by Tina Kelly –
Good intentions of well-meaning pet owners can sometimes backfire for the animal and the environment. Whether you’ve grown tired of pet ownership or have a desire to give your pet freedom, releasing a non-native animal into the environment spells bad news. Adaptations of certain exotic pets means they won’t survive in our environment, but what if they do survive, thrive and are able to reproduce?
The Invasive Species Council of British Columbia’s (ISCBC) “Don’t Let it Loose” campaign aims to educate the public on the environmental impact of letting aquatic plants, invertebrates, reptiles and fish loose. Our Salish Sea watershed is affected by the red-eared slider – a common pet turtle. Purchased when loonie-size, this species grows to reach the size of a dinner plate and can live for 40 years – often too long for pet owners. Red-eared sliders can lay more than 80 eggs a year, significantly affecting the native western painted turtle population. The invasive red-eared slider forages on the same food as the western painted turtle. Competition for food and other resources is a concern for conservation biologists as is the opportunity to spread disease.
Another invader indirectly introduced to our freshwater habitats is the American bullfrog. Escapees from farms – where they were raised for their meaty, tasty legs – have reeked havoc on our local ecosystem. These large frogs are voracious eaters, eating anything that fits in their mouth: native frogs, salamanders, snakes, small mammals and ducklings.
“Lack of awareness and incorrect depictions of pet releases, as those seen in Finding Nemo, are contributing factors to this problem and bullfrog tadpoles can be tempting to catch and raise as pets but when no longer wanted, are being released into a different pond or wetland, helping the invaders spread,” says Sue Staniforth, ISCBC’s Education and Outreach Coordinator. Simply put: invasive and introduced species disrupt the natural balance of an ecosystem and damage native species populations.
- What to do instead of releasing unwanted aquatic pets and plants?
- Contact the place where you purchased the animal to see if they will take it back.
- Contact local science centres, zoos or aquariums* to see if they can use the animal for educational purposes.
- Report sightings to your Regional Invasive Species Committee.
- If all else fails, have a qualified veterinarian euthanize the animal in a humane manner; it’s far kinder than letting it starve to death in the wild or destroy the homes of native animals and plants.
For more information visit www.bcinvasives.ca.
*Note: the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea does not currently host fresh water ecosystems and cannot accept unwanted freshwater – or tropical saltwater – pets.
