Pets banned in every country

Owner beware: Your pet mongoose is non welcome here.

Exotic animal ownership requires not merely a willingness to care for unusual animals, but an understanding of the laws that regulate wildlife in particular states.

Laws vary widely beyond the country, but all are designed with the intent to protect public health and safety from animals considered to be 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 South Dakota and Kentucky). Some regulations appear nonsensical: In Colorado, you tin can own a bison, but non a hedgehog. Bummer.

Some states take exceptions or require owners to obtain permits for item animals, while a handful of states accept no specific requirements for owning wild animals every bit pets. Many states are clear about the penalties for illegally owning exotic pets, which can range from fees to criminal charges.

Considering the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Lodge of the U.s.a., abet for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home land, as well equally beyond the nation.

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Jim Harper // Wikimedia Eatables

Alabama

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

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

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Mas3cf // Wikimedia Eatables

Alaska

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

Alaska is 1 of many states that regulate exotic beast buying through permits. Bears, monkeys, wolves, and alive game animals are banned. Alaska will not result permits for the "capture, possession, import, or export of any game animal" for utilize as a pet. Simply some animals can be owned as pets, similar reindeer, llamas, and one-humped camels (dromedaries), as long equally they aren't released into the wild. Some species can exist temporarily released for the purpose of hunting or falcon training.

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Tambako The Jaguar // Flickr

Arizona

- Banned pets: jaguars, non-domestic canines, non-domestic felines, alligators, crocodiles, cobras, vipers

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

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Arkansas

- Banned pets: panthera leo, tiger, comport, vi or more bobcats, rabbits, quail, ape, baboon, macaque

If you lot own six or more than 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 weather condition, however, wolves are allowed. People can legally own big carnivores only if they had the animal on or earlier the date the regulation went into result—and even then, they must meet other requirements, including securing an annual let 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 unusual animals banned in the Gilt State. California police calls out specific wild species that "pose a threat to native wildlife, the agronomics interests of the state or to public wellness or safety."

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Colorado

- Banned pets: full general wildlife, wildebeest, raccoon, hedgehog, monk parakeet

Colorado police force notes that there is "growing interest in the private possession of live wildlife" simply also "considerable defoliation over the laws regarding such private possession." The state generally bans owning any species of wildlife native to Colorado, likewise as exotic animals. At that place are some exceptions, however. You can own up to 6 live native reptiles or amphibians as pets, except for specifically banned species. Falcons, hawks, and eagles are immune for falconry purposes.

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Connecticut

- Banned pets: panthera leo, leopard, bobcat, wolf, bear, chimpanzee

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

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Delaware

- Banned pets: full general wildlife, not-native poisonous snakes

Delaware residents cannot own wildlife not native to or generally found in Delaware without a special permit. Non-native poisonous snakes are also specifically banned. Those who break the law face up a fine of up to $500 and/or a prison sentence upward to thirty days.

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Florida

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

In 2011, a Florida adult female and her swain were sentenced to 12 years in prison later on their Burmese python escaped from its cage and strangled the woman's 2-year-quondam daughter to death. Venomous reptiles, besides as crocodiles, chimpanzees, tigers, lions, jaguars, and leopards are banned in the state. Some wild fauna are allowed via special allow.

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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 even that option is limited to certain groups—like those in the wholesale or retail wild animal concern, 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 under state law.

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Hawaii

- Banned pets: panthera leo, leopard, cheetah, wolf, coyote, blackness carry, grizzly carry, brown bear

Hawaii explicitly bans the "uncontrolled" introduction of exotic animals, which nowadays "serious danger to the agricultural, horticultural, and aquacultural industries, natural resources, and environs of Hawaii." The law allows for an advertizement hoc panel fabricated up of at least 3 people with expertise in vertebrate biology to determine if an fauna should be added to the banned list.

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Idaho

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

Idaho law prohibits any non-native animal that is determined to be "dangerous to the environment, livestock, agronomics, or wildlife of the state." People 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 buying of designated "unsafe" animals with special exceptions for zoos, federally licensed exhibits, circuses, scientific or educational institutions, research laboratories, veterinarian hospitals, or beast refuges. The following animals are considered dangerous under country constabulary: lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, bear, hyena, wolf, coyote, and any poisonous or life-threatening reptile. Violations of this constabulary tin 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 animal is in the position to harm some other animal—that permit can exist suspended.

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Iowa

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

A cautionary tale for exotic beast owners: Concluding summer in Iowa, a 2-year-onetime girl was attacked past a pet wolf, sustaining injuries to her arm and manus. 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 almanac registration fees; a pet elephant, for example, will set y'all back $500 each twelvemonth.

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Kansas

- Banned pets: panthera leo, tiger, leopard, jaguar, deport, 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 program" in the event that the brute escapes.

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Kentucky

- Banned pets: tiger, lion, bear, alligator, honey badger, raccoon canis familiaris

In Kentucky, "inherently unsafe" exotic animals—including primates, tigers, lions, bears, alligators, and honey badgers—are prohibited, unless they were endemic earlier July xiii, 2005, when the constabulary was enacted. Other banned animals include weavers, flying foxes, jackrabbits, and raccoon dogs.

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Louisiana

- Banned pets: carry, wolf, tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar, primate, fox

In the state of Louisiana, sure "potentially dangerous" quadrupeds, big exotic cats, and not-human primates are considered to pose "significant hazards to public safety and wellness" and are deemed "detrimental to the welfare of the animals." The law warns that the "size and force 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 man occurs." Bears, wolves, non-human primates, and large exotic cats are non allowed—only with a permit, you can ain a wolf/dog hybrid or venomous snake.

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Maine

- Banned pets: bear, moose, wild turkey, deer, king of beasts, cheetah, wolf, monkey, camel, alligator, monk parakeet, mute swan

In Maine, a permit is required to ain well-nigh wild birds or animals. Several species are not allowed, however: carry, moose, wild turkey, deer, lion, chetah, wolf, monkey, camel, alligator, monk parakeet, and swan. Merely the emu, domestic ferret, sugar glider, and chinchilla are allowed without a permit.

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Maryland

- Banned pets: trick, bear, alligator, tiger, leopard, wolf, monkey, certain venomous snakes, skunk

Maryland prohibits the ownership of foxes, bears, alligators, tigers, leopards, wolves, monkeys, sure venomous snakes, and skunks. Consequences for violating the law are more astringent here, where it'southward considered a misdemeanor; if convicted, you are subject field to up 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 non they are born in captivity, frequently revert to their wild nature when sexually mature and can do considerable harm to persons." There are five classes of special licenses available to own exotic animals.

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su neko // Wikimedia Commons

Michigan

- Banned pets: tiger, leopard, cheetah, lion, cougar, conduct, wolf-hybrid (exceptions apply)

Michigan devotes several provisions to the regulation of wolf-dogs in memory of Angie Nickerson, a 5-year-old who was killed by the beast in 1989. Her mother advocated for the passage of legislation to preclude 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 apply)

Minnesota has a designated list of "regulated animals" that are not allowed, including lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, servals, bears, and not-human primates. Those who authorize for exemption to own a regulated animal must have registered the animal past March ii, 2005. A person who knowingly violates this constabulary in Minnesota tin can be charged with a misdemeanor; if an animal causes bodily impairment, the owner can too face up a prison judgement of up to 90 days and/or a fine of up to $ane,000.

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Mississippi

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

Mississippi residents must obtain permits to own certain exotic animals considered dangerous. Before the permit is issued, the applicant must provide proof of liability insurance—$100,000 for each wild creature, upwardly to a maximum of $ane million. Public zoos, university enquiry facilities, governmental agencies, transient circuses, and rehabilitation or sanctuary facilities may be exempted from the permit, if the exemption is approved by a commission.

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Missouri

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

In Missouri, owners of "dangerous" wild fauna—including lions, wolves, or poisonous reptiles—must register their pets with their local law enforcement agency. Those who intermission the police force 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 than one comport, large cat, or a hybrid of a wild creature is banned without a permit. 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 still not allowed no matter what—namely, bears, tigers, leopards, wolves, and skunks.

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Nevada

- Banned pets: alligator, crocodile, bat, coyote, fox, raccoon, moose

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

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New Hampshire

- Banned pets: comport, 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 Jersey

- Banned pets: monkey, behave, 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 animal, submit a written statement of purpose for ownership, and meet other requirements in society to obtain a permit.

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New Mexico

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

Commonly banned wild fauna are prohibited in New Mexico, such as wolves, tigers, and bears. The country requires permits to import or own not-domestic animals.

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New York

- Banned pets: "wild fauna" including tiger, leopard, monkey, cheetah, deport, crocodile

If you're interested in a marsupial or other exotic mammal, New York may exist your place. The sugar glider, wallaby, kangaroo, capybara, and porcupine are allowed sans permit in the state. But you'll need a allow for certain other wildlife, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, skunks, and raccoons.

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Nevit Dilmen // Wikimedia Commons

North Carolina

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

In North Carolina, counties and cities can, by ordinance, regulate, restrict, or prohibit the possession of unsafe animals. Unique bans in the state include the ringtail, a mammal of the raccoon family, and the marten, a small carnivorous mammal that'due south a member of the Mustelidae family. Permits to own these and other banned animals are only 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 Northward Dakota, licenses are required for animals that are "duplicate from wild, indigenous species or present a health run a risk to wild and domestic species" and those that are considered inherently or environmentally dangerous. A "nontraditional livestock advisory quango" reviews special license applications.

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Ohio

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

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

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Oklahoma

- Banned pets: illegal to own wildlife without license (law doesn't cite specific animals)

Whatever unlicensed wild fauna is off the tabular array in Oklahoma. Permits are bachelor for $48. If convicted of breaking this law, yous face a fine of no less than $100 and the revocation of your wild animals license, if you have one.

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Oregon

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

Oregon residents must obtain a allow from the State Department of Agriculture to own exotic animals—although exemptions are in place for certain situations. People with disabilities who rely on service monkeys, for example, would be granted an exemption. But in 2011, the Associated Press reported that the state would not outcome 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 want to have exotic animals as pets in Pennsylvania must get a let from the state wildlife committee. It is illegal to "fail to practise due intendance in safeguarding the public from set on by exotic wild fauna," and anyone who violates that constabulary is discipline to penalties including fines.

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Bernard DUPONT // Wikimedia Commons

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 affliction, a permit is required to ain wild animals. If a legally owned wild animal poses a threat to public rubber in some mode, 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 bear, swell ape

Until this twelvemonth, South Carolina was one of five states across the country with no restrictions on owning wild fauna. On January. 1, 2018, a new law made it illegal to ain large cats, apes, or non-native bears. Wolves, coyotes, peccaries (certain species related to pigs), bison, mountain goats, mountain sheep, bears, turkeys, and furbearers are too banned.

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S Dakota

- Banned pets: non-domestic grunter, raccoon dog

Not-domestic pigs and raccoon dogs are specifically prohibited in South Dakota. Permits are necessary to own whatever kind of non-domestic mammals. All animals are subject to a veterinarian exam and must exist free of any contagious, infectious, epidemic, or catching illness.

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Tennessee

- Banned pets: baboon, wolf, conduct, lion, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros

In Tennessee, five different classes of animals come with different requirements. Native species can but be 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: lion, tiger, ocelot, cougar, leopard, chetah, jaguar, chimpanzee, orangutan

Texas requires a document of registration to own what it considers dangerous wild animals. If an animal attacks a human, the possessor must notify the registration bureau inside 48 hours—and if it escapes, immediately.

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Utah

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

Utah residents are required to obtain a registration document to own certain "controlled" species, while other animals are specifically prohibited. If you're a reptile enthusiast, y'all should know that it'southward legal to own a desert night lizard with a let, but the Glen Coulee chuckwalla (a relative of the iguana) is banned.

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Matthew Hoelscher // Flickr

Vermont

- Banned pets: acquit, king of beasts, tiger, wolf, gorilla, monkey

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

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Liaka ac // Wikimedia Commons

Virginia

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

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

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Thomas Brown // Wikimedia Commons

Washington

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

Washington bans many of the usual suspects: bears, certain types of snakes, and the like. People who endemic banned animals before the law took effect were immune to go on their animals until they pass.

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West Virginia

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

W Virginia's exotic animals law aims to protect non only humans and domesticated animals from potential impairment, but also to prevent the "mistreatment" of wild animals themselves. People can utilize for permits to ain animals considered potentially dangerous; those who interruption the law confront a misdemeanor charge and a fee of up to $2,000 for each prohibited animal.

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Wisconsin

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

It's illegal to ain a wild animal in Wisconsin without a license, with some exemptions. Permits are not required to own chipmunks, rats, squirrels, weasels, and pocket gophers, among other species.

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Wyoming

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

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

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