Government is considering revising its policy concerning the importation of exotic animals to be sold as pets, it emerged on Tuesday.

The news broke as Bermuda's veterinarians and Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) lined up to oppose an application by a pet-store owner to be allowed to import skunks and African pygmy hedgehogs.

Pic-a-Pet owner Bryan Parkin, who applied for the license last month, said fears that the animals would create feral problems were "unfounded".

He was originally granted the permit and allowed to import some hedgehogs early last month but the application was taken under review by Government a second time a few weeks later.

On Tuesday, Government veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Nisbett said the application was still being considered. He added that a series of meetings are being held by Environment Ministry officials to discuss guidelines concerning the importation of exotic pets in general.

Veterinarian Dr. Andrew Madeiros said he spoke for "pretty much every vet on the Island" in opposing the idea.

"It is hard to say what impact these animals will have on the natural environment. The last thing we need right now is a species that might become problem in the future," he said.

"Skunks are considered to be a nuisance in other countries," he added. "I would be concerned that anyone who was thinking of buying these animals might not know what they were getting themselves into and would not know how to take care of them properly.

"The capacities for any problems with them far exceeds any enjoyment that might be gained."

Dr. Madeiros said he only found out about the application when someone came to his practice and asked him to treat their hedgehog for a foot injury.

SPCA president Deborah Riley said she opposed the application on the grounds that skunks and hedgehogs might become the new feral menace if - and when - "irresponsible" owners become tired of looking after them and let them out into the wild. She said hedgehogs and skunks were "opportunistic" feeders which, if released into nature, would have an unknown effect on the environment.

"We have been under the obviously misguided impression that animals that can survive and thrive in the wild have been banned or discouraged from importation."

"We can't imagine why anyone in Government would even consider, much less support, this idea."

Mr. Parkin defended moves to bring the animals in and pointed to the fact that skunks are kept as pets in the United States.

He noted that the pets would not be sold in great numbers "because they are not cheap". "I think fears that people will just discard them and let them go into the wild are completely unfounded."

And Mr. Parkin said: "We've done our homework on these animals. We make sure that whoever would buy them knows how to look after them properly."