Pets banned in every state

Owner beware: Your pet mongoose is not welcome hither.

Exotic animal ownership requires not just a willingness to intendance for unusual animals, just an understanding of the laws that regulate wild animals in detail states.

Laws vary widely across the state, simply all are designed with the intent to protect public health and safety from animals considered to exist inherently dangerous.

Banned animals range from the more obvious—lions, tigers, bears, wolves—to the obscure, such as mongooses (prohibited in Alabama) and the raccoon dog (banned in both Due south Dakota and Kentucky). Some regulations appear nonsensical: In Colorado, you lot can ain a bison, only non a hedgehog. Bummer.

Some states have exceptions or crave owners to obtain permits for particular animals, while a handful of states accept no specific requirements for owning wildlife as pets. Many states are clear about the penalties for illegally owning exotic pets, which can range from fees to criminal charges.

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United states, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning big cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home land, too as across the nation.

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Jim Harper // Wikimedia Commons

Alabama

- Banned pets: mongoose, jackrabbit, moose, deer, elk, fox

Alabama has a long list of banned species: the mongoose, jackrabbit, moose, deer, elk, fob, walking catfish, piranha, raccoons from exterior of the state, wild rabbits or hare, coyote, skunk, and wild turkey, among others. Alabama also explicitly prohibits the release of whatsoever turkey (wild or tame) or nutria (a species of large, aquatic rodent). Residents cannot own any protected wild bird or animal, except with written permission from a designated employee of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

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Mas3cf // Wikimedia Commons

Alaska

- Banned pets: bears, monkeys, wolves, and other live game animals

Alaska is 1 of many states that regulate exotic animate being buying through permits. Bears, monkeys, wolves, and live game animals are banned. Alaska will not upshot permits for the "capture, possession, import, or consign of any game animal" for use as a pet. But some animals tin be endemic as pets, like reindeer, llamas, and one-humped camels (dromedaries), equally long as they aren't released into the wild. Some species can be temporarily released for the purpose of hunting or falcon training.

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Tambako The Jaguar // Flickr

Arizona

- Banned pets: jaguars, not-domestic canines, not-domestic felines, alligators, crocodiles, cobras, vipers

Don't bring your jaguar to Arizona—the species is banned in the country, though Arizona does permit residents to own certain wild animals as pets every bit long equally they obtain special licenses and permits.

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Arkansas

- Banned pets: lion, tiger, conduct, six or more bobcats, rabbits, quail, ape, baboon, macaque

If you own six or more bobcats, you're out of luck in Arkansas. That specific amount of bobcats is prohibited, as are whatever lions, tigers, bears, rabbits, quails, apes, baboons, and macaques. Under certain conditions, still, wolves are allowed. People can legally own large carnivores only if they had the animal on or before the appointment the regulation went into effect—and even then, they must run into other requirements, including securing an almanac permit for personal possession.

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Marieke IJsendoorn-Kuijpers // Flickr

California

- Banned pets: wolverine, bighorn sheep, falcon

Wolverine, bighorn sheep, and shrews are some of the more than unusual animals banned in the Aureate Country. California law calls out specific wild species that "pose a threat to native wildlife, the agriculture interests of the state or to public wellness or safety."

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Colorado

- Banned pets: general wild animals, wildebeest, raccoon, hedgehog, monk parakeet

Colorado police notes that in that location is "growing interest in the individual possession of live wildlife" but also "considerable confusion over the laws regarding such private possession." The state generally bans owning any species of wildlife native to Colorado, as well as exotic animals. At that place are some exceptions, however. You can own up to half dozen alive native reptiles or amphibians as pets, except for specifically banned species. Falcons, hawks, and eagles are allowed for falconry purposes.

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Connecticut

- Banned pets: lion, leopard, bobcat, wolf, behave, chimpanzee

Connecticut considers the post-obit animals to exist dangerous and, as such, prohibited: the lion, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, ocelot, jaguarundi cat, puma, lynx, bobcat, wolf, coyote, and whatsoever species of bear. Those found in violation of the law face a fine of upwardly to $100 for each offense.

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Delaware

- Banned pets: general wildlife, non-native poisonous snakes

Delaware residents cannot own wildlife non native to or generally plant in Delaware without a special permit. Non-native poisonous snakes are besides specifically banned. Those who suspension the law face a fine of up to $500 and/or a prison sentence up to 30 days.

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Florida

- Banned pets: chimpanzees, tigers, lions, crocodiles, jaguars, leopards, venomous reptiles

In 2011, a Florida woman and her boyfriend were sentenced to 12 years in prison after their Burmese python escaped from its cage and strangled the woman's 2-year-onetime daughter to expiry. Venomous reptiles, as well as crocodiles, chimpanzees, tigers, lions, jaguars, and leopards are banned in the state. Some wild animals are immune via special permit.

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Georgia

- Banned pets: kangaroo, monkey, fox, wolf, crocodile, alligator, cobra

In Georgia, specific animals are banned unless the owner gets a wild animal license or permit, and fifty-fifty that option is limited to certain groups—like those in the wholesale or retail wild animal business, those exhibiting wild animals to the public, and those using the animals for scientific or educational purposes. Animals including kangaroos, monkeys, foxes, wolves, crocodiles, alligators, and cobras are considered "inherently dangerous" to humans nether state law.

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Hawaii

- Banned pets: lion, leopard, cheetah, wolf, coyote, black bear, grizzly carry, dark-brown bear

Hawaii explicitly bans the "uncontrolled" introduction of exotic animals, which present "serious danger to the agronomical, horticultural, and aquacultural industries, natural resource, and environment of Hawaii." The law allows for an ad hoc panel fabricated upwardly of at to the lowest degree 3 people with expertise in vertebrate biology to determine if an animal should exist added to the banned listing.

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Idaho

- Banned pets: big cats, all non-native canidae species, primates

Idaho police force prohibits any not-native animal that is determined to be "dangerous to the environment, livestock, agriculture, or wild fauna of the country." People tin can only own exotic animals with special permits. "Deleterious" animals include deer, wolves, cheetahs, jaguars, lions, tigers, sheep, and the European hedgehog (American hedgehogs welcome!), among others.

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Illinois

- Banned pets: big cat species, wolves, jaguars, poisonous life-threatening reptiles

Illinois prohibits the ownership of designated "dangerous" animals with special exceptions for zoos, federally licensed exhibits, circuses, scientific or educational institutions, research laboratories, veterinary hospitals, or brute refuges. The following animals are considered unsafe under land law: panthera leo, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, conduct, hyena, wolf, coyote, and any poisonous or life-threatening reptile. Violations of this police can result in a misdemeanor charge.

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Indiana

- Banned pets: beaver, coyote, raccoon, skunk, wolf, venomous reptiles

Without permits, people in Indiana cannot own the following: foxes, raccoons, skunks, wolves, bears, wild cats, venomous reptiles, or crocodiles. The permits cost $10 each. If an "emergency exists"—i.due east. the animate being is in the position to harm some other animal—that allow can be suspended.

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Iowa

- Banned pets: wolf, hyena, leopard, conduct, primate, crocodile, cobra, python

A cautionary tale for exotic fauna owners: Last summer in Iowa, a 2-year-sometime daughter was attacked by a pet wolf, sustaining injuries to her arm and hand. The wolf was later euthanized. Other prohibited animals include hyenas, leopards, bears, primates, crocodiles, cobras, and pythons. Those who ain legal exotic animals in Iowa are subject to annual registration fees; a pet elephant, for case, will gear up you back $500 each yr.

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Kansas

- Banned pets: lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, bear, non-native venomous snake

Kansas bans large cats, bears, and non-native venomous snakes. Legal exotic pets come with stringent requirements, including registration fees, inspections, insurance coverage, and a "written recovery plan" in the consequence that the animal escapes.

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Kentucky

- Banned pets: tiger, lion, carry, alligator, honey annoy, raccoon canis familiaris

In Kentucky, "inherently dangerous" exotic animals—including primates, tigers, lions, bears, alligators, and dearest badgers—are prohibited, unless they were owned before July xiii, 2005, when the law was enacted. Other banned animals include weavers, flight foxes, jackrabbits, and raccoon dogs.

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Louisiana

- Banned pets: conduct, wolf, tiger, king of beasts, leopard, jaguar, primate, fox

In the state of Louisiana, sure "potentially unsafe" quadrupeds, large exotic cats, and not-human primates are considered to pose "significant hazards to public rubber and health" and are deemed "detrimental to the welfare of the animals." The constabulary warns that the "size and forcefulness of such animals in concert with their natural and unpredictable and/or predatory nature tin can result in severe injury or death when an attack upon a human occurs." Bears, wolves, non-human primates, and large exotic cats are not allowed—but with a permit, you tin ain a wolf/canis familiaris hybrid or venomous snake.

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Maine

- Banned pets: deport, moose, wild turkey, deer, lion, cheetah, wolf, monkey, camel, alligator, monk parakeet, mute swan

In Maine, a let is required to own most wild birds or animals. Several species are not allowed, withal: behave, moose, wild turkey, deer, lion, cheetah, wolf, monkey, camel, alligator, monk parakeet, and swan. Just the emu, domestic ferret, sugar glider, and chinchilla are allowed without a permit.

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Maryland

- Banned pets: flim-flam, bear, alligator, tiger, leopard, wolf, monkey, sure venomous snakes, skunk

Maryland prohibits the ownership of foxes, bears, alligators, tigers, leopards, wolves, monkeys, sure venomous snakes, and skunks. Consequences for violating the police are more astringent here, where information technology's considered a misdemeanor; if convicted, you lot are subject to upwards to $1,000 in fines.

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Rushen // Wikimedia Commons

Massachusetts

- Banned pets: non-domesticated, non-hybrid wild animals unless specifically exempted

In Massachusetts, state law warns that wild animals, "regardless of whether or not they are built-in in captivity, often revert to their wild nature when sexually mature and can do considerable harm to persons." In that location are v classes of special licenses available to own exotic animals.

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su neko // Wikimedia Eatables

Michigan

- Banned pets: tiger, leopard, cheetah, lion, cougar, bear, wolf-hybrid (exceptions utilize)

Michigan devotes several provisions to the regulation of wolf-dogs in retentivity of Angie Nickerson, a 5-year-old who was killed past the animal in 1989. Her mother advocated for the passage of legislation to foreclose future deaths by wolf-dogs and other potentially unsafe animals.

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Minnesota

- Banned pets: "regulated animals" including acquit, tiger, cheetah, leopard, monkey, lemur (exceptions employ)

Minnesota has a designated list of "regulated animals" that are non allowed, including lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, servals, bears, and non-human primates. Those who qualify for exemption to own a regulated fauna must have registered the animal by March 2, 2005. A person who knowingly violates this police force in Minnesota tin be charged with a misdemeanor; if an animal causes actual harm, the owner can likewise face a prison house judgement of upwards to 90 days and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

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Mississippi

- Banned pets: orangutans, macaques, mandrills, baboons, hyenas, elephants

Mississippi residents must obtain permits to ain sure exotic animals considered dangerous. Before the permit is issued, the applicant must provide proof of liability insurance—$100,000 for each wild animal, up to a maximum of $1 meg. Public zoos, university enquiry facilities, governmental agencies, transient circuses, and rehabilitation or sanctuary facilities may be exempted from the permit, if the exemption is canonical by a commission.

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Missouri

- Banned pets: unregistered dangerous wild animals including ocelot, leopard, monkey, tiger, behave, wolf

In Missouri, owners of "dangerous" wild animals—including lions, wolves, or poisonous reptiles—must register their pets with their local law enforcement agency. Those who intermission the law confront a misdemeanor accuse.

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BirdPhotos.com // Wikimedia Commons

Montana

- Banned pets: ape, bat, gibbon, raccoon, skunk, alligator; more than one large bear or large cat without permit

In Montana, keeping more than one conduct, big cat, or a hybrid of a wild animal is banned without a let. Permit and health certificates are required to bring certain animals into the state.

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Nebraska

- Banned Pets: bear, tiger, leopard, wolf, skunk

Special permits are required for exotic animal ownership in Nebraska, but some animals are nevertheless not allowed no affair what—namely, bears, tigers, leopards, wolves, and skunks.

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Nevada

- Banned pets: alligator, crocodile, bat, coyote, pull a fast one on, raccoon, moose

Pet crocodiles are banned in Nevada, but if you own an elephant, you're within state law. Explicitly prohibited animals include alligators, bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and moose.

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New Hampshire

- Banned pets: bear, tiger, leopard, monkey, ape, wolf, poisonous reptile, monkey

Like many other states, New Hampshire bans bears, tigers, leopards, monkeys, apes, wolves, poisonous reptiles, and monkeys. Permits are required for some simply not all species—if you own a chinchilla, ferret, llama, carbohydrate glider, camel, or bison, you're in the clear.

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New Bailiwick of jersey

- Banned pets: monkey, bear, tiger, leopard, crocodile, viper, cobra, alligator, prairie dog

Unusual animals banned in New Jersey include vipers, band-necked parakeets, and gila monsters (a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States). Owners of these and other prohibited "potentially dangerous" animals must have "extensive experience in maintaining" the creature, submit a written argument of purpose for ownership, and see other requirements in gild to obtain a permit.

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New Mexico

- Banned pets: crocodile, monkey, alligator, wolf, skunk, tiger, leopard, bear

Commonly banned wild animals are prohibited in New Mexico, such equally wolves, tigers, and bears. The state requires permits to import or own non-domestic animals.

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New York

- Banned pets: "wild animals" including tiger, leopard, monkey, cheetah, bear, crocodile

If you're interested in a marsupial or other exotic mammal, New York may be your identify. The sugar glider, wallaby, kangaroo, capybara, and porcupine are immune sans permit in the state. But you'll demand a let for sure other wild animals, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, skunks, and raccoons.

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Nevit Dilmen // Wikimedia Commons

North Carolina

- Banned pets: possession of unsafe animals regulated by cities and counties

In North Carolina, counties and cities can, by ordinance, regulate, restrict, or prohibit the possession of dangerous animals. Unique bans in the state include the ringtail, a mammal of the raccoon family, and the marten, a small-scale carnivorous mammal that'due south a member of the Mustelidae family. Permits to own these and other banned animals are just given to research institutes, public displays, or organized entertainment such every bit zoos or circuses.

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North Dakota

- Banned pets: skunk, raccoon, venomous reptile

In N Dakota, licenses are required for animals that are "indistinguishable from wild, indigenous species or nowadays a health take a chance to wild and domestic species" and those that are considered inherently or environmentally dangerous. A "nontraditional livestock advisory council" reviews special license applications.

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Ohio

- Banned pets: king of beasts, tiger, conduct, elephant, alligator, monkey, serval

The state of Ohio considers hippopotami, Komodo dragons, and howler monkeys, among other animals, dangerous. Snakes that are 12 feet or longer are also prohibited. Permits are required for certain situations, including exempted dangerous animals.

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Oklahoma

- Banned pets: illegal to ain wild fauna without license (law doesn't cite specific animals)

Any unlicensed wildlife is off the table in Oklahoma. Permits are available for $48. If bedevilled of breaking this law, you face a fine of no less than $100 and the revocation of your wildlife license, if you take one.

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Oregon

- Banned pets: wildcat, primate, any canine not indigenous to Oregon

Oregon residents must obtain a let from the Country Section of Agronomics to own exotic animals—although exemptions are in place for sure situations. People with disabilities who rely on service monkeys, for instance, would be granted an exemption. Only in 2011, the Associated Press reported that the land would not effect any new permits until the existing population of exotic pets thins out over the course of time.

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Pennsylvania

- Banned pets: tiger, king of beasts, monkey, crocodile, leopard

Those who desire to have exotic animals as pets in Pennsylvania must go a permit from the country wildlife commission. It is illegal to "fail to exercise due care in safeguarding the public from attack by exotic wildlife," and anyone who violates that law is subject to penalties including fines.

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Bernard DUPONT // Wikimedia Eatables

Rhode Island

- Banned pets: allow required for primates, carnivores, amphibia, reptilia, canidae, and insecta

To protect the people of Rhode Island from physical damage and disease, a permit is required to own wild fauna. If a legally owned wild animal poses a threat to public safety in some way, law enforcement can confiscate information technology.

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USFWS Pacific Southwest Region // Wikimedia Commons

S Carolina

- Banned pets: coyote, wolf, tiger, panthera leo, non-native comport, dandy ape

Until this year, Southward Carolina was i of five states beyond the country with no restrictions on owning wild animals. On Jan. 1, 2018, a new law made it illegal to own large cats, apes, or not-native bears. Wolves, coyotes, peccaries (certain species related to pigs), bison, mountain goats, mount sheep, bears, turkeys, and furbearers are also banned.

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South Dakota

- Banned pets: non-domestic hog, raccoon domestic dog

Non-domestic pigs and raccoon dogs are specifically prohibited in South Dakota. Permits are necessary to own any kind of non-domestic mammals. All animals are subject to a veterinarian test and must be costless of whatever contagious, infectious, epidemic, or communicable illness.

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Tennessee

- Banned pets: birdie, wolf, bear, lion, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros

In Tennessee, five unlike classes of animals come with different requirements. Native species can only exist possessed by zoos and temporary exhibitors, while residents can own animals such as rabbits, chinchillas, and llamas without a permit.

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Texas

- Banned pets: king of beasts, tiger, ocelot, cougar, leopard, chetah, jaguar, chimpanzee, orangutan

Texas requires a certificate of registration to own what it considers unsafe wild fauna. If an animate being attacks a human, the owner must notify the registration agency within 48 hours—and if information technology escapes, immediately.

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Utah

- Banned pets: cheetah, monkey, ape, gorilla, kangaroo, lemur

Utah residents are required to obtain a registration certificate to own certain "controlled" species, while other animals are specifically prohibited. If you lot're a reptile enthusiast, you should know that information technology's legal to own a desert dark lizard with a allow, merely the Glen Coulee chuckwalla (a relative of the iguana) is banned.

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Matthew Hoelscher // Flickr

Vermont

- Banned pets: bear, lion, tiger, wolf, gorilla, monkey

Permits are required in Vermont to own restricted wildlife. However, unrestricted animals include llamas, bison, ostriches, and alligators, amid others.

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Liaka ac // Wikimedia Eatables

Virginia

- Banned pets: bear, wolf, coyote, weasel, badger, hyena

In Virginia, it'southward illegal to own non-native exotic animals that are considered predatory or undesirable as a pet. According to the land, not-native exotic animals include, but are not limited to: bears, wolves, coyotes, weasels, badgers, hyenas, all species of non-domesticated cats, alligators, and crocodiles.

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Thomas Brown // Wikimedia Eatables

Washington

- Banned pets: crocodile, elephant, lion, tiger, chetah, hyena

Washington bans many of the usual suspects: bears, certain types of snakes, and the similar. People who owned banned animals before the police force took effect were immune to keep their animals until they pass.

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West Virginia

- Banned pets: panthera leo, tiger, deport, elephant, gray wolf, cheetah, alligator, crocodile, hyena

Westward Virginia's exotic animals police aims to protect not just humans and domesticated animals from potential harm, merely also to preclude the "mistreatment" of wild fauna themselves. People tin apply for permits to ain animals considered potentially dangerous; those who break the law confront a misdemeanor charge and a fee of upward to $2,000 for each prohibited animal.

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Wisconsin

- Banned pets: cougar, black bear, raccoon, bobcat

It's illegal to own a wild animal in Wisconsin without a license, with some exemptions. Permits are non required to own chipmunks, rats, squirrels, weasels, and pocket gophers, amid other species.

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Wyoming

- Banned pets: big game animals, bays game, wolf, wolf hybrids

Large-game and trophy animals are banned in Wyoming. Antelope, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, moose, and mountain goats are categorized as big-game animals; bays animals include black bears, grizzly bears, and mount lions. Permits are required for some wildlife.

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