In some cases, it is illegal to own a toucan or other tropical bird in Colorado. These cases include any time when the bird has not been properly checked. Toucans live on average 20-25 years. If you decide to adopt a toucan, consider the above challenges as they apply to your life not just now, but for the next two decades. No matter where you move in the future, you need to make sure you have enough space for the appropriate sized enclosure on your toucan. You need to budget for your toucan`s food, toys, and veterinary care for its lifetime. Your life can change unexpectedly and you certainly can`t predict every bump in the road, but your commitment to your toucan must be at the forefront throughout his life. Most of the time, when I say toucans are expensive, people think I`m referring to the initial cost of purchase, and that`s certainly true. For example, if you`re looking for a Toco baby toucan similar to Paco, Paz, and Pepe, expect an estimated $10,000 investment. But the costs of the toucan I am talking about here are more related to the operating costs of a toucan. A toucan can be an excellent pet, but they also require special care.
Not everyone has the facilities and expertise to properly care for a toucan. In Maine, it is illegal to possess, import, display, rehabilitate or multiply toucans unless you have a government-issued permit that says otherwise. It is illegal to own a toucan in Arkansas unless you have written documentation indicating that the owner obtained the bird legally and that the bird was examined by a veterinarian who was found to be free of parasites or diseases that could harm native wildlife. Without a license, possession of a toucan in California can result in a misdemeanor prosecution. Taking care of a toucan takes a lot of time every day (yes, even on Saturdays…) As I have mentioned many times, toucans need a lot of time and patience to maintain them on a daily basis. Few people have what it takes to face a toucan, even if it`s only for a week. Be prepared for the fact that the vast majority of people you hope to sit your toucan are either too intimidated, selfless, unavailable, or unreliable. It takes a special niche of people who can take full responsibility for taking care of your toucan in your absence, which is certainly not as easy as giving fresh kibble once a day.
Be prepared for the fact that it will be extremely difficult to find someone who is suitable and available for the job when you need them. If you travel a lot or take a longer vacation from home, a toucan probably isn`t for you. In Oregon, it is illegal to own a toucan unless you get a permit from the State Department of Agriculture. Even taking into account the life span of the toucan, it is also important to understand that a toucan requires very specific care and that this type of care is not something that everyone can provide. Do your research and ask around. They can also transmit diseases that spread to native animal species or humans. For various reasons, it is illegal to own a toucan in multiple states and countries. You can legally keep a wild bird in the UK without a licence.
For example, you don`t need permission to keep another person`s parrot during their vacation or nurse an injured bird that can`t fly away from home. Guess what? Toucans. A lot. They have an extremely fast metabolism and eat about every 15 minutes, which means they eat at about the same frequency. They also throw their fruit in the air when they eat – some get into the mouth, some don`t. All three of my boxes live in outdoor aviaries, so it`s relatively easy to spray their cages every day. But what I know from conversations with other people whose toucans live indoors is that cleaning up feces and fruit droppings is a constant struggle. No matter where your toucan lives, be prepared to spend time each day cleaning up after him.
And remember: what goes in, what comes in, and your favorites — blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries — have a stained power on the clothes and furniture you care about most. I have very few « animal people » as friends. They still have their many positive qualities, but wanting to run their own personal zoo like me is not one of them. Toucans are not like a dog, but all your friends will compare your experience to this one, because that`s all that many of them have experienced firsthand. Since a toucan is not a dog, the care and time you spend with your toucan may seem « crazy » or « obsessive » to others. Your friends won`t understand why you have to be home at certain times to care for your toucan, or why you devote so much of your life to a bird. Be prepared to sit down when you need to say goodbye to weekend activities and spontaneous getaways, as you need to take care of your toucan. If the thought of losing most of your spontaneity and missing extended happy hours with your closest friends because you have to spend time with your bird upsets you, then a toucan probably isn`t for you. Your toucan`s needs should be a priority, and this often requires sacrifices on your part that most others can`t relate to. Keeping native birds in captivity in the UK is legal if the captive parents have acquired them legally. However, the owner must prove that the birds were legally acquired if someone disputes this.
Therefore, it is best to always check that captive parents have obeyed the law before receiving them. You cannot keep a wild bird (or its egg or nest) unless you can prove that it was legally captured or killed. You can keep an animal listed in WCA Schedule 5 even if it was legally captured and bred in captivity. It is illegal to own a toucan in the following states and countries: you can feed a tame toucan with soft « meatballs »; They should be 2 or 3 centimeters (1 inch) in diameter and made of boiled rice, carrots, cucumbers and potatoes to supplement the toucan`s fruit-based diet. These small supplements should sometimes include some ground beef to balance their diet and make it similar to that of a toucan in the wild. Toucans should have clean water at all times. In some places, there are laws against the possession of toucans to prevent the capture of these birds for commercial purposes. To keep a toucan as a pet, you need to prove that your bird was bred in captivity under humane conditions and not captured in the wild.
I`m not here to be a killer or to say that a toucan is not for you. Far be it from me to deny anyone their dream of spending their life with these amazing birds. Only you can know what your life can accommodate and what your priorities are – I just want you to have as much realistic information as possible, not just stuffed animals. To help you make an informed decision for your toucan future, I have compiled a list of some of the challenges of toucan ownership, based on my experience with our toucans toucans, as well as conversations with other toucan companions. Here are some things to keep in mind if you`re considering adding a toucan to your life. This risk is mainly due to the pathogens that toucans carry and can transmit to native species, rather than the spread of toucans themselves. Find out what you need to do to keep birds or wildlife legally and safe, even if you need a permit, and how to get one. Keeping toucans as pets is very difficult, time-consuming and expensive. At AnimalWised, we don`t recommend it unless you`re absolutely sure you have the resources and willingness to do so. Few people will be willing/able to take care of your toucan in your absence and you must be able to show when asked that you legally own your pet and that it will not be captured in the wild.
You should keep a record of when and where the animal was found or taken, or a receipt if you purchased it. Private possession of a toucan or other exotic animal is illegal in the state of Alaska. In addition, it is illegal to import, release or export exotic animals. I have a cockatiel and a parakeet, but I don`t have a toucan. But I have a question. What level of experience do you need and how big should it be? So, is the toucan the pet for you? To sum up, you need to be absolutely sure that you have the money, time and willingness to buy and maintain a toucan. Keep in mind that these animals are exotic and require different things than other birds. They are also very expensive to purchase and maintain. You`ll need a permit if it`s legal in your state. These animals live up to 20 years, so adoption will be a long-term commitment. In Estonia, toucans are a protected wildlife species that can only be kept as a pet if you can prove that you are able to create a suitable living environment.
This is because toucans are not native to the area and do not fall into the species categories exempted in laws against keeping exotic animals as pets.
