Found a wild gecko from Taiwan. Can I keep it as a pet legally?

I would check with MPI for these legal requirements. There are certain animals that cannot be imported into the country due to biosecurity, and depending on which bird or reptile you want to keep, there will be different legal requirements.

Hello. It is very important that you always wash your hands after handling any reptile & before handling your birds or any materials belonging to the birds. I do not think you need to keep the gecko in a separate room, just use common sense care & everyone will stay safe & healthy. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, and thanks for your question. That's a raptor - a bird of prey. It is a carnivore (meat eater), and should absolutely NOT be kept as a pet. It's a wild animal, and many raptors are protected by law. I recommend touching base with your local university and/or veterinary hospital. They should be able to connect you with a local ornithologist (bird expert) or wildlife rehabilitator, who will best be able to care for this bird. Without knowing more about the bird and being able to examine it, I cannot guide you further. Male and female raptors often look very similar, so I can't tell you which it is from these photos. I suspect it's a juvenile (young bird) since it's not immediately flying away from you - so it may not yet be able to live on its own if you were to simply release it, depending on how long it's been captive. I encourage you to do the right thing for this beautiful wild animal, and make sure it finds its way into the hands of someone who is knowledgeable in the area of raptor care. I hope this helps! All the best to you!

It is very unlikely that the store will take the gecko back, as they will not know whether it has any health problems. If you cannot keep it, you should ask your local shelter to take it , or contact a reptile club in your area. Maybe someone will take the Gecko off your hands.

Thank you for using PetCoach. This appears to be a box turtle. Please do not keep this turtle as a pet, In most states it is illegal to do so, beyond that it is very difficult to provide adequate housing and nutrition for wild reptiles. Many species of box turtle are endangered or vulnerable due to human interference. http://www.boxturtles.com/box-turtle-conservation/ If interested in a turtle for a pet, I recommend you search for local reptile or turtle rescues in your area. box turtles and other species can live up to 50 years in captivity, so need a long-term commitment. But often end up in rescue when people can’t take care of them there entire lives

Hello! Tokay geckos are not very social pets. Regardless of handling and training over time, some species are still very difficult to tame and are more "look but don't touch" pets. Most Tokay geckos would fall into this category. Some people enjoy having pets like this, and some do not. I am only saying this as it sounds like you may be a bit discouraged by his lack of social behavior, but it likely has nothing to do with your handling skills and everything to do with his biology. Petco works to adopt out surrendered pets frequently and would be happy to help rehome your gecko. I would recommend calling your local store to discuss the situation and a staff member should be able to help guide you through the process. I hope you find this helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Not all states have laws on the books pertaining to animal Care. There may be consumer protection laws that may give you recourse. At most, you may get a refund of purchase price or another chameleon. You would need to contact your state consumer protection board, the Better Business Bureau or PetSmart corporate offices.