Are Prairie Dogs Legal Pets in Your State

In some states, prairie dogs are considered exotic animals and are regulated by laws that vary from state to state.

In California, for example, prairie dogs are considered exotic mammals and are subject to specific regulations under the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Having a prairie dog as a pet in California requires a permit and a suitable enclosure that meets specific standards.

Some states, like Arizona, have laws that prohibit the ownership of prairie dogs as pets.

Prairie dog ownership laws vary by state. In Minnesota, it's legal to own and import prairie dogs, unless they're coming from one of 17 states that ban pet prairie dogs.

You can't import prairie dogs from Wisconsin if they were received there after April 1. Minnesota has no wild prairie dog population, which is why importing them remains legal.

Some people think prairie dogs make cool pets because they're entertaining and don't require walks. They're also considered pocket pets, which can be appealing to some owners.

Readers also liked: Wolf Dogs Legal

However, prairie dogs can carry diseases like monkeypox, which is related to smallpox and has never been found in the Western Hemisphere before. In Wisconsin, 16 cases of monkeypox are suspected and three have been confirmed.

If you're considering owning a prairie dog, it's essential to neuter them and provide proper caging. They can make good pets if you're willing to put in the work, but they're wild animals that love to chew and crave communal living.

In California, owning a prairie dog is not allowed. The state restricts many wild and domestic animals that are considered pets elsewhere, including prairie dogs, to protect public health and safety, agriculture, wildlife, and natural resources.

Prairie dogs are legal to own as pets in most states, but check with your state before getting one to ensure you're in compliance with local and state laws.

Some states, like California, have restrictions on owning prairie dogs as pets, so it's essential to research your state's laws. In California, owning a prairie dog is prohibited due to concerns about public health and safety.

If you're considering owning a prairie dog, be aware that they are very social creatures and thrive in large groups in the wild. They require a lot of care and attention and will not do well if starved for attention.

Prairie dogs are legal to own as pets in most states, but laws vary, and it's essential to check with your state before getting one.

Some states, like Wisconsin, have banned pet prairie dogs due to concerns about disease transmission, such as the monkeypox outbreak in 2003.

In Minnesota, prairie dogs are still legal to own and import, unless they come from one of 17 states where pet prairie dogs are banned.

The FDA lifted its restrictions on pet prairie dogs in 2008, but prairie dogs carrying the plague again became a concern in 2016, so it's crucial to check local and state laws.

In California, it's not legal to own a prairie dog due to public health and safety concerns, as well as protection of native wildlife and agriculture.

If you're considering owning a prairie dog, be prepared to provide a lot of care and attention, as they require a lot of social interaction and can be prone to chewing.

In Minnesota, some veterinarians, like Jim Rasmussen, are not enthusiastic about prairie dogs as pets, citing their wild nature and disease transmission risks.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Dog in Training Do Not Pet Vest

Acquiring a prairie dog while young is key to successful ownership, as it allows for proper socialization and adjustment to life in captivity.

Prairie dogs can get nippy if frustrated or handled incorrectly, which makes them a potentially poor fit for homes with small children who may handle the pet unsupervised.

You'll want to consider the specific needs of your prairie dog, including its socialization and potential for nipping, before deciding to bring one home.

Prairie dogs can be quite the handful, so it's essential to provide them with the right environment to thrive. They need a natural setting where they can burrow and forage for food at all stages of their life.

To give your prairie dog the best possible life, you'll want to provide a large enclosure or a dog-sized cage that's at least 10 feet by 10 feet with a depth of 3 feet to allow for burrowing. A secure, escape-proof cage is also a must.

Take a look at this: Secret Life of Pets 2 Characters Dogs

If you can't provide a burrow, you'll need to give your prairie dog plenty of places to hide, like boxes, tunnels, and more. This will help prevent anxiety from overexposure to stimulus.

Prairie dogs are surprisingly resilient when it comes to temperature extremes, but only if they have a burrow to regulate their body temperature. They can keep themselves warm in the winter and cool in the summer through burrowing.

Baby prairie dogs become available in the U.S. between April and July, around the time when they breed and then pups are collected.

This is done to control their population, with thousands of prairie dog pups collected each spring and summer by vacuuming them out of their burrows.

Licensed USDA dealers sell wild prairie dogs to the public, and they should provide a health certificate and proper USDA paperwork to allow you to legally own the prairie dog.

The dealer should also be transparent about their method of collecting the pups, so you can ensure it's humane to the prairie dogs.

A revamped sewer truck is often used to suck the rodents out of their homes, and the pups are then either used as food for endangered wild animals or sold to the pet trade.