The exotic pet trade is a global industry with potential economic, ecological, and human health risks (Wyler & Sheikh, 2008). The United States (US), in particular, is the largest consumer of legal wildlife in the world (Collard & Dempsey, 2013). This dissertation addresses existing research gaps by assessing: 1) inconsistencies in exotic pet regulation and enforcement; 2) how regulatory agencies and academic researchers characterize the risks of the exotic pet trade and their perceptions of the effectiveness of current management and enforcement 3) people’s motivations for engaging in the exotic pet trade and their opinions on recent amendments to the Lacey Act and other proposed policy changes. Findings revealed significant variation in state-level regulations of vertebrate taxa. Violations of exotic pet regulations were often classified as misdemeanors, with low monetary fines and minimal jail time. Jurisdictional barriers and lack of funding also hinder state agriculture and wildlife agencies from effectively managing the trade. A survey conducted with agency personnel (n=26) and academic researchers (n=57) aimed to address these issues by exploring their perceptions of trade risks, regulatory measures, enforcement strategies, and the effectiveness and sufficiency of current regulations at mitigating the risks of the exotic pet trade. Findings highlighted discrepancies and consensus between agency personnel and academic researcher perceptions of regulatory effectiveness and stakeholder engagement. A final survey delved into exotic pet stakeholder motivations to participate in the exotic pet trade and attitudes of exotic pet stakeholders (n=1,653) towards support for increased regulation, particularly mandatory veterinary testing, minimum age and caging requirements, grandfathering illegal animals into legislation, and amendments to the Lacey Act. Results showed a subset of exotic pet stakeholders advocated for ethical practices and conservation-oriented policies. Regulatory agencies should target this cohort of stakeholders for outreach and collaborative solutions to mitigate the risks associated with the exotic pet trade. In its entirety, this dissertation creates insights that underscore the need for coordinated efforts at the federal and state levels to address regulatory gaps and collaborative decision-making that promotes sustainable practices within the exotic pet trade.
