Laws Against Keeping Wildlife

photo: (c) GPD

Federal and state laws prohibit you from keeping any protected wildlife (most native animals), even if you're temporarily caring for it with the intent of releasing it. Wildlife rehabilitators and care centers, on the other hand, are licensed to hold and treat injured wildlife.

Not only is it illegal, but wild animals do not make good household pets and captivity poses a constant stress to them. Just as children need their parents nurturing, so do young wild animals. Wildlife raised apart from their own species fail to develop survival skills and fear of humans, essentially eliminating any hope for living in the wild.

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