Can You Really Have A Pet Fox In Michigan?

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What Is Classified As An Exotic Animal?

Michigan's official website describes what they categorize as an exotic animal.

It is pretty simple.

"An exotic animal is any animal that is not native to the United States."

Easy to understand!

Before you get excited to own your exotic pet, there are certain animals that you can and cannot have in Michigan.

What Exotic Animals Can You Legally Own In Michigan?

If you were trying to have your pet fox, you are in luck.

Exotic Pet Wonderland says that all species of pet fox are legal in Michigan.

That includes:

• artic foxes (with a permit)
• red foxes (with a permit)
• fennec foxes (with a permit)
• pale foxes (with a permit)
• gray foxes (with a permit to hold game in captivity)

Besides foxes, you can have other animals as well.

You can have a pet mink as long as you have a permit to hold game in captivity. The mink also has to be purchased from a permitted USDA breeder.

If you want a pet raccoon, you can legally have one with a similar permit. However, they cannot be imported into Michigan from other states.

You can have your Willy Coyote moment cause pet coyotes are legal in Michigan as well.

Here are the rest of the animals that are legal to own as pets in Michigan.

• Bobcats
• servals
• Savannah Cats
• Asian Leopard
• Bengal Cats
• Skunks
• Opossums
• Bats

What Exotic Animals Are Illegal To Own In Michigan?

If you were planning on fulfilling your backyard zoo dreams, you would be slightly disappointed.

First, according to Michigan's Agriculture and Rural Development, all exotic, zoo, or circus animals have to be regulated by agencies or local authorities.

You cannot have the following animals as a pet in the state of Michigan:

• wolf-dog hybrids,
• lions,
• tigers,
• lynx,
• cougars,
• cheetahs,
• leopards,
• jaguars,
• panthers, and
• bears

You can also not own a pet raccoon dog or tanukis in Michigan. If you want more information, you can check here