Unwanted Exotic Pets
The Reality of Parrot Ownership
The exotic pet trade is not just growing, it’s exploding, and parrots are among the animals paying the price. From online listings and social media to breeders, pet stores, and live auctions, parrots can be purchased by almost anyone willing to pay, often with little consideration given to the buyer’s experience, knowledge, or ability to provide decades of proper care.
It is easy to fall in love with a beautiful macaw, cockatoo, Amazon, African grey, or other parrot. What is much harder to understand is the commitment that comes after the purchase.
Parrots are not simply colorful pets that live in cages. They are highly intelligent, social, emotionally complex animals. Many species can live 40, 50, 60 years or longer. They need appropriate nutrition, large and safe housing, daily enrichment, interaction, exercise, and veterinary care from professionals experienced with birds.
They can also be loud. They can bite. They chew furniture, walls, woodwork, and anything else that catches their curiosity. They make messes. They may become territorial, develop strong preferences for one person, reject someone they once loved, pluck their feathers, scream for attention, or develop behavioral problems when their physical and emotional needs are not met.
Unfortunately, these realities are not always explained when a bird is sold.
A young parrot may be adorable, affectionate, and easy to handle. As that bird matures, behaviors can change dramatically. What began as an exciting new pet can become overwhelming for an owner who was never prepared for the reality of sharing a home with a parrot.
And unlike many companion animals, a parrot may outlive the person who purchased it.
That is why parrots are so often passed from home to home. Some spend years moving between owners, never understanding why the people they bonded with disappeared. Others are confined to cages with little interaction because their owners become afraid of them or simply don't know what to do.
But there are also people who recognize when they can no longer give their bird the life it deserves. Instead of abandoning it, selling it to the next person, or allowing the situation to deteriorate, they reach out for help.
We are grateful to those people.
Surrendering an animal you care about can be an incredibly difficult decision. Sometimes recognizing that another home can provide what you cannot is an act of responsibility and love.
The parrots you are about to meet are some of the fortunate ones. Each has a story. Some were loved deeply. Some were misunderstood. Some outlived their owners. Others simply needed a second chance.
At Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge, our goal is not just to find these birds another home.
Our goal is to find them their last home.
A home where they are understood, protected, properly cared for, and loved for the rest of their lives.
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Parrots for Adoption
Adopted
I've gone to my forever home!
Blue and Gold Macaw-Puda
Puda was left in a will to a veterinary clinic who felt he would prosper in a private home. His age is unknown. He is a smart boy who knows to, "Step Up," and, "Stay back." He loads like a dream and loves a crate for travel. We imagine that his owners truly loved him and he was given lots of attention. His vocabulary is good. As with all parrots, he will bite. He is not a messy bird. Is not destructive but certainly could be.
This is PJ. He is a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo. These birds are very dusty, loud and destructive. We love PJ. He does his trick, just one, with a peanut that he rolls over his shoulder then catch's, and he says, "Hello," and that's it! His age is unknown. He is a bird that can be handled if you are the right person. PJ loves attention, car rides, and being outside. As with all parrots, he will bite. Much better with women than men.
Yellow Naped Amazon-Rico
Rico was kept in a basement where he was lonely and bored. A family member convinced his owner to surrender him to Wolf Run. He is a talker, with a big personality. Prefers women over men. Not to noisy and when he is its something comical such as, "Let the bird out!" Age unknown. This bird if for experienced owners.
We can't say enough about these lovely parrots. Each has been owner surrendered and rebounded with trust and love. We have no problems handling them but they all are familiar with us. New owners must allow them time. None of these birds are for beginners. All must go to an experienced owner. Cages are not included. Each will come with a clean bill of health from an avian veterinarian. The adoption fees vary. To fill our the adoption application, please click here.