My wife and I raised two of these amazing animals from the time they were little pups. Truly an amazing species, and we could hear the crazy vocabulary that they used. We got to the point where we could tell who was walking around the backyard by their alert calls. They were easily the greatest animals I've ever known.
My daughter worked with burrowing owls in Saskatchewan. She was amazed at the intricacy and diversity of wildlife on the prairies and would talk with me about it for hours.
I love these little guys. They have such an amazing family unit, have such a complex communication system, and they basically build entire cities underground. I never realized they were so important to the ecosystem, though.
Prairie dogs are so adorable! It's absolutely true that they're still a victim of the plague. Our crew got on camera exactly this topic and explored how we're trying to help these little fellows to survive the plague.
My mom, sister, and I have raised these. They are incredibly intelligent, gregarious, and affectionate. They're also protective, and they NEED to be with other prairie dogs or constantly around their human people. They are a LOT of work, but it's rewarding. In captivity, they can live for over 15 years. Mine was almost 18 when he died.
@@karlwithak. Just because you don't find them delicious doesn't mean their natural predators don't. They're a keystone species, meaning an entire ecosystem needs them there to maintain equlibrium.
I love how every animal person agrees that "splooting" is the correct universal term for that behavior. If there is a more formal term, I've never heard it.
What a coincidence! on vacation in the Black Hills SD and just saw a TON of Prairie dogs yesterday! they’re so cute and their little chattering is adorable
I used to go on vacation to SD nearly every year and I loved seeing them all over the place. They are so cute! Also, hope you enjoyed your trip ❤ SD is so fun!!
I've lived in the northern plains of the US most of my life (WY, SD, etc) in close proximity to these little creatures and I'm only just recently learning to appreciate them. They're fascinating and adorable little chubsters. Their little "wahoo!"'s are a gift to this Earth
@@YTistooannoying Difficult call. 1) Only 1 of the hunter gets to eat the prey as none of these animal share preys. 2) The arrangement only happens during Summer & they can prey on each other in the other tough months. Canada's Prairies climate is cruel. You eat or you die. So it's more like an opportunistic strategy more than a real symbiotic one.
Your enthusiasm made me smile . For real. Just sitting here by myself . Dont ever change . Its so refreshing to come across authentic , talented, goofy people !!
First time on your channel. I was born in northeastern Montana on the border with Saskatchewan. It brought back wonderful memories of my childhood. Your presentation was wonderful and real…never lose that sense of wonder. It’s much needed in todays world. Thank you Danielle.
Shout out to whoever did the audio overdubbing (editing).....noticed no wind noise as it was clearly obvious it was crazy windy in some shots of the video.
I sometimes forget not everyone grows up around these animals. Caught me off guard hearing her excitement when talking about them and their calls. They're all over NE Albuquerque and the foothills. Spent my summers as a kid chasing lizards around huge colonies of these. They even have few colonies scattered on freeway ramps which have become protected habitat.
I watch squirrels and chipmunks sploot all the time. Usually on branches and fence tops. They like to do it near me, laying and watching me watch them. lol
In Manitoba we often call the Richardson’s Ground Squirrel “ prairie dogs” . I didn’t know we had no true Prairie Dogs in Manitoba until I went to university.
I wish these guys lived all over the US, they're definitely cooler than squirrels or chipmunks. I count prairie dogs among the animals that make (the) America(s) great, along with hummingbirds and the xenarthrens like sloths and armadillos.
They are cute, but they will seriously mess with farmland, parkland, landscaping, etc. It wouldn’t be long before they were viewed as a nuisance. They are better off in the wild like these ones are.
@drjekelmrhyde you also can't imagine how loud even a small colony can be. There was one that had set up shop between the building I lived in and the next one. They.can have very high pitched calls.
I lived there for a year during my exchange year at USASK and take it from me and the many many other Europeans from Germany, France, Norway, Italy, Sweden, UK, Spain rc then the rest of the world: Australia, India, Nigeria, Guatemala, EVERYWHERE! Canada is spectacularly beautiful. Saskatchewan is too as a unique biome of grasslands. You're lucky to live there, now I'm back in boring old England, I preferred Canada ahaha
Scurrying through their darkened halls with their black-tipped tails, taking part in their intricate social machinations, doing their utmost to avoid the scrutiny of mankind... Oh, wait...
These little creatures are all over the place where I live in Colorado. It's particularly adorable when two of them cuddle each other. One time I was cycling by a pair of them and they looked like the world was gonna end as they stared at me in horror. It was quite hilarious.
I own 3 (1 boy 2 girls) I can tell you in my life as a zoologist and a exotic animal owner the prairie dog is the worst bite I have ever gotten. Also the whooping seems to be a sign of extreme happiness when they get to come out of their encounter or when I pet them. They are fascinating to watch. I do like calling splooting, pancaking as it's adorable.
@@danhunt285 uncle ben is the owner of two capybara's called Gort and Quandale dingle. You probaly have seen those 2 on the internet with the capybara memes.
You are right, the prairies are not boring. They team with life that is sadly dwindling. We humans need to adapt and learn to coexist with the wildlife that has been on this planet longer than we have. Thank you Denielle for educating us with your wisdom and helping making us aware of these beautiful creatures!
Very fun and interesting video! Learning about keystone species is so important. I work at a zoo, and we have black-tailed prairie dogs, and a breeding program for black-footed ferrets, which are another incredible species.
There was a stretch of road in southern Wyoming...not traveled much, very little traffic....but loaded with Prairie Dogs. Some that didn't make it on the road and some darting across from both sides. My friend got out of the car and he walked along yelling etc. to scare them back as I drove very slowly behind. It worked...some little lives were saved.
Okay I think I am seriously falling in love with your presentation on your video. There is something about the expressions of the presenter that are just heartwarming. The video also had some fantastic insight and knowledge. I used to live in Drumheller Alberta and prairie dogs were an everyday occurrence right at our home up on the Flatlands
No, I think colonizers tried to exterminate the bisons too. They killed millions. I believe that, before the colonizers, excluding natural disasters, the ecosystem and all living things in it were rather stable. The bison herds did not wipe out the prairie dog populations for all the years (or millenia) that they shared space together.
I absolutely love all rodents, and black-tailed praire dogs are one of my favorites. Thanks for making this video! I didn't realize they were such a keystone species up in Canada!
Canadian here. (Hi) We don't have the black tails all over. Just a small part of Southern Saskatchewan . We mainly Richardson ground squirrels. Which are very similar.
I lived in Colorado and my friend worked at KFC, we would take some biscuits and sit outside at a picnic table and feed them. It always started with one brave one. Three minutes later a bunch of them would be eating right out of my hand. It was cool.
Great grandfather had kept a small town on his farm, most of the farmers would exterminate them as the livestock would break their legs in the holes on occasion. He fenced off a little area away from the grazing pastures and let them have it as they are pretty entertaining to watch and figured they were there first. Only occasionally culling them when they encroched on the pasture.
Years ago a buddy and I went gopher hunting in an area overrun with these whistle pigs…. We shot 2 bricks of 22 LR and were getting ready to leave having taken almost 700. when the land owner showed up asked how we were doing we said the total we gotten and that running low on ammo we were going to call it a day…he then said “hold on a minute “. (Went back to his truck and returned with another brick of 22LR). These pretty animals do cause a lot of problems for cattle ….
I gotta say, grey squirrels are right there with them. They will cuss you til a fly wouldn't light on your head for merely having the audacity to walk outside, haha!
"The boys throw stones at frogs in fun, but the frogs die in earnest." Nothing like killing a living, moving target, I suppose. However, if you had been my kid, you would have cleaned, cooked and eaten what you killed. Bubonic Plague and all.
Having lived east of their range for most of my life, it was weird to be sitting in the drive through in my current >2m population metro and watching the prairie dogs in the verge between the Fazoli's and the adjacent strip mall.
Yessss the prairie dogs! I used to own one as a pet, such an amazing creature and species. I had been hoping you guys and/or Tierzoo would go in depth on them since forever.
What's the legality on this?! There are people from the US which makes exotic animal ownership (or fostering/rehabilitation) seem easy to do. I'm in Canada and so curious, but I don't think they're legally sold as pets most of the time.
This comment goes out to Big Ounce. RIP King.
I can't believe he's actually gone. I actually got sad enough to cry. Uncle Ben acts tough but you know losing biggerton was rough on him 😞
@@aliway4136 the exact details of his demise have been hidden and obscured, possible owner abuse. cause of death still a mystery
R.I.P. Big Ounce 🫡
My wife and I raised two of these amazing animals from the time they were little pups. Truly an amazing species, and we could hear the crazy vocabulary that they used. We got to the point where we could tell who was walking around the backyard by their alert calls. They were easily the greatest animals I've ever known.
That's very cool! Also, people like you give me hope for mankind. 👍🏼
Very much like little humans in every way but physiologically. 💜
Wow
Yeah... They are fun-loving and act like people in many ways. So wild.
They say the N-Word a LOT
Fuzzy baked potato's... arguably the greatest description of a critter ever!! Love it !
Cross species communication is beyond cool. Badger and coyote working together like a villain team-up against our heroes!
That was *wild* 👀
@@raraavis7782 If this is the first you've heard of it? Look it up, it's amazing.
If only Wile E had gotten himself a Badger partner
Wolves and crows also seem to have a basic communication with each other
@@UrbanOutlawsSk8Cocrows can communicate with any species that is able to listen to them. They're scary intelligent
My daughter worked with burrowing owls in Saskatchewan. She was amazed at the intricacy and diversity of wildlife on the prairies and would talk with me about it for hours.
Does she still?
@@cyberspectre8675 No, she's in BC now enjoying the slopes.
I tried the slopes of Whistler and Black combe and discovered....
I wasnt the greatest skier! Man that was some crazy steep stuff!
I love that look from the owl😂 its like "Hello, can I help you?"
I have been a fan of these little guys for many, many decades. They are beautiful creatures.
I love these little guys. They have such an amazing family unit, have such a complex communication system, and they basically build entire cities underground. I never realized they were so important to the ecosystem, though.
True
Stay away tho they carry bubonic plague
Yeah....gettin enacked on by everything. Ouch...
What I love most about this channel is seeing hosts always excited about the animals. My favourite nature channel for sure. ❤️
Prairie dogs are so adorable! It's absolutely true that they're still a victim of the plague. Our crew got on camera exactly this topic and explored how we're trying to help these little fellows to survive the plague.
They sound like squeaky toys tho 😮
How were you helping them survive the plague?
My mom, sister, and I have raised these. They are incredibly intelligent, gregarious, and affectionate. They're also protective, and they NEED to be with other prairie dogs or constantly around their human people. They are a LOT of work, but it's rewarding. In captivity, they can live for over 15 years. Mine was almost 18 when he died.
@@karlwithak. Just because you don't find them delicious doesn't mean their natural predators don't. They're a keystone species, meaning an entire ecosystem needs them there to maintain equlibrium.
@@dclark302 They are the Universal Snack out there and their nickname is "The Potato Chips of the Prairie."
Came for the Prairie dogs, stayed for Danielle's energy and enthusiasm.
Yes! She could make anything entertaining and interesting!
I turned it on for myself and the cat thought I put a video on for her. She hopped up and sat right in front of the TV. 😂
She’s cute.
And subbed. So glad youtube randomly suggested this video.
I love how much she loves and knows about animals
I love how every animal person agrees that "splooting" is the correct universal term for that behavior. If there is a more formal term, I've never heard it.
When my Welsh Terrier does something similar, I call it the “frog dog”.
My cat scoops as well.
I also call it SuperAnimal lmao
I would tell you but it's gonna cost 3 Wahoos.
That is the formal term. I think it's of German origin. Don't hold me to the second part.
The epic music during the ground squirrel fight was hilarious! Thumps up!
Everything in those burrows is cute! The owls, the prairie dogs, the lurking badgers and those ferrets!
The way the bob up and down as they chirp is super adorable!
What a coincidence! on vacation in the Black Hills SD and just saw a TON of Prairie dogs yesterday! they’re so cute and their little chattering is adorable
I used to go on vacation to SD nearly every year and I loved seeing them all over the place. They are so cute! Also, hope you enjoyed your trip ❤ SD is so fun!!
@@blepsandbeansthank you! ❤ haven’t been out here since i was a little kid!
Lucky you!! ❤❤❤ Jeannie in Lakeport California
I've lived in the northern plains of the US most of my life (WY, SD, etc) in close proximity to these little creatures and I'm only just recently learning to appreciate them. They're fascinating and adorable little chubsters. Their little "wahoo!"'s are a gift to this Earth
You should speak about summer fun safety around wild animals next. Many people are going to parks and know nothing of animal etiquette.
Great idea though it's sad that adults need this instruction.
You mean like the sh*tloads of bison attacks in Yellowstone that made the news.
@@edwardtu79themixedcontentctrthey deserve it to be fair so
As long as animals kill them it's fine.
Bison are dangerous wild animals as well. But don’t get too close into their lands.
I can't unsee the owl sneaking a look at the camera out of that den.I don't know but it just cracked me up😂!
Coyotes and badgers working together is kind of my favorite animal team up that I've learned about so far.
Yes, fascinating.
@@WildlifeWarrior-cr1kk No it's not
@@Pgr-pt5epa symbiotic relationship is defined as: the living together of unlike organisms. So yes, in fact it is a symbiotic relationship.
@@YTistooannoying Difficult call. 1) Only 1 of the hunter gets to eat the prey as none of these animal share preys. 2) The arrangement only happens during Summer & they can prey on each other in the other tough months. Canada's Prairies climate is cruel. You eat or you die. So it's more like an opportunistic strategy more than a real symbiotic one.
That was fantastic to watch
Your enthusiasm made me smile . For real. Just sitting here by myself . Dont ever change . Its so refreshing to come across authentic , talented, goofy people !!
" ... all sounds like a dog's chew toy". Yeah, pretty much.
"Prairie dogs have plague". Not a sign I would have ever expected to see.
Danielle is a great host with the enthusiasm & knowledge that makes these videos fun to watch.
*prairie dog squeak from one side (my laptop), birds chirping from the other side(my window), my cat totally confused in the middle (my couch) * xD
My siblings and I grew up splooting on the cool tile floor in Florida during the 50s and 60s. We didn't have HVAC, you see. It was sploot or expire.
I live on an acreage in Alberta and I can tell you that the prairie dogs and gophers have been doing very well the last few years.
So are either of those the same as a groundhog?
@@cattymajiv No, those are eastern relatives of the prairie dog.
@@victorcarbino8736we have groundhogs here In Pennsylvania.
First time on your channel. I was born in northeastern Montana on the border with Saskatchewan. It brought back wonderful memories of my childhood. Your presentation was wonderful and real…never lose that sense of wonder. It’s much needed in todays world. Thank you Danielle.
Danielle frolicking on the Canadian prairie is a mood.
Shout out to whoever did the audio overdubbing (editing).....noticed no wind noise as it was clearly obvious it was crazy windy in some shots of the video.
I chuckled at the owl
Me too!!
I remember the Meercat Manor show a few years ago. They should do one on prairie dogs.
I sometimes forget not everyone grows up around these animals. Caught me off guard hearing her excitement when talking about them and their calls. They're all over NE Albuquerque and the foothills. Spent my summers as a kid chasing lizards around huge colonies of these. They even have few colonies scattered on freeway ramps which have become protected habitat.
I live just down river from you and I never see them here. I will keep an ear out for them the next time I am in Albuquerque.
America the beautiful....
Ikr? I would hear them every time I'd take my RV out to the desert to make meth.
@@caitthecatme too! Verde river primitive campsites are the best.
Saw one for the first time this year lol I was like, wtf is that giant rodent!?
An episode about sophisticated animal communication/languages would rock! Dolphins/crows/etc!
Pretty cool how because of where they live, they can see you coming from far away to give time for alerts
I watch squirrels and chipmunks sploot all the time. Usually on branches and fence tops. They like to do it near me, laying and watching me watch them. lol
When the first prairie dog spotted you and you said hi I thought "It's me, hi, I'm the problem it's me" and i can't stop giggling.
In Manitoba we often call the Richardson’s Ground Squirrel “ prairie dogs” . I didn’t know we had no true Prairie Dogs in Manitoba until I went to university.
I grew up in Minot, ND, so I call them dakrats
17HMR usually quietens them pretty quickly. Fun fact, gophers are cannibals.
That ground squirrel fight was epic!
A .22 shell in the head usually puts an end to the Prairie Dog's day.
I wish these guys lived all over the US, they're definitely cooler than squirrels or chipmunks.
I count prairie dogs among the animals that make (the) America(s) great, along with hummingbirds and the xenarthrens like sloths and armadillos.
Yep
Don't they wreck havoc on farmland? I can't imagine what they can do to a city home foundation.
They are cute, but they will seriously mess with farmland, parkland, landscaping, etc. It wouldn’t be long before they were viewed as a nuisance. They are better off in the wild like these ones are.
@drjekelmrhyde you also can't imagine how loud even a small colony can be. There was one that had set up shop between the building I lived in and the next one. They.can have very high pitched calls.
@WildlifeWarrior-cr1kk My friends used to own the Bashful Bandit in Tucson, always loved visiting them when we were kids in the 90's.
Wow! As an eastern Canadian I knew nothing about these little critters. Thanks for all the info, AND all the cuteness. 🙂
The best part is watching you all enjoy the Grasslands Park ... and SK in general. It's nice to be reminded why living here isn't so bad sometimes.
I lived there for a year during my exchange year at USASK and take it from me and the many many other Europeans from Germany, France, Norway, Italy, Sweden, UK, Spain rc then the rest of the world: Australia, India, Nigeria, Guatemala, EVERYWHERE!
Canada is spectacularly beautiful. Saskatchewan is too as a unique biome of grasslands. You're lucky to live there, now I'm back in boring old England, I preferred Canada ahaha
"They're like fuzzy baked potatoes."
😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Knowing they're called coteries tickles my Vampire The Masquerade loving brain. I'm just imagining vampire prairie dogs.
Scurrying through their darkened halls with their black-tipped tails, taking part in their intricate social machinations, doing their utmost to avoid the scrutiny of mankind... Oh, wait...
The lady moderator is very darling and the prairie dogs well……they are so adorable!
I've seen one of these eat an entire shark.... watch out
Whoever this woman is in the video I think her enthusiasm is infectious. You can tell she loves her job 😊
Could never bring my dachund there. She would think she got 100 new dog toys al at once.
The cuteness of the prairie dogs is excruciating, I cant watch anymore.
These little creatures are all over the place where I live in Colorado. It's particularly adorable when two of them cuddle each other.
One time I was cycling by a pair of them and they looked like the world was gonna end as they stared at me in horror. It was quite hilarious.
I'm absolutely in love with these little dogs. So cute.
I own 3 (1 boy 2 girls) I can tell you in my life as a zoologist and a exotic animal owner the prairie dog is the worst bite I have ever gotten. Also the whooping seems to be a sign of extreme happiness when they get to come out of their encounter or when I pet them. They are fascinating to watch. I do like calling splooting, pancaking as it's adorable.
My Santa Fe, NM condo overlooks an empty lot with lots of prairie dogs. I love watching them run around.
I remember when Uncle Ben fed a British “person” to his Prairie dogs
Please elaborate friend.
@@danhunt285 uncle ben is the owner of two capybara's called Gort and Quandale dingle.
You probaly have seen those 2 on the internet with the capybara memes.
Biggerton Ouncerton ate well that night, although he said it was a bit flavorless
Yes he was 💩 talking about how they conquered India for spices and still have no flavor
@@GuavaConQueso All those spices and people still going hungry over there. Meanwhile American has no flavor but all the food.
You are right, the prairies are not boring. They team with life that is sadly dwindling. We humans need to adapt and learn to coexist with the wildlife that has been on this planet longer than we have. Thank you Denielle for educating us with your wisdom and helping making us aware of these beautiful creatures!
Gotta love the happy "Yippee "
Too cute.
Very fun and interesting video! Learning about keystone species is so important. I work at a zoo, and we have black-tailed prairie dogs, and a breeding program for black-footed ferrets, which are another incredible species.
HEHE, when they fight, is too adorable!
There was a stretch of road in southern Wyoming...not traveled much, very little traffic....but loaded with Prairie Dogs. Some that didn't make it on the road and some darting across from both sides. My friend got out of the car and he walked along yelling etc. to scare them back as I drove very slowly behind. It worked...some little lives were saved.
Okay I think I am seriously falling in love with your presentation on your video. There is something about the expressions of the presenter that are just heartwarming. The video also had some fantastic insight and knowledge. I used to live in Drumheller Alberta and prairie dogs were an everyday occurrence right at our home up on the Flatlands
I come for the animals, I stay for the host. Great production and information, and as always very entertaining.
Love the Armageddon music while the ground squirrels were fighting. 😂
Cattle may compete with prairie dogs for food, but so did the massive bison herds from the mid-19th century back.
No, I think colonizers tried to exterminate the bisons too. They killed millions.
I believe that, before the colonizers, excluding natural disasters, the ecosystem and all living things in it were rather stable. The bison herds did not wipe out the prairie dog populations for all the years (or millenia) that they shared space together.
@@sharifaa.8887Don't forget about all the megafauna the colonizers exterminated too. Oh wait, you mean the other colonizers, right?
My gosh they're so absolutely adorable
Red tailed black cockatoo! Such pretty birds, the females look like starry night skies!
I just stumbled upon your channel. Loved this.
I’m about a block away from a little colony. Cute little buggers.
I've seen them at a zoo for many years. They are adorable and funny.
That slow-mo fight between the ground squirrels was everything 🤣
Thanks again, Dan. Always humorous and educational
To think Poppy started his career out here somewhere!
I absolutely love all rodents, and black-tailed praire dogs are one of my favorites. Thanks for making this video! I didn't realize they were such a keystone species up in Canada!
Canadian here. (Hi) We don't have the black tails all over. Just a small part of Southern Saskatchewan . We mainly Richardson ground squirrels. Which are very similar.
Whoops sorry, I just got to the end of the video where they mention that.
I lived in Colorado and my friend worked at KFC, we would take some biscuits and sit outside at a picnic table and feed them. It always started with one brave one. Three minutes later a bunch of them would be eating right out of my hand. It was cool.
Great grandfather had kept a small town on his farm, most of the farmers would exterminate them as the livestock would break their legs in the holes on occasion. He fenced off a little area away from the grazing pastures and let them have it as they are pretty entertaining to watch and figured they were there first. Only occasionally culling them when they encroched on the pasture.
'Splooting', Love it ! 😂❤
Thanks for documenting the ouncetopia
Years ago a buddy and I went gopher hunting in an area overrun with these whistle pigs…. We shot 2 bricks of 22 LR and were getting ready to leave having taken almost 700. when the land owner showed up asked how we were doing we said the total we gotten and that running low on ammo we were going to call it a day…he then said “hold on a minute “. (Went back to his truck and returned with another brick of 22LR). These pretty animals do cause a lot of problems for cattle ….
Edit. This was in the early 90’s
And here in Nebraska the make good target practice.
And their fun as heck to shoot with a 22-250.
Today I learned Prairie Dogs are menaces 😂
Its crazy animals being smart enough to work together
Danielle : you are a great story teller and a wonderful artist... thanks for sharing your knowledge. 🇨🇦🇺🇸
Cute video and WOW, Ms. Danielle, what an artist you are! Your illustrations are fantastic!
You finally made a video about prairie dogs! Thank you!
You haven't been side-eyed until you've been side-eyed by a prairie dog.
I miss biggerton ounceton
Had one as a pet once. They require a ton of work so I don’t recommend for most people. She was so loving. I haven’t had another rodent since.
that badger coyote partnership.
I gotta say, grey squirrels are right there with them. They will cuss you til a fly wouldn't light on your head for merely having the audacity to walk outside, haha!
Growing up in rural sask, facing off with an old single shot .22 vs an infinite supply of prairie dogs is a provincial pastime 😂
"The boys throw stones at frogs in fun, but the frogs die in earnest."
Nothing like killing a living, moving target, I suppose.
However, if you had been my kid, you would have cleaned, cooked and eaten what you killed. Bubonic Plague and all.
The multitude of holes are a hazard for livestock
Cattle doesn't destroy grass. They bite it off and leave the roots. Horses pull the roots.
Having lived east of their range for most of my life, it was weird to be sitting in the drive through in my current >2m population metro and watching the prairie dogs in the verge between the Fazoli's and the adjacent strip mall.
This video gives me strong ‘Strange Wilderness’ vibes
Love you Danielle the work you do is amazing
That owl deserves to be a gif. 😂❤
My suggestion for other videos are mostly North American:
Mountain Lion
Mule Deer
Whitetail Deer
Caribou
“Poppy!”………”Wahoo” 😍
Yessss the prairie dogs! I used to own one as a pet, such an amazing creature and species. I had been hoping you guys and/or Tierzoo would go in depth on them since forever.
What's the legality on this?! There are people from the US which makes exotic animal ownership (or fostering/rehabilitation) seem easy to do. I'm in Canada and so curious, but I don't think they're legally sold as pets most of the time.