Pets in the wild

Releasing a pet to the wild is never the right thing. For the health of your pet, and the safety of our native wildlife, it’s never safe to release animals.

Most pets released to the wild do not survive, and many suffer before they die.

Pets are usually unable to find food or shelter in the wild and they are often an easy meal for another creature.

If it does survive, your pet becomes an invasive species that native wildlife may not have the defenses to compete against. Invasive species cause harm to the environment and the economy.

Common name	Scientific name	Concern
The Red-eared, Yellow-bellied, and Cumberland sliders	Trachemys scripta	If released into the wild, these three terrapin species may alter ecosystems by competing with native species for food, preying upon native species, and disturbing habitats. They are also known to carry parasites and pathogens.
Raccoon	Procyon lotor	If allowed to escape, they can have severe impacts on native biodiversity, robbing eggs, chicks and adults of native and domestic bird species. They are also known to carry parasites and diseases, some of which may be fatal to humans.
Ring-necked parakeet	Psittacula krameri	If allowed to escape, these birds may outcompete native hole-nesting species for habitat. They are known to damage commercially important fruit trees, to outcompete native species at garden bird feeders and large flocks can become a noise nuisance.