by Teddy Colcher (6th)

We all know about pets—in fact, most people reading this probably have at least one. But for every dog, cat, or pet fish owned by millions, there are many other animals that are banned in certain areas of the world. Today, I’ll be talking about a few animals that are illegal to own in certain states—or even across the entire country!

Animal 1: Eagles

Thanks to the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, eagles cannot be hunted, and their feathers, eggs, and nests cannot be collected. Because of these protections, they also cannot be owned as pets. In every state in the U.S., owning an eagle is illegal.

Animal 2: Skunks

Surprisingly, owning a skunk is actually legal in 17 states, including our home state of Pennsylvania! However, most other states ban them. Many people who own skunks have them descented, meaning their scent glands are removed so they can’t spray their strong odor.

Animal 3: Tigers

Similar to eagles, tigers are protected by laws such as the Big Cat Public Safety Act. This makes it illegal to own them in most cases across the U.S. Adult tigers can eat up to 15 pounds of meat a day, which is another reason they are not suitable as pets.

Animal 4: Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders are legal in most U.S. states, but they are banned in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, and New Mexico. They are also not allowed in certain cities, such as New York City. These small marsupials are very social and need frequent interaction with others of their kind, or they can become lonely and unhappy.

Animal 5: Squirrels

The final animal on this list is the squirrel. Owning a squirrel is illegal in 26 states, including Alaska, New Hampshire, Alabama, Wisconsin, and here in Pennsylvania. In addition to legal concerns, squirrels can be difficult pets—their sharp claws can easily damage furniture and household items.

Conclusion

I hope you learned something new from this article! This is a fascinating topic, and it’s interesting to see how different laws apply to different animals. Let me know what you think—and have a great day!