When Athens police officers discovered a 2-foot-long alligator near 145 Mill St. this summer, David Sagan, director of the Hocking Woods Nature Center at Hocking College, was called to pick up the reptile.
When Sagan arrived in Athens on July 23, he found the gator in a holding cell at the police department. He took the alligator - named Fish after the officer who found it - back to the nature center.
Although there is no way of knowing exactly where Fish came from, Sagan suspects the reptile was released by an Ohio University student who could no longer keep it as a pet. Fish is currently at the nature center, but Sagan wants to release him into his natural environment.
He could go back to the wild if I had confirmation that's where he came from
he said. If I can't confirm that he has to go to a gator farm. He will be taken care of but eventually he'll end up as shoes
luggage and be eaten as well.
Alligators like Fish are just one in a long list of exotic pets that can be bought from pet stores or breeders around the state.
Defined by many pet Web sites as any pet that is not a dog, cat, fish or horse, exotic pets such as snakes, chinchillas, sugar gliders - small, nocturnal marsupials - and iguanas can be popular among college students, Sagan said.
A lot of people think they are kind of cool
there's a certain non-cat or -dog attraction
but the problem with the cool factor is that it kind of wears off
he said.
Many of these pets require large amounts of space and a time commitment that might not fit into a college student's lifestyle, which can lead to pet abandonment, Sagan said.
Complaints about pets like Fish being left on the street are rare, said Athens Police Captain Tom Pyle. But Sagan and local pet store employees said people approach them regularly with exotic pets that they no longer want.
We get about 25 to 50 animals a year and majority are surrendered (by their owners)
Sagan said. They acknowledge (they don't want them) and don't turn them loose.
Do Your Homework
Animal rescuers and pet sellers agree that students should research an animal before purchasing it.
There are little books on every single species and very good guidelines in there, said Michael Welsh
the founder of Wild Rescue One
an animal rescue facility 45 minutes away from Athens that he operates out of his home. Buy one, read it, have an idea of (how) you are going to be feeding and housing them.
When junior Nicole Mikusa fell in love with chinchillas
she spent time reading books
