It’s illegal to own these animals as pets!
Pets bring joy into our lives, and this is why they are so popular. Sharing your existence with a little or maybe a bigger companion gives you purpose and makes you feel a type of fulfillment you can’t find in any other way.
Now we are used to people having puppies and cats or maybe a turtle or a spider if they are more eccentric, but not any animal can become your pet. Actually, most animals are illegal to keep at home.
Most of these animals are banned because they are dangerous, and they have to stay in the wild. Also, if you take them out of their habitat, they might destroy other habitats, and we don’t want that.
So, let’s see what animals are illegal to own as pets in the US and the reasons behind this. Read on and see if your favorite animal made it onto the list!
Squirrels
Yes, they are very cute, and you can interact with them in a lot of public parks, but you can’t own them as pets because this is against the law in 26 states! Some of these states are Alabama, Alaska, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire.
They have fluffy tails and tiny paws, but don’t let their innocent looks fool you! First of all, no matter how cute they are, they are still wild animals. They need space to climb and jump, and you are not able to offer them this inside your home.
Then, you need to remember that their claws are not made just for climbing. They also use them to fight, and you can imagine how sharp they are. This means they will destroy your furniture with no effort at all.
All in all, squirrels are very active animals who will never enjoy life inside a regular home, and this is why they should stay in the wild.
Sugar gliders
Also known as the “flying squirrels,” these are other animals you can’t keep as pets in your home. First of all, you need to know that these furry superheroes with their big eyes and built-in capes are not squirrels. They are actually small marsupials, so they are somehow the cousins of kangaroos.
Unfortunately, if you are dreaming about a sugar glider companion, you can stop now because they’re illegal to own in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and even certain cities like New York City.
Why the ban? Well, sugar gliders will most likely become depressed if you keep them in a cage. They need open spaces to, you know, glide around, and if they are unable to do that, they will surely be unhappy.
Since no one wants to do something bad to animals, owning them as pets is banned, and everyone should understand this and not attempt to think they are greater than the law and the well-being of the sugar gliders.
Hedgehogs
Again, this is a quite common animal you can spot in the wild, but they are not meant to be our pets. Despite their rising popularity as exotic pets, African pygmy hedgehogs are illegal to own in California, Hawaii, Georgia, Washington D.C., New York City, and Omaha.
So, if you were hoping to be able to have a hedgehog as your companion, well, this is not possible. First of all, they are not made to live inside a home. They are shy and prefer solitude. Probably they will never be happy to interact with you.
Also, it’s risky to keep them around you because they are carrying zoonotic diseases like salmonella and ringworm. These little spiky balls should remain in the wild because that is their home.
Turtles with a shell less than four inches long
We know that this sounds very specific, but there is a good reason behind all of this. Owning a turtle with a shell smaller than four inches has been illegal in the U.S. since 1975, and this ban was initiated under the FDA’s Public Health Services Act.
These reptiles might seem like the perfect pocket-sized companions, but they naturally carry salmonella on their shells, and this is especially dangerous for young children. They don’t bother at all with washing their hands, and this means they could get sick in no time.
Since we don’t want a salmonella epidemic, these small turtles should stay in nature where they belong.
Wolves
They might seem like cool pets. Something like upgraded dogs, which are more fierce and territorial, owning wolves is illegal all over the US. These are not some fluffy dogs! Wolves can’t be domesticated no matter how hard you try, and they are very dangerous. They have thousands of years of instincts hardwired into their DNA, and their behavior is different from dogs.
One moment they may act playful and loving only for them to snap later when their predatory instinct kicks in. You don’t want your pets to see you as prey, and this is a little hard to achieve with wolves.
Also, please let’s not forget their intelligence. They are true escape artists, and no matter how hard you try to keep them enclosed, they have a great chance to escape. Now imagine how it would be to have stray wolves on the streets. Not great for sure!
Gerbils
When you look at them you would say that they are the perfect pets. They are small, fluffy, and brimming with energy. But if you are a resident of California or Hawaii, you need to know that having one of these at home could land you a fine!
Compared to other pets, gerbils are not aggressive or dangerous. But they love to live in the wild, and they have a sick survival instinct. California and Hawaii have climates similar to the gerbil’s natural desert habitat, so if they escape or you release them, they can easily form wild colonies.
Unfortunately, this is not good for the habitat and other animals. Gerbils are adorable, but they love to dig and also are fast breeders and expert food hoarders. This is the perfect recipe for an ecological disaster.
Raccoons
These masked bandits look very cute when you see them in videos posted on the internet. But please don’t be fooled because they are truly wild in every sense of the word! They have adorable tiny hands and are curious and might seem like fantastic and goofy pets, but they are illegal in most states.
Only a handful of places, including Arkansas, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin, allow you to own one, and even then, it’s not exactly recommended. But why are they banned from being owned as pets? Well, they are simply feral! They are escape artists and also love to open doors and cupboards. They will destroy your house.
Also, they love to steal food and search in the trash. Even more problematic, they carry diseases such as rabies and roundworms, making them a serious health risk.
Are you always on the go and you are also taking your dog with you? No problem! This portable dog water bottle is all you need to always be prepared!
You should also read: 5 Signs of Snakes in Your Backyard
