So You Want a Pet Raccoon? Here’s What Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois Have to Say

I realize that some people consider them a nuisance, but I think raccoons are so freaking cute. In fact, I have good friends that actually have a pet raccoon that lives inside their house. He's a furry, little, adorable trash panda! His name is Buddy (hilariously named after Buddy the Elf).

Do you remember that scene in the movie Elf? When Buddy tries to hug a raccoon and the raccoon attacks him? This is what Buddy was named after!

Well, Buddy the Raccoon doesn't actually attack anyone. He's spoiled rotten and, according to his mom, "Eats anything you hand to him!"

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So, is it really possible- legal- to own a pet raccoon here in Kentucky? What about Indiana and Illinois? If you're a raccoon fan like I am, I have some good news for you. It IS legal in all three states. However, there are some very important restrictions you have to be aware of and those restrictions are quite similar in all three locations.

We'll start with the Bluegrass State. Yes! You can indeed have a pet raccoon here in Kentucky. However, there is a legal process of acquiring it. In the Commonwealth, raccoons are classified as wildlife, which means they're under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. It is wholly illegal to capture a raccoon from the wild. You can't do it.

If you want a pet raccoon, you will have to go through the process of obtaining a proper permit and then use a legal channel for acquisition. According to LegalClarity.org, those channels include a "properly permitted commercial breeder."

Indiana's laws governing the ownership of raccoons are remarkably similar to Kentucky's. Raccoons are also classified as wildlife in the Hoosier State. According to Is-This-Legal.com, "Indiana law mandates that any individual wishing to keep a raccoon must acquire a Wild Animal Permit from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)."

By the way, obtaining that permit isn't necessarily an easy process. Potential raccoon owners have to demonstrate proper knowledge of the animals and their needs, demonstrate the capacity to care for them, and prove that they can provide an appropriate habitat for their furry little friend.

And, what about Illinois? In the Land of Lincoln, raccoons are classified as fur-bearing mammals under the Illinois Wildlife Code. To own one as a pet, according to AnimalOfThings.com, you have to obtain a Fur-Bearing Mammal Breeder Permit and you're required to get your raccoon from a properly accredited (and legal) breeder. Like in Kentucky and Indiana, you can't just traipse off into the woods or the nearest garbage can to try and find one.

But, if you've dreamed of having a pet raccoon, it can certainly happen. You'll just have to jump through some hoops and rummage through some paperwork and fine details first.

Joshua J Cotten/Unsplash

Look! My friends will tell you it's worth it. Buddy's about to turn five and they're in absolute love with their little masked bandit.