(not so) Wild Animals As Pets

We all know know of someone who has kept a wild animal for a period of time as a pet. Whether its for the cool factor of because they want to help some baby animal face it its illegal. Unless you have a permit almost all native animals are protected under one treaty or another. There are some exceptions though and thats what this topic is on.
The main rule is if it is invasive its allowed. Invasive species are an ecological hazard and cause a huge threat to an ecosystem but with that I will dive right into invasive species that are open for the taking (be sure to check with your local government laws I am not responsible for your stupidity). I will go over a few options that should wet your wistle when it comes to the varity of non-native animals.
The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) was introduced to New York in 1890-91 since then it has quickly spread across the United States. There very aggressive and successfully competes with native species. Starlings are very smart intelligent birds and their quickly growing as a pet industry. Mozart owned one and there are rather talkative. If you are interested in a starling this is a good website to start you out.
There are two reptiles that I will touch on the Cane toad and Brown Tree Snake. The Brown Tree snake (Boiga irregularis) for all you reptile lovers is originally from Australia and was first detected in Guam in the 1950's. It preys off bird species and is becoming a large threat to nesting birds and their young. The Brown Snake has received a bad rap due to its infestation in Guam and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) these are native to southern U.S.A but are invasive to the islands of Hawaii and to Australia. There are still in the pet trade however. The Cane Toad eats most anything it can swallow so you can understand the damage to other natives. If you are interested in a cane toad this website should help get you started. Word to the wise these suckers get huge!
I can't bring up invasive species without mentioning the fish industry. Each year thousands of fish are moved across the globe so satisfy the aquarium industry. Many of them soon become invasive such as Plecostomus catsish commonly sold about 3 inches long or so these cute little things make great companions for an aquarium but can quickly become huge monsters that people decide to dump in local waterways. These fish have ended up surviving and are taking over many United States water systems. There have also been sightings of lionfish that have taken hold along the east coast of the United States that are quickly becoming a problem.
If you are interested in a non-native pet be sure to never release it because the damage can be largely significant. But other then that have fun just check local laws before you collect any animal.
-Izi