Exotic Pets Run Wild in Florida
I am a 4th grade teacher in Albuquerque, NM. My class and I just read an article in National Geographic Kids News about the dangers of keeping exotic animals as pets. You can find it at:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/kids/2004/04/exoticpets.html
I had my students respond to a question I posted on our class blog.
Their ideas sparked lots of discussion from kids around the world.
Could you add your ideas too?
· First, read the National Geographic Kids News article
· Finally, write your own response that explains your opinions.
Refer back to facts in the article you read to make your arguments as
strong as possible. Be convincing, you can add facts from other
resources if you think they will help you make your point.
My students will read what you post. Thanks for helping us better
understand this issue so we can make good decisions.
Mrs. Anderson
4th grade teacher
Blackfoot Elementary School
June 1, 2007 @ 10:55 am
TEST
June 1, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Dear Mrs.Anderson,
I think it isn’t really a good idea to keep exotic animals because
they could ruin your house.They could also be some trouble or be a
problem.Well that’s what I think.
Sincerely,
Mistral Limbag
June 1, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
I don’t think that wild animals should be kept as pets. If you keep a wild animal
as a pet it could be dangorous because if it’s wild it is not safe to have around people unless the animals been trained to be with humans.
June 1, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Hi!My opinion is that having an exotic animal as a pet is cool, but not safe. Wild animals should stay wild.It is dangerous to keep a wild animal.So,I wood say no,it is not a good idea.
-Samantha farley
June 1, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
I wiil care for nature and wildlife.
June 1, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
I think that they can’t do that because what if they look cute but 2days later they start to bite people and go wild parents should not allow that.
June 1, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
I think that we should not have exotic animals as pets. Because if we do we will get tired of them and not return them to their natural habitat. And what if they turn on us and get mean? For example: if you had a pet snake, and they didn’t like you anymore, they could bite and that could lead to serious injury or even death. These are some reasons why we should not have exotic animals as pets.
June 1, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
I think yes because animals are fun to play with.
June 1, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
I think that exotic animals should not be kept as pets. They belong in a habitat that is more safe for them. Now, I love animals and I know that they should have a safe and healthy home with their families and friends. No one should get in their way. Animals are very important. Without them the world would be boring. You are not supposed to keep any animal as a pet unless it is something like a goldfish, cat, or a dog. Keeping the environment safe is very important. Not only for human beings, but also for animals.
June 1, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
Dear Mrs Anderson,
I Disagree with the fact of having an exotic animal as a pet. Here is a couple of reasons.#1 they need their food which could be another animal found in its habitat. #2 It’s dangerous because that certain animal could be use to attacking other animals violently and could do the same to you. #3 and they need their special habitat to live in. Think of it this way you taking an exotic animal from it’s home,friend,and family would be like someone taking you from your home,friends and family. And i pretty sure you wouldn’t like that so don’t do it to the exotic animal.those are my reasons.
Sincerely,
A’Lea Rackley
June 1, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
I think yes because animals are fun to play with.
June 1, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
I think that they shouldn’t have exotic animals for pets because they are dangerous.
From Jesus Mendoza
June 1, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
I think that we should not have exotic pets for animals because they are wild animals and we should not take away their homes or in danger them.If people take them they are hurting them and taking away their families.
June 1, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
I think that they should take the animals back from were they came from.I think this because some of these animals could hurt someone. I also think this because they have to live in there real habitat.I hope they go back were they came from.It can hurt us ,the wildlife and mostly everything.First they going in our city then possibly our world.
June 4, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
i agree with Julie and Mariah!!
June 4, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
they should let the animals go take them back were they came from!
June 11, 2007 @ 8:53 am
I think having an exotic pet will be pretty cool but snakes kind of freak me out but you can always love them just the way they are. So exotic pets aren’t so bad after all. If I saw a 22-foot-long (7-meter-long), 250-pound (113-kilogram) python. I would freak out. Exotic pets are always different.
June 11, 2007 @ 8:54 am
I think that if people want to keep wild animals around as a pet they should because it’s there pet. But if they don’t know how to take care of an exotic animal then they shouldn’t have some as pets. If their pets run wild that means that they need to be more responsible around their pets. So if your students want to have an exotic pet, I hope they are responsible enough because there’s going to be rough but exciting journey on their way
♥ ♥ ♥ Micole ♥ ♥ ♥
June 11, 2007 @ 8:58 am
I think that the wild animals should stay with their own families. The exotic pets might not like to be taken away from their families. I think that exotic pets are too wild to keep as a pet because they might hurt someone!
June 11, 2007 @ 9:04 am
I think exotic pets should not be kept as pets. They are probably happier in their natural habbitat, like alligators if they wander into the city pond they can easily kill many of the birds and animals and distroy the park and thats only 1. They can easily destroy habbitat thats not theirs.
June 11, 2007 @ 9:05 am
this list below can show you what types of pets to
keep and what types to leave a lone!
keep em’ –
rabbits
snakes
turtles
mice
rats
leave em’ –
Dolphins
Alligators
Crocodiles
Florida Panther
June 11, 2007 @ 9:07 am
Hi I am Mariah and you told me that your class had some opinions on the subject. So I am going to tell you my opinion. OK I think if they find a wild animal that can hurt some one if they find it on the street or some place it should not be put it in the zoo wear professional people that know how to control them. Or they can send them back to the wild.
June 11, 2007 @ 9:10 am
i think we should have exotic animals for pets but we should have them in a cage and tamed so if some one goes to your house it wont jump out at that person onstead they would be able to hold it.
June 11, 2007 @ 9:11 am
I think that you should leave all wild animals alone because youl be taking them a way from there homes
June 11, 2007 @ 9:12 am
No don’t keep wild animals as pets the can be dangerous the best thing you can do is buy a pet like dog cat or little cute hamsters. but never keep a wild animal and if you want a turtle find you nearest pet shop or find one in a place But don’t get one from the wild. bye bye
June 11, 2007 @ 9:13 am
I think that the Exotic pets should stay with there own families. Most of the animals are dying in our country because people keep building on there habitats. So I think that the animals should stay so that they don’t get killed.
June 11, 2007 @ 9:13 am
I dont think you should keep one because they are very dangerous.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:04 am
If they are tired of there pets there should be a site so you can type in your pets names and the stuff about them. Then people will check the site and might get the pet.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:11 am
I think that people should not keep them as pets because they let them out and the animals destroy wildlife and fragwel ecosystems . I think that they should be in there real habbitat.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:13 am
I think we should keep them because there are fun to play with and they help us grow nature. we should keep these animals also because you dont like mice snakes eat it flys bug you spiders eat it
June 11, 2007 @ 10:13 am
I think keeping a Exotic pets is very bad because it can kill some one if it is 22 feet long and ways 250 pound snake it will kill some one or if you have a lion,tiger ,wale,shark,snake,or any wild animal as a pet is bad.That is why I think keeping a wild animal as a pet is bad.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:16 am
Rabbits,snakes,turtles, and rats you should keep. Alligators,crocodiles and the rest should be left.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:17 am
I think that we should not have exotic pets for animals because they are wild animals.If they are tired of there pets there should be a site so you can type in your pets names and the stuff about them.never keep a wild animal and if you want a turtle find you nearest pet shop or find one in a place But don’t get one from the wild. If you really want a pet that came from the wild fine with me you can get eaten our hurt if you want to. So go right ahead because you don’t have to listen because I’m parent. But I think you should listen.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:17 am
What I think about the site is that it’s kind of not real. I think of that because it had a fish out of water playing soccer. That’s kind of weird so I think thats not a real site.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:18 am
I’m researching the everglades national park but my opinion is that if you keep a pet you are not respecting them so you should let them roam free in there natural habitat so its population can grow and let it be.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:18 am
I think that they should capture the animals then let them go in a safe interment.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Hi I think you should only have dogs and cats because they are trained to to be house pets.
I think that you should not keep: Snakes, rabbits, fish, birds and lots of other animals like that because they need to life free and not keep them locked up in a cage because they want to be free but they can’t be free if you capture them in the wild then bring them to a pet shop and buy them and bring them home because the animals had a family and you just took them away from there family and there habitat they lived in before you took them away. I think thats why they are mean to people sometimes.
Talise
June 11, 2007 @ 10:20 am
We should not have any exotic animals as pets because then they need the fresh air so don’t get exotic.
June 11, 2007 @ 10:22 am
I don’t think that you should have wild animals as a pet because they can really hurt you or some one in your family.Exotic animals are not friendly.People bring animals for every where in the world some times for a pet but if you have a pet that is wild and you want to let it go go to the place it comes from because it can not adapt to a different ecosystem it would be verey hard for them.
-Julie
June 13, 2007 @ 8:59 am
I think we have a right to have any pet we want as long as we keep the reptiles caged and the dogs in the backyard.