America is a pet-loving nation. Most households have them, and it's understandable why pets have such a special place in our hearts. Animals, in general, are easy to love, aren't they? Our four-legged family members give us unconditional love. They don't judge us, don't argue, or talk back, and they are ready to cuddle us when we need one. Many pet owners even confess that they love their pets more than at least one of their family members or say they would rather have pets than kids. (If that's you, don't worry, we won't tell.

But if you are wondering which wild animals might be an appropriate addition to your family, you need to know that not every animal makes a good pet. The unfortunate answer to our title question about which wild animals make good pets is none of them.

Why Wild Animals Should Stay Wild

Wild animals are wild for a reason. Many creatures cannot be domesticated, and even some of the ones that can still don't have the physical anatomy or behavioral characteristics to happily adapt to a life of confinement or companionship alongside humans. They have special needs that we cannot replicate, and they often have a place and purpose in their natural environment that we deny when we try to tame them.

They can also be destructive and aggressive, act unpredictably, and many carry parasites and dangerous diseases that we are ill-equipped to treat. When we open our door and bring a wild animal into our world, we open the door to a world of trouble.

History Lessons

Of course, people have certainly tried throughout the years. It's hard to resist temptation sometimes, especially when the animal is friendly, cute, and cuddly, or our biggest weakness, a cute and cuddly baby. And yes, we concede that exceptions surprise us and defy the odds. But it is important to point out that those successes are rarities, not the norm. Indeed, history is littered with our wildlife indiscretions, and domestication epic fails, and there are lessons to be learned from those failures.

Squirrels, for example, were one of our country's most beloved pets in the 1700s. We brought them into our homes and loved them so much that we treated them like dogs and cats. Even President Harding owned a pet squirrel named Pete that used to accompany him around the White House. But little Pete was a big troublemaker, as were most of his fluffy-tailed mates, as it turned out. Squirrels are nonstop chewers with sharp teeth, claws, and so much energy that they make a total mess of our homes. They may have given us a little love, but they also bit us, scratched us, and gave us lice. About a century later, the love affair was decidedly over, and we smartly relegated squirrels to the parks and outdoor environments where they belong.

Raccoons are another wild animal charming their way into our homes with amusing antics. But raccoons are also high-energy animals with 25 million years of learned wild behavior ingrained into their DNA. Their mischief is sometimes funny, but it is also very destructive, and, like squirrels, they have an untamable bite reflex and carry numerous diseases as well. They are one of the very worst choices for a pet. So, don't sentence him to unhappiness if a masked bandit has stolen your heart. Give him his best happy life, free and outdoors.

Skunks, believe it or not, are another wild animal that people are often tempted to tame. It's a difficult endeavor to be sure, and we certainly don't have to tell you what the potential consequences of that interaction might be. And while skunks are sometimes bred and raised domestically to turn them into pets, those are not the animals you find in the wild. Skunks are also curious, mischievous, and energetic creatures with very long, sharp claws that can do a great deal of damage in our homes. Plus, you should note that having a pet skunk in New York is illegal.

A Better Way To Rescue Wildlife

There are many other creatures in our area besides those mentioned above that people attempt to tame, including possums, rats, groundhogs, and chipmunks. None of these creatures make suitable housemates. So, if you're tempted to turn a wild animal into a pet or "rescue" one, please don't. There are much better solutions and more appropriate environments for those animals than in or around your home.

We love animals, even those troublemakers, and we pride ourselves on our humane methods and effectiveness. If you have a wildlife encounter or issue, the right way to rescue is by calling a wildlife expert like Patriot Wildlife, the top-rated removal, and exclusion specialist in Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne counties. Contact us today and let us help.