NORTH EAST, Md. — “Ziki, where are you going?” yelled Robert Hodge, as his zebra raced toward the opposite end of the 84-acre farm nestled next to the Elk River.
The zebra appeared uneasy by the arrival of WUSA9 journalists.
“I think he knows when there’s a camera on them,” Hodge said.
WUSA9 traveled to the Elk Riverview Farm in Cecil County to speak with Hodge about the three zebras that have become a local attraction in North East, Maryland.
“We do have quite a few [people] that when they hear about [the zebras], they want to check it out because it's a novelty,” said Hodge who added the average cost for a zebra is roughly $10,000.
He said he’s happily owned his zebras: Ziki, Susie, and Shirley for the last six years. Although Hodge has enjoyed the experience, he doesn’t recommend others run out and purchase one.
“I don't encourage it at all,” Hodge explained. “They're still wild animals. They require good fencing and they're hard to handle. And even though we've had very good luck with their health, not everyone may experience that. So, I don't think it’s very good for the backyard farmer.”
The difficulties of owning zebras are on full display in Prince George’s County. Escaped zebras continue their more than 9-week run at freedom. Their owner, Jerry Holly, was charged with three counts of animal cruelty in Prince George’s County District Court.
Hodge said the news of the escaped zebras left him concerned for their well-being. The situation, however, did not raise fears about what could happen on his farm more than 90 miles away.
“There's a group of horseback riders that rustle cattle,” said Hodge, explaining his strategy for corralling his zebras if they were to escape. “I would call them and say, ‘Come on down here and get your posse together and let's round up some zebras.'
He believes the likelihood of his zebras escaping is small because they are treated well and are comfortable with their surroundings.
“I think they feel very secure being here. And they know that that fence is protection for them,” explained Hodge.
The process of acquiring a zebra appears uncomplicated. Most zebras are purchased through auctions. Hodge purchased two of his zebras from an exotic livestock animal auction in Missouri. Another came from Indiana. It isn’t clear how many zebras are privately owned in Maryland or nationwide. The International Zebra-Zorse-Zonkey Association (IZZZA) estimated roughly 3,000 zebras are living in backyards and farms throughout the United States. Getting an accurate accounting of the number of zebras that are privately owned is difficult because many states do not require paperwork to own a zebra and few organizations track them.
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources told WUSA 9 that they do not regulate nor provide permits for zebra, the agency said in an emailed statement. The agency also does not keep data on the number of privately owned zebras in the state.
And depending on where you live, no permit is necessary to own a zebra, said the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service when WUSA 9 contacted the agency for information. A representative explained that zebra’s that are treated like and are considered pets do not fall under federal regulation.
"We call them pasture ornaments,“ said Hodge gazing at his farm’s biggest attraction. “They eat the pasture grass and it keeps us from having to mow it. We just enjoy watching them and seeing them enjoy our space.”