Can You Adopt A Wild Animal As A Pet In Michigan?

People are crazy about their pets. An estimated 62% of Michigan homes have a pet, with dogs and cats being the most popular pets across the state. But if you've ever had a kid, you know any animal could be a pet if it's cute enough (or ugly enough).

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Take, for example, my girlfriend's sister-in-law, who raises tiny jumping spiders. Are they cute? Yes. Are they easy to take care of? Mostly. If that were me, and if they were to escape, would I burn my house down? You betcha.

But that pet is completely legal, albeit not a normal one. But there are plenty of exotic pets considered illegal in the state. On the same page, there are some animals you wouldn't expect Michiganders to be able to own as a pet that the law is totally cool with.

Michigan's Exotic Animals Rules

The Department of Agriculture & Rural Development defines an exotic animal as any animal that is not native to the United States. This includes the obvious ones like lions, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, and other unique big cats (aka large carnivores) you find in any children's book.

READ MORE: Find A Stray Animal? Here's How To Check For A Chip In Michigan

Circus and zoo animals, such as elephants, camels, and others, require state approval. The only large animal native to Michigan that you cannot have as a pet is a bear. So does that mean you can just catch any animal and make it a pet?

Wild/Captive Animal Laws

Yes, but no. It is illegal to just take an animal from the wild and keep it as a pet. No matter how cute that raccoon is, you can't trap it and make it your pet. Some states allow you to import the animal as a pet, but Michigan is not one of those states. You cannot import:

wild turkeys or their eggs, wild turkey hybrids or their eggs, mute swans or their eggs, skunks, raccoons, wild rabbits, and wild hares

However, there are a number of hurdles you can jump through that will allow you to get some of the above animals as a pet. Let's say you want a raccoon.

How To Legally Own A "Wild" Animal As A Pet

It starts with applying for a "Permit to Hold Game in Captivity" permit. This allows you to get the raccoon from a legal breeder. This is not a pet permission slip; the state doesn't just hand these out. This permit can be difficult to obtain, and you need the proper habitat for the animal to live comfortably.

So even if you get all the paperwork approved, these animals can still be difficult to care for. At the end of the day, there are plenty of animals in shelters that would love a happy home, so you're better off getting a safe and legal animal.