WILD ANIMALS THAT ARE LEGAL TO KEEP AS PETS BUT PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE

SQUIRREL MONKEYS

Squirrel monkeys are not known for being the cleanest or the most

disciplined pets on earth. To give you an idea of their hygiene

peculiarities (you know, in case you’re thinking of getting one),

they use urine to wash their hands and feet (in the wild, this helps

them leave a scent trail when tree hoping).

EMPEROR SCORPIONS

They might sound dangerous and intimidating but scorpions

have become increasingly popular pets lately, especially

emperor scorpions. They are not great for handling, but they

are quiet, clean, and easy to care for. The good thing about

emperor scorpions is that they are not particularly dangerous,

in contrast to some other species of scorpion. Their sting has

been likened to a bee’s in that it is painful, but medical

attention is not usually necessary.

BEARS

As we all know bears are famous for having impressive strength

and a huge appetite for meat. They are also very curious

animals and often show interest in approaching humans,

including breaking into their homes, which both wild and

captive bears have done many times.

GENETS

Genets are long, lean carnivores with a tail usually at least as

long as their body. Genets resemble elongated cats or ferrets

and can appear catlike, except for their longer faces.

They have a long, thin body set on short legs, and their ears are

large and rounded. Like cats, genets have semi-retractable claws

and they can erect a crest of hair at the base of their spine when

frightened. To make a long story short, if you’re tired of cats

and want to try something new then just get a genet and you

won’t regret it.

DEGUS

Degus are very social animals and can become very tame if handled

from an early age. However, they do best when they are with other

degus because of their social nature. They are playful and curious

but keep in mind that without social interaction and exercise,

they can be aggressive and neurotic.

PAC-MAN FROGS

Thanks to the legendary video game, Pac-Man frogs have become

increasingly popular pets in the past few years. They are not hard

to deal with, and they can make a good pet as long as you take

good care of them (which you could argue is the case for most pets).

KINKAJOUS

A kinkajou is a very cute animal to look at but owning one might not

be the best idea. They are wild animals and have been known to

scratch, bite, and injure their owners when they are not busy

ruining the owner’s furniture. Owning a kinkajou is bad for the

animal as well since it’s almost impossible to replicate their

rainforest environment.

CHINCHILLAS

Chinchillas are a bright exception to the rule when it comes to

unusual pets since they are easy to take care of and harmless

when it comes to their owner and the environment in which they live.

Their only “demand” is that you give them a dust bath often to

keep their coats clean and show them love, which they

will return in big doses.

BEARDED DRAGONS

Want to buy a bearded dragon, but don’t know where to find one?

Although bearded dragons (and other kinds of dragons and lizards)

have become quite popular pets, keep in mind that taking care of

one is a very detailed process. They need to be kept at a certain

temperature, need a certain amount of space, and have a

specific bathing ritual. If you’re not ready to handle it, don’t do it.