If the sloth injures someone, you could be liable for civil damages, in addition to any criminal penalties that you might face for owning a banned exotic animal as a pet. For the most part, sloths are not dangerous when they are left alone in their trees in the rainforest. However, they are wild animals. If you try to pet a sloth or hold a sloth, it could scratch or bite you. Even though sloths move extremely slowly, they have three to four-inch claws that can cause significant damage when they are threatened.
They also have sharp teeth to defend themselves, and they are surprisingly strong. Sloths are about 2. They spend most of their time hanging upside down from trees in the rainforests in northern South America and Central America. They eat, sleep, and give birth while hanging upside down. Sloths sleep up to 15 hours a day, mostly during the day. They are not social animals and prefer to be left alone. Sloths have a special diet and may require special care, which can be difficult to obtain in the United States.
The law bans individuals from owning exotic animals for several reasons. Sloths are native to Central and South America. However, they are regularly captured and brought to the United States.
People purchase sloths from exotic animal traders an exotic pet shops. In some cases, sloths may be purchased on the black market. Individuals who want a sloth as a pet are often willing to pay high prices and overlook how the sloth arrived in the country. Generally, if a person knows that an animal has dangerous tendencies, the person could be held strictly liable if the animal bites another person. Because sloths are wildlife, there is an assumption that the animal could be dangerous.
Therefore, a slot bite or attack could result in strict liability for damages. Strict liability means that the animal owner is responsible for damages and losses associated with the animal bite. Examples of damages that might be recovered for an animal bite in Florida include:. The amount of compensation a person might receive for an animal bite depends on several factors. Seeking immediate care for an animal bite, even if you know the animal and the owner, is strongly recommended.
Contacting a Miami personal injury lawyer is also a wise choice when dealing with an animal bite. If an animal, including domesticated pets and wildlife kept as pets, bites you or your child, there are steps you can take to protect your legal rights.
Wildlife animal attacks can be complicated personal injury claims. The specific facts and circumstances, including the type of animal involved, may have a significant impact on your ability to recover compensation. For more information, call us at or send us an email by visiting our contact us page.
Your email address will not be published. Award Winning Injury Lawyer. But is owning a sloth legal in California? While states like Nevada and Texas have extremely lenient rules about exotic pet ownership , the Golden State is known for its strict regulations relating to game and wildlife. In fact, after Hawaii, which is probably the strictest state in the nation when it comes to pet ownership, California is a close second.
When you think about it, it makes sense that California, with its crowded cities and fragile habitat, would have strict laws about exotic pets. One animal that is clearly restricted is the sloth. However, whereas many animals are restricted because of the threat they pose either to the natural wildlife of the state, agriculture, or the public at large, sloths are deemed illegal for another reason: to prevent the depletion of wild populations. Native to Central America and northern South America, several different types of sloths, including the Maned Sloth and the Pygmy Sloth are endangered species.
Owning either species, or any sloth for that matter, in addition to being detrimental to the sloth itself, could potentially hurt sloth populations in their natural habitat. If you are caught owning a pet sloth or any other exotic animal that is restricted without the proper permits and documentation, you could face stiff fines and even jail time. Depending on a number of factors, you could face up to six months behind bars.
In addition to being illegal in California, because they are wild animals, sloths are unpredictable and can bite people.
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