OTTERS FOR SALE IN FLORIDA

 Otters naturally live in family groups, so need a lot of entertainment and socializing if they’re to make good pets. Keeping otters means creating a suitable space for them and providing them with enough enrichment that can remain as active as they are in the wild.

 Otters make all kinds of noises to communicate, including high-pitched squeaks, growls, and chirps. Sadly, they also scream and whistle at the top of their voices.

 Studies show that North American Otters can produce vocalizations well over 70 decibels which would be considered disturbing in an urban environment (it’s about as loud as your vacuum cleaner).

 To say that otters have a distinctive smell is putting it mildly. To be more precise, they stink! Otters have scent glands all over their bodies and like to rub themselves on things to scent mark their surroundings. Although some scientists describe this as “smelling like violets,” most pet otter owners say it’s rather more fishy than flowery!

 Otters also have strong-smelling feces, which in their natural environment, they use to communicate with one another. In captivity, it’s simply smelly and rather unpleasant.

 An otter experiencing stress or anxiety can become extremely aggressive, attacking its owners and biting other animals. These bites are deep and painful and require immediate treatment to reduce the risk of bacterial infection.

 I share my home environment with four dogs, so I’m used to some mess, but it’s nothing compared to an otter! At least my dogs don’t poop in the house or smear their feces on my furniture.

 I’m not trying to make otters out to be the bad guys – they’re not; they’re just not suited to a domesticated environment.

 It’s not only the otter’s natural behavior that makes it unsuitable as a pet. There are lots of different factors to be considered, including:

 The Asian small-clawed otter appears to be gaining traction among those interested in owning exotic pets, but it’s not doing the wild population any good.

 Those supplying these exotic animals often kill the adults so they can capture the cubs and sell them into captivity. Many of these animals suffer from stress, dehydration, and disease and die long before they reach their destination.

 Owning a pet otter is illegal in many countries, including the UK, Japan, and most of the US. We’ll look at the state-to-state legality in more detail in a later section, but for now, it’s enough to recognize that owning a pet otter could earn you a fine of up to ￡5,000 – the equivalent of just over $6,000.

 River otters like the Asian small-clawed otter have huge home ranges in the wild, utilizing up to 20km of riverine habitat. This is impossible to replicate in a home environment, making it difficult for most to provide adequate housing. An enclosure suitable for a medium-sized dog is nowhere near big enough for an otter.

 Not only do otters need large enclosures, but they must also have access to plenty of fresh water. An otter pool needs to be deep enough that the animal can dive and swim as it would in the wild. A children’s paddling pool isn’t going to cut the mustard, even if you’ve only got a small-clawed otter the size of a toy terrier!

 To buy yourself a pet otter, you need about $3,000 to $5,000, and that’s only the start of your expenses.

 Otters eat around 20% of their body weight daily, and they won’t be happy just eating the same run-of-the-mill cat food you buy for your kitten. No, otters need a specialized diet comprised of live crayfish and low-pH cat food.

 And that’s just for starters. They also need regular veterinary check-ups and injections to keep them healthy and free of disease.

 You’ll also need to buy toys, replace them when they get damaged, and provide heating in their enclosure if the ambient temperature drops below 75℉.

 Sea otters are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, making owning one illegal throughout the country. The same rules don’t apply to river otters, so it may be legal to own an Asian small-clawed otter in some states.

Otters For Sale In Florida

 The following states may allow you to own a pet otter, providing you have the relevant license or permit:

 You should contact a state wildlife official to confirm before shelling out thousands of dollars on a pet otter.

 Every state has some regulations controlling the ownership of exotic animals, but these are often unclear, making them open to interpretation.

 Most are designed to stop people from keeping potentially dangerous animals but don’t necessarily specify when it comes to smaller creatures like otters.

 This is why you should always contact the relevant authorities before buying a legal exotic pet.

 It’s the smallest of the world’s otter species, measuring just two feet in length (including its tail).

 Asian small-clawed otters have such short claws that they’re barely visible beyond their digital pads

 Asian small-clawed otters have such short claws that they’re barely visible beyond their digital pads

 Small-clawed otters are extremely vocal and have over 12 different noises that use to communicate. These include squeaks, growls, and shrieks.

 The Asian small-clawed otter uses its forepaws to capture food, rather than its mouth, digging in the sand for mussels and other crustaceans.

 We already mentioned that pet otters need a large enclosure, access to water, plenty of mental stimulation, and a specialized diet.

 A pet otter needs a large enclosure that includes a pool big enough for it to dive and swim. As otters are talented climbers and excellent diggers, it needs to be almost as secure as Fort Knox.

 To keep your pet otter safe, you need to give it enough caged space so it can exercise and forage while preventing it from escaping.

 A suitable enclosure for an otter is around 60 square meters, with fences that extend a couple of feet below ground and a secure roof on top to stop them from climbing out.

 Otters are intelligent, active creatures that need mental as well as physical stimulation. Treat dispensing like those you buy for dogs will help keep your otter’s mind engaged and encourage him to replicate the foraging behaviors he’d exhibit in the wild.

 Pet otters also enjoy playing fetch and will happily retrieve frisbees and pretty much anything else that floats.

 Like most wild animals, otters can carry infectious diseases that they could transmit to your other animals or, worse still, to you and your family.