Quick answer
No, roadrunners are not suitable pets for private individuals or households. Roadrunners are wild birds that require very specific care and housing that cannot be easily replicated in a home environment. Additionally, it is illegal in most states to keep native wild bird species like roadrunners as pets without the proper permits and licenses. Roadrunners are best left in the wild.
Why roadrunners make poor pets
There are several key reasons why roadrunners do not make good pets:
Wild nature
Roadrunners are wild birds that are not domesticated in any way. They retain all their natural wild instincts and behaviors which make them very difficult to tame and train. Roadrunners are prone to panicking, injuring themselves, and resisting human handling when kept in captivity. Even hand-raised roadrunners remain challenging to manage.
Specialized care needs
Caring properly for a roadrunner requires specialized knowledge of the species that most people do not have. Roadrunners need very specific diets, housing, temperatures, lighting, and more. They are prone to stress and illness without their needs being met. Very few households can provide the controlled environment roadrunners require.
Destructive tendencies
Roadrunners are naturally very active and inquisitive birds evolved for life in the arid southwest. When kept in captivity, their energetic nature leads them to be incredibly destructive to household furnishings, decor, and more as they seek stimulation. This makes them very impractical pets for a home.
Require large enclosures
Roadrunners range widely in the wild and cannot thrive in a typical small bird cage. They require exceptionally large outdoor aviaries or enclosures, minimum of at least 30 feet long by 15 feet wide by 8 feet high. Very few people can accommodate enclosures of this size.
Prone to stress-related illness
The high activity levels and territorial nature of roadrunners means they easily become stressed by confinement. Prolonged stress leads to chronic health issues like feather plucking, infections, and organ damage. Meeting a roadrunner’s demanding mental and physical needs is very difficult.
Need specific climates/temperatures
Roadrunners are designed to thrive in specific warm, dry desert environments. They do poorly if taken outside this native climate and temperature range. Few households can provide the environment they need to stay healthy.
Illegal to own without permits
In most U.S. states, and federally, it is illegal to capture, keep, or sell roadrunners as pets. You must have the proper permits and licenses to legally own a roadrunner, which are rarely handed out to private individuals or households. Having one illegally can lead to large fines.
Roadrunner natural history
To fully understand why roadrunners are so challenging to keep as pets, it helps to understand a little more about their natural history in the wild:
Range
Roadrunners are found in the southwestern United States and Mexico, in arid habitats like desert scrub, chaparral, and open woodlands. Their range extends west to California and north to central Kansas.
Size
Roadrunners are about 2 feet long from beak to tail tip. They have an average weight of 8-24 oz. They have long tails accounting for half their total length.
Lifespan
Wild roadrunners generally live 6-8 years. Captive birds may live slightly longer when cared for optimally, but often have shortened lifespans due to the stress of confinement.
Speed and movement
As their name suggests, roadrunners are speedy on foot and can sprint up to 20 mph. They also fly low to the ground up to 15 mph. Their long tails provide stabilization and steering while running. They have zygodactyl feet with two toes facing forward and two back.
Diet
Roadrunners are carnivorous and primarily eat insects, spiders, scorpions, snakes, young rodents, lizards, and small birds. They also occasionally eat fruits and seeds. They require a varied live animal diet when in captivity.
Housing
In the wild, roadrunners nest on the ground hidden in dense scrub. They roost in bushes and low trees. They are territorial and solitary, only pairing up during breeding season. Housing them in captivity requires replicating these conditions.
Activity patterns
Roadrunners are diurnal and most active while hunting in the early morning and evening. They spend midday heat resting in shade. At night they become dormant but may leave the nest to roost in bushes. Their active periods require accommodation in captivity.
Legalities of owning a roadrunner
Before acquiring a roadrunner as a pet, it is important to understand the legalities involved:
Federal laws
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to capture, kill, or possess, transport, or sell any migratory bird species, including roadrunners, without a valid permit. Roadrunner trapping or trade is restricted by federal law.
State laws
Most U.S. states classify roadrunners as protected non-game species and prohibit private ownership without permits. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and other states ban possession outright. Some states allow possession but not trade. Check your local laws.
Import/export regulations
Importing or exporting roadrunners across state lines or international borders is regulated by federal and international wildlife trade laws. Proper permits are required.
Penalties
Penalties for illegally trapping, keeping, or selling roadrunners can include fines up to $15,000 USD and imprisonment up to 6 months under federal law. States impose additional fines up to $5,000 per bird illegally possessed.
Difficult to acquire permits
Applications for permits allowing private roadrunner possession are rarely approved except for limited educational or scientific purposes by qualified experts. Acquiring legal permits is extremely difficult for the average person.
Ethical concerns with keeping roadrunners
Aside from legal restrictions, there are ethical reasons many experts advise against private individuals keeping roadrunners as pets:
Wild capture and trade
Most roadrunners in trade are wild-caught using traps which can harm birds. Legal captive breeding of roadrunners is limited. The black market pet trade causes declining wild populations as natural behavior and survival skills are lost in captivity.
Poor welfare in captivity
Meeting roadrunners’ complex physical and behavioral needs in captivity presents challenges. Well-intentioned pet owners often end up with stressed, frustrated, unhealthy birds when unable to provide proper care. Captivity often negatively impacts roadrunner welfare.
Captive-born birds fare poorly if released
Captive bred roadrunners lack the natural behaviors and survival skills to thrive if released to replenish wild populations. Captive breeding for pet trade therefore does little to support conservation.
Alternative pet options exist
There are many suitable, legal pet bird species more appropriate for captive care and handling by private owners. Opting for domestically bred birds reduces the need to capture sensitive wild species like roadrunners.
Education better achieved through other means
Observing roadrunners in a controlled setting provides limited education compared to field experiences and wildlife biology lessons. Responsible wild bird education does not require live possession.
Proper housing and care of roadrunners
If you are a qualified wildlife professional with access to proper permits and licenses, suitable housing and care is essential to maintaining roadrunner health in captivity:
Enclosure size and layout
Roadrunners require tall flight cages or aviaries a minimum of 30 feet long by 15 feet wide by 8 feet high, with places to perch and hide. The enclosure should be oriented east to west to provide a temperature gradient from cooler to warmer.
Furnishings and substrates
The enclosure must contain:
- Perches at varying heights made of natural wood branches
- Hiding spots like bushes, small trees, etc.
- Nesting area with sandy substrate and natural grass nest materials
- Foraging substrates like sand, gravel, dirt, leaves
- Smooth rocks and logs for beak/foot conditioning
Temperature, humidity, lighting
Ideal temperature range is 75-85°F with a basking spot at 95°F. Cool end temperatures no lower than 65°F. Low humidity around 30-40% should be maintained. Full spectrum UV lighting must be provided for healthy bone development and metabolism.
Diet
Roadrunners eat 1.5-2 ounces of food per day. They require whole prey items like:
- Insects – crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, etc.
- Spiders
- Scorpions
- Small lizards/snakes
- Pinkie mice
- Sparrow egg and small bird pieces
- Fruit and seeds
A vitamin/mineral supplement should be added to their diet as well. Clean, fresh water must be available at all times.
Handing and training
Roadrunners do not handle human interaction well. They should be given plenty of space and not handled except briefly for necessary medical procedures and care. Even hand-raised birds retain wild tendencies. Training roadrunners is extremely challenging compared to domesticated pet bird species.
Enrichment
To keep roadrunners active and engaged, provide puzzle feeders, objects to manipulate, varied perching locations, bathing opportunities, and opportunities to dig/forage. Rotating toys helps prevent boredom and stress. Interaction with humans should be minimized aside from caretaker duties.
Veterinary care
Find an avian veterinarian with experience in wild bird medicine. Annual checkups help maintain roadrunner health. Be prepared to treat conditions like enteritis, respiratory infections, parasites, pododermatitis, and more common to stressed captive birds.
Where to acquire a roadrunner if legally permitted
If licensed to own a roadrunner, they may be acquired only from:
Licensed wildlife rehabilitators
Some rehab facilities receive injured, non-releasable roadrunners and may legally place them with qualified experts. Recently rehabilitated birds are poor candidates however.
Zoos and institutions
Accredited zoos or research institutions may occasionally have surplus roadrunners available but the demand for qualified recipients is high. Academic affiliations assist with acquisition.
Specialized commercial breeders
A very small number of commercial aviculturists legally breed roadrunners for education programs and institutions. Proof of appropriate permitting is mandatory, and few will sell to unqualified buyers.
Under no circumstances should wild-caught, illegally imported or traded birds be acquired as they will be confiscated and the owner prosecuted. Take care to ensure legal origin.
Risks of keeping roadrunners illegally
Acquiring a roadrunner without proper permits and experience has serious consequences:
Stress for the bird
Constant stress from improper care and handling leads to severe health problems and suffering for illegally kept roadrunners.
Hefty fines
Penalties for illegal possession can be up to $20,000 USD federally, not counting additional state fines and prosecution costs.
Confiscation
Illegal roadrunners will be confiscated by state wildlife authorities and the owner banned from future permitting. The bird pays the ultimate price.
Inability to provide proper care
Most illegal owners lack the resources, permits, experience and facilities to meet the roadrunner’s demanding needs, resulting in a slow, painful death for the bird.
Zoonotic disease risks
Wild birds can carry diseases like psittacosis transmissible to humans. An illegal pet roadrunner poses serious health risks to the owner.
There are no shortcuts to properly caring for roadrunners. An expert permit is mandatory for good reason – anything less and the bird will suffer severely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally keep a roadrunner as a pet?
No, in most states it is illegal for private individuals to keep roadrunners as pets. You must be a qualified wildlife expert with specific permits and licenses, which are very difficult to obtain.
Where can I get a baby roadrunner to raise?
You should not acquire any roadrunner, baby or adult, without proper permits. Babies require hand-feeding every 1-2 hours and extremely demanding expert care. Acquiring roadrunner chicks illegally only supports wildlife trafficking.
What do I feed a pet roadrunner?
Roadrunners have very specific dietary needs including insects, lizards, mice and other whole prey items. Caring for one without specialized training will likely lead to malnutrition and death for the bird. Proper licensing is required.
Can I let my roadrunner loose in my backyard?
No, containing a roadrunner in a typical residential yard is impossible, and free-roaming roadrunners will wreak havoc or escape entirely. They may also spread diseases to local wildlife populations when released. Even legal owners must house roadrunners in specialized enclosures only.
Will a pet roadrunner run around my house like in the cartoons?
No, cartoon portrayals are highly inaccurate. Real roadrunners do not interact with humans like pets. An untrained, undomesticated roadrunner loose in a home will only injure itself or damage belongings as it tries to escape. Proper secured enclosures are essential.
Conclusion
Roadrunners are wild birds unsuited for life as pets. Their specialized care needs and inherent wild behaviors mean that keeping them properly requires specific permits, knowledge, facilities and resources only wildlife professionals can provide. Private ownership often ends badly for both owner and bird. Roadrunners are best appreciated living free in their natural habitat. For those with a passion for these unique birds, supporting conservation efforts or donating to rehabilitation clinics may allow you to ethically interact with and help protect these captivating desert-dwellers. If considering one for a pet, be sure to research all state and federal laws thoroughly first, and only obtain birds through properly licensed sources. With the right licensure and expertise, a roadrunner can be an engaging creature to learn from – but attempting to pet-keep them without credentials will likely do more harm than good.