Exotic animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods can be found in Tucson and the surrounding areas of Vail, Catalina, Oracle, Marana, Green Valley and Sahuarita by the hundreds, if not thousands in homes, businesses and pet shops. The business of selling, feeding, gifting, and breeding exotics is quite extensive and I have found that it is just another part of my business to get a call to search for, capture and rescue of exotics.
While the list of exotics found in the greater Tucson area is quite long, I am called most often to help families, and occasional a retailer in recovering or capturing and escaped boa, python, monitor lizard, iguana, a large African tortoise, or an injured exotic bird. Some exotics that have been “adopted,” or brought into Arizona are either no longer legal to sell or legal to have as pets.
Most reptile breeders and retail stores can tell you which animals, birds, or reptiles are legal and safe to have in your home. If you have questions about something and are not sure as to whether it is ok to have it in captivity, you can always look it up on the internet under posted articles that describe and name what is legal in Arizona and what is protected. Using the following categories and reference numbers, you can easily check before purchasing or acquiring a new addition to your collection or buying one as a pet for a family member.
ARIZ. COMP. ADMIN R. & REGS. R12-4-406 - Restricted Live Wildlife
Article listing "restricted live wildlife" as defined in R12-4-401 is quite exhaustive and names what is restricted and not permitted.
Most of my calls for exotics entail capture of a pet that has escaped and the owner just wants it returned. This does not mean that the owner necessarily knows it has escaped. Sometimes a neighbor will find a large monitor lizard wandering through their yard, a large African Tortoise walking up their driveway, or a 6’ or larger python hanging around a bird feeder trying to catch its lunch. Other times, a pet iguana, (shown below) has escaped and, since the owner has raised it from when it was 6” long at the pet store, she just wants her pet back.
In all of these instances, I am happy to work with the owner, neighbor, or business that has an exotic on their property, has one that has escaped, or found one that is injured. For the most part, I will return the exotic to its owner, if known but, sometimes a large reptile may have been purposely released or abandoned-especially if it is a 6-9’ python, a 5’+ monitor lizard, or 100lb or more African tortoise. In cases where no owner can be found, I will try and find a home at one of the rehabilitation organizations I work with, such as, the Desert Museum, or one of the licensed rescue organizations which accept large rescued reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Please give 1st Response Wildlife a call if I can help or if you have a question about an exotic that has escaped, one that has shown up on your property or you would like help identifying what it is that may be causing concern in regards to whether it might dangerous to your pets or children.
Thanks, Wildman Josh :)
Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517
Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, squirrels (ardilla) , coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics,and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children. 520-260-9517 Thanks!
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