates 300,000 to 500,000 wolfdogs being kept as pets in America.
01:20 The most common hybrid is grey wolves crossed with Alaskan malamutes or Siberian huskies.
01:27 Dogs and wolves do share an evolutionary past, and therefore, some physical and behavioral
01:32 traits.
01:33 But wolves are inherently wild animals, shaped by evolutionary pressures of providing for
01:38 the pack, producing offspring, and competing to be the alpha.
01:42 As you might have guessed, this competitive spirit isn't limited to wolves.
01:46 It is towards anybody who presents as a leader that is keeping the wolf in captivity.
01:56 This can and has led to aggression, and some severe wounds, and in some cases, death.
02:05 14.
02:08 Crocodile Monitor
02:11 Not exactly your average house pet, but definitely a favorite of enthusiasts and collectors.
02:16 While it might sound harmless, owning a monitor is not really the same as owning a gecko or
02:22 a bearded dragon.
02:23 They can grow 8 to 12 feet, even in captivity, and they require large cages that most owners
02:29 won't provide.
02:30 And that's not even considering their bad temper.
02:33 A single bite from them can result in amputations and deep tissue wounds because of their uniquely
02:38 serrated teeth and strong jaws.
02:41 But even if they don't get a clean bite through your finger, rest assured their saliva will
02:45 do the rest of the job.
02:46 It is populated with all kinds of bacteria that can cause infections and put you in shock.
02:52 Even if you are an experienced hobbyist and collector, you're going to want to mentally,
02:56 physically, and financially prepare yourself for a croc monitor.
03:02 13.
03:04 Old World Monkeys
03:09 Native to Africa and Asia, these monkeys can be found in environments ranging from tropical
03:14 rainforests to mountain regions.
03:17 Many of them are located in Europe too, but it's unknown whether they are native to the
03:20 continent or were brought by humans.
03:23 They are adorable and sometimes act like human babies, and we don't blame you if you want
03:27 to spend your whole day just cuddling them.
03:30 But it's not all fun and games.
03:32 All large monkeys have canines that can inflict serious injury, and they're pretty unpredictable,
03:38 throwing tantrums out of nowhere.
03:40 Obviously, the severity of the damage they cause depends on the monkey's size, with small
03:45 marmosets not capable of inflicting large wounds.
03:49 But Old World monkeys also carry some diseases that can be a serious threat to humans.
03:55 They have a high likeliness for carrying the herpes B virus, which has a 70-80% mortality
04:00 rate in humans.
04:02 Old World monkeys are also quite vulnerable to tuberculosis, and you'll have to conduct
04:07 frequent tests to keep them safe.
04:09 Once again, this is a responsibility you have to prepare for both physically and financially.
04:18 Number 12.
04:19 Owls
04:23 It may have looked like fun in Harry Potter, but it's completely illegal to keep them as
04:27 pets in the United States.
04:30 Even if a few private owners take the chance, it takes an incredible amount of care to keep
04:35 an owl, given its nocturnal noise and its tendency to destroy things in a confined home.
04:41 Even most veterinarians don't have adequate training to handle and care for owls.
04:46 These guys are predators through and through, using their beaks and sharp talons to tear
04:50 into their prey and attack threats, even if that includes humans and human children.
04:56 If an owl doesn't like what you're doing, which is usually petting or cuddling, then
05:00 they will absolutely let you know, and you might wind up bleeding as a result.
05:05 And if you're not prepared to keep rats, gophers, mice and rabbits in your freezer to thaw out
05:10 later and dice up for your adorable fluffy pet, then maybe rethink wanting an owl.
05:20 Number 11.
05:21 Kinkajou
05:22 They are the lesser-known distant cousins of lemurs, so we don't blame you if you've
05:29 never heard of them.
05:31 Kinkajous are rainforest mammals native to Central and South America.
05:36 They reach only about 7 pounds in weight and make adorable little pets.
05:41 But they have incredibly sharp teeth and high energy levels, and on top of that, they are
05:46 nocturnal creatures, and you better not try to wake them during the day.
05:50 They emit a high-pitched scream and attack by clawing and biting their owners, and even
05:54 at night, they can be pretty aggressive.
06:00 But it's not just about the danger to humans.
06:03 Keeping a kinkajou captive isn't good for the kinkajou either.
06:06 Replicating their forest environment is not easy, and unknown surroundings can increase
06:10 their risk of disease and ruin their quality of life.
06:14 But even if you manage to fix that problem, they have quite a long lifespan.
06:19 So this is a commitment you have to keep for the next 20 years.
06:23 Are you up to it?
06:27 Number 10 - Large Cats
06:32 Kind of a no-brainer here.
06:34 Here's a scary statistic.
06:38 More tigers are in private hands in America today than out in the wild.
06:42 But that doesn't mean doing this is a good idea.
06:46 Big cats typically grow 8 to 12 feet in length and can weigh up to 600 pounds, with 4-inch
06:52 long claws.
06:54 Not exactly something you want roaming around in your backyard.
06:57 You're basically asking to get eaten at some point.
07:03 Though their cubs are undoubtedly cute and cuddly, they are still wild animals that grow
07:07 up to behave unpredictably and sometimes dangerously.
07:12 In fact, keeping any large cats, lions, cougars, and leopards is a serious risk.
07:19 Not only can they hurt people, but being held in captivity is bad for their health.
07:23 A confined space does not give them the exercise they need and it dulls them.
07:30 Almost all individual owners lack resources for the proper housing, feeding, and medical
07:34 care, and many are shocked by the high price tag associated with their care.
07:40 Tigers are listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List, with the global population
07:45 standing at only around 3,948 mature individuals.
07:50 They have declined primarily due to habitat destruction and poaching.
07:55 So maybe we'll leave this one be.
07:59 Before we move on, here's a quick challenge for you.
08:02 If you can leave a like on this video, smash that subscribe button, and turn on the notifications
08:07 in less than 5 seconds, you will have 10 years of amazing luck.
08:11 Hurry up and try it, it actually works!
08:16 Number 9.
08:17 Venomous Snakes
08:18 Yeah, you're probably thinking, "Who is keeping those, except for zoos?"
08:26 Well, a surprising number of private collections feature large, exotic, and sometimes beautiful
08:32 snakes.
08:33 But even the least deadly venomous snake, the copperhead, can cause serious injuries
08:37 with a single bite.
08:40 Unfortunately, access to buying these snakes is unrestricted, which means many inexperienced
08:45 individuals can get their hands on these animals that require a lot of care and effort.
08:51 Eventually, when they cannot handle the snake, they either give it away to a shelter or let
08:57 it loose in the wild, where it disrupts the area's ecosystem and causes the local wildlife
09:03 harm.
09:05 So unless you are highly experienced and know what you're doing, maybe stick with the
09:09 less threatening version of these guys.
09:15 Number 8.
09:16 Bears
09:17 Yes, they are extremely cuddly and intelligent animals, and they remind us of teddy bears.
09:26 But they also weigh over 1,500 pounds and have claws 2 to 4 inches long.
09:33 And while their cubs are adorable too, they don't stay small for long.
09:37 In a matter of a few years, they'll be towering over you and would be able to knock you over,
09:42 and that's the best case scenario.
09:46 Bears are omnivores and opportunistic by nature.
09:49 They have impressive strength and a taste for meat like a big cat.
09:54 They also sometimes approach humans by breaking into their homes.
09:58 And on the off chance that your pet bear manages to escape, it poses a threat to your neighbors
10:03 too.
10:06 The bear species most commonly kept as pets are black bears, and this species is also
10:10 responsible for the most fatal attacks on humans, both wild and captive.
10:18 Number 7.
10:20 Cody
10:24 The Cody is a member of the raccoon family, native to South America.
10:29 They are only between 13 and 27 inches long.
10:32 But you're going to need a pretty big enclosure for them to roam about in.
10:38 These omnivores can be extremely active and difficult to train.
10:42 They require constant mental stimulation too, so you could consider this a full-time job.
10:48 They combine the personalities of a raccoon, a dog, and a monkey all in one.
10:54 They can make for good pets, but not for those who expect it will be like keeping a dog or
10:58 a cat.
11:00 Some say having a Cody is like having a 2-year-old baby that never grows up.
11:05 Prepare to have your most beloved possessions torn apart and expect a few nasty bites if
11:09 you try to tame or train this little guy.
11:16 Number 6.
11:19 Bats
11:21 In the US and some other parts of the world, it's illegal to keep bats as pets.
11:26 And with good reason.
11:27 They carry rabies and SARS.
11:29 They have sharp teeth and they fly around all night.
11:34 That's not to say they aren't cute.
11:36 Bats are definitely adorable and they are capable of affection and empathy.
11:40 They have pretty sophisticated brains.
11:43 All that said though, leaving them in the wild is best.
11:47 They need to fly and while they could adapt to humans, it's not good for them in the long
11:50 run.
11:51 They are not actually domesticated animals, so they don't have the temper of a house
11:56 cat or a pet dog.
12:00 They can bite when upset or excited.
12:02 If they do so, they should be either quarantined or exterminated, which wouldn't be pleasant
12:06 for you as the owner or for them.
12:10 But if you still want one, know that their requirements are met easier in the wild and
12:14 you might have a tough time fulfilling them.
12:18 Bats can live over 30 years and hibernate for months in colder climates.
12:22 Their diet consists of insects, fruit and blood at night, which is difficult to provide
12:27 if they are in captivity.
12:32 Number 5 - Foxes
12:37 With the exception of maybe the fennec fox, most foxes are not easy to keep in the house.
12:43 Red foxes can be tamed but never fully trusted.
12:46 And you can be sure they will bite at the tiniest hint of a threat.
12:52 They can also be pretty destructive and they are naturally curious, so they chew and dig
12:57 around a lot.
12:59 And if you think that's bad, well it gets worse.
13:04 Foxes also have a musky odor that is nearly intolerable.
13:08 And you'll soon find it everywhere because they tend to scent mark all over what they
13:12 might consider their territory.
13:18 Number 4 - Chimpanzees
13:23 Chimps have pretty complex cognition compared to most other animals on this list, which
13:27 sounds great.
13:29 But it also means you can't figure out what's going on in their minds and how they'll
13:34 react.
13:35 If they manage to escape, it's hard to guess how they'd respond to a stranger on the
13:39 street, which poses a real threat to those who are not trained to handle these apes.
13:44 They attack by biting off body parts, noses and fingers.
13:51 And they will often play with people while not allowing them to leave.
13:55 So while all the victims have survived, the damage was extensive.
14:03 Number 3 - Constrictor snakes
14:08 Different from venomous snakes, these guys don't have a poison that can kill you.
14:13 Instead, they have another tactic that can prove fatal.
14:17 The problem with keeping a giant snake is that they are excellent escape artists.
14:22 Should a large snake find a way out of their enclosure and into the space of its owner
14:26 that didn't take good care of them?
14:29 They wrap themselves around the victim so tightly, they induce a heart attack.
14:33 Again, not exactly ideal.
14:38 It is now time to check out today's subscriber pick.
14:41 Remember, if you ever come across some bizarre or fascinating image, you can send it to us
14:46 and we'll investigate.
14:47 Today's picture is of a young girl and quite a big dog.
14:51 It seems she got some severe wounds on her face too.
14:54 Thanks for sending this in.
14:56 We did a little digging and here's what we found.
14:59 Check out our number 2 spot.
15:01 German Shepherd
15:06 These dogs usually make for excellent pets if raised well.
15:11 If poorly raised, they can be high strung, nervous and badly behaved.
15:17 We don't know if that was the case here, but when 17-year-old Lara Sanson was taking photos
15:21 with her friend's dog, the dog whipped around and bit her face.
15:25 She ended up with 40 stitches on her face.
15:29 These dogs are known to be extremely wary of strangers, and they're good guard dogs
15:32 for the same reason.
15:35 But if you're planning on having friends over, you might want to get the dog used to them
15:39 before you start snapping pictures.
15:43 Number 1.
15:44 Turtles
15:45 Didn't see that coming, did you?
15:51 You're probably wondering, what's wrong with turtles?
15:54 Well, though these slow-moving creatures seem like they'd be easy to care for, many of them
16:00 have Salmonella, which is particularly dangerous to young children, the elderly and anyone
16:05 with a compromised immune system.
16:08 They carry the germs in their droppings, and they can quickly spread to their tank water
16:12 and habitats.
16:14 You could get sick by touching a turtle or anything in the place they live.
16:18 While it's not the absolute worst disease to get from an animal, given how incredibly
16:23 popular turtles are as pets, it's an all-too-common danger.
16:27 And that's it for today.
16:30 If you enjoyed this video, don't forget to hit the like button and check out more videos
16:33 on nature and animals on the 4Evergreen channel.
16:36 We'll be back soon with another video, but until then, thanks for watching and we'll
16:40 see you next time.
16:45 Bye!
16:59 you