Exotic pets taking toll on Florida's wild spaces

Lion Fish, Burmese Pythons and parakeets…Oh My! Exotic pets that are released into Florida’s environment are wreaking havoc on their surroundings and researchers at the University of Florida say this problem is avoidable. In a free brochure written by experts at UF’s Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, procedures for turning non-native pets loose are outlined. Steve Johnson is an associate professor of wildlife ecology and a contributing author for the brochure. Johnson talks with WUFT FM’s Laura McKeeman about options exotic pet owners have when they decide they can no longer keep their animal. (You can find the brochure, titled “Options for Unwanted Exotic Pets” online at ufl.edu)