RALEIGH, N. C. – "Pocket pets" sound like the latest toy craze for children, but these animals are real – and so are the concerns about keeping them as household pets. The term is used to describe such pets as ferrets, sugar gliders, chinchillas and other hand-held, furry animals.

Most are not native to the United States, although increasingly, these animals are being imported for sale as pets. Debbie Leahy, captive regulatory specialist for the Humane Society of the United States, explains why her organization and others are concerned.

"These are animals who have very specialized needs. The average person doesn't have the resources to provide proper care for these animals. These animals are best left in their natural habitat."

Leahy says many imported animals carry diseases and illnesses, perhaps some even not yet discovered. Last year, for instance, the owner of a kinkajou was hospitalized multiple times for a fungus he got after his animal bit his finger.

There is currently very little regulation of pocket pets, according to Leahy, and if an owner regrets the decision, that also means there are few options for what to do with the animal, since many animal rescue groups are not equipped to handle them.

"People get these animals on an impulse. After they've had them for about two months, the animal starts to become more aggressive, more unpredictable, more dangerous. Sometimes they may have to be turned loose."

Some of the tiny pets have specific dietary and climate needs that are difficult to meet in a captive environment. In addition, says Leahy, when these animals are taken from the wild, they're often taken as babies and their mothers are killed in the process.



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Later this month, a western Wisconsin town will hold an annual celebration including an event known as a "chicken toss." Animal rights advocates say it is an example of entertainment across the country that comes at the expense of defenseless creatures.

A key attraction at Ridgeland's Pioneer Days festival involves a contest where chickens are tossed from a rooftop, and attendees who catch a bird get to keep it.

Kristin Schrank, board vice president of the group Alliance for Animals, said the birds can become injured, and there are no veterinarians on site to evaluate them. She argued it is time for the tradition to be replaced.

"As a society, we -- over time and every day -- are gaining a better understanding of the mental and physical impact that events like these have on animals," Schrank asserted.

She contended similar events, such as greased pig competitions, add to the animals' trauma. Organizers and participants at the Ridgeland festival have long argued their event, described as "chicken fly," is harmless fun as part of a celebration, which brings much-needed revenue to the community.

On a broader scale, some communities are changing their approach in light of growing awareness. For example, a county festival in California has replaced its greased pig competition with slippery watermelons.

Schrank noted a lot of children attend the events, which is another reason it is important to send the right message.

"How we treat animals is a demonstration of how we should have compassion for, really, for all living beings," Schrank emphasized.

Her group also stated the chicken toss underscores the need for Wisconsin to step up enforcement of its crimes against animals law, which includes a provision for mistreatment. An online petition is circulating, calling for an end to the Wisconsin event.

Wolf packs lose their ability to thrive when one of their members dies as a result of human activity, according to a new study that comes amid calls to ban a bear-hunting practice at a Wisconsin site to protect wildlife.

Researchers have said wolves sometimes venture out of protected sites such as national parks. When one is killed by poaching or struck by a vehicle, the chances of its pack staying together decrease by 27%. If it's a pack leader, group stability decreases by more than 70%.

Kira Cassidy, a research associate at Yellowstone National Park who led the research, said these impacts don't always surface in population estimates but they're just as important.

"We know that wolf packs live in these family groups where each wolf kind of has their own set of responsibilities and tasks, especially the leaders," she said, "and so, when a pack loses one of those, it is the most detrimental."

The study also cited a negative effect on reproduction. In Wisconsin, conservation and wildlife groups are asking the U.S. Forest Service to ban hounding in Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Because of federal protections, wolves can't be hunted, but the petition said there are still "violent encounters" between hunting dogs and wolves, even when other animals are being hunted.

The Center for Biological Diversity was among the groups seeking the ban, where Collette Adkins, its carnivore conservation director, said it's a matter of public safety, too, with people hiking through forests sometimes surrounded by hunting dogs. She said she feels the activity is a stark contrast to the purpose of these sites.

"We don't think this type of hunting has any place in our national forests," she said, "which really should be a haven for wildlife."

On a broader scale, some pro-hunting groups and farmers' advocates have said wolves prey on livestock that need to be protected. Separately, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is in the process of updating its wolf-management plan. The public comment period has been extended to Feb. 28.

As the New Year takes shape, Wisconsin officials say they are still trying to get to the bottom of a recent death involving a bald eagle and are asking the public for help.

Last month, the wounded animal was discovered just outside Milwaukee and later died during surgery. The Humane Society and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources say there's evidence the animal was shot.

Nick Miofsky, southeast region law enforcement supervisor for the DNR, said the probe continues, and any information from the public would certainly aid their investigation.

"If anybody has any information about the eagle or knows anything about what happened, contact our Wisconsin DNR tip line," Miofsky urged.

The tip line number is 1-800-847-9367. Eagles and their nests are federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Wounding or killing one comes with a $100,000 fine and one year in prison for a first offense. The punishments increase for a second violation.

The DNR said Wisconsin's bald eagle population has rebounded after previously being on the endangered species list. Miofsky noted he understands how starling cases like these can be for the public.

"I can definitely understand how people are passionate about our national symbol and icon," Miofsky acknowledged. "And being in the line of work that I'm in, whether it be an eagle or other wildlife, I mean, I don't like to see anybody intentionally harm wildlife outside of regulated hunting and trapping."

Earlier this year, the agency was investigating another fatal shooting of a bald eagle. The incident also happened in the southeastern part of the state. It is unclear if there is any connection to what happened in December.