Asking For A Friend: Is It Legal To Own A Raccoon In Illinois?

If you've ever wondered if you're allowed to own a raccoon as a pet, I think we found answer.

I drive down Madison Street in Rockford a lot and there are so many animals who scurry along the curb, and sometimes end up squished.  They look so cute, though.  So cute that I've wondered if anyone has ever tried to domesticate one from the wild around here?

Asking For A Friend: Is It Legal To Own A Raccoon In Illinois?

You spot a baby raccoon, squirrel, or bunny alone in the yard and your instinct is to help... maybe even bring it home.  But in Illinois, keeping wild animals as pets is actually illegal in most cases, and there are some very good reasons why.

"Many Illinois residents encounter young wildlife they’d like to keep as pets. It’s an ages-old temptation. The trouble is, nearly all wildlife in Illinois is protected under the Wildlife Code (Section 2.2) and cannot be held in captivity without authorization from the appropriate agencies. Additionally, some wildlife host diseases transmissible to humans, making such “pets” risky companions. (Don’t ask your local veterinarian to vaccinate that baby raccoon or squirrel you’ve decided to keep as a pet, since doing so is against the law.)" [dnr]

There's also health risk.  Some wild animals carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans or other pets.  Veterinarians can't legally vaccinate wild animals you've decided to keep as pets.

"Raccoons do not make good pets, and it is illegal to keep them as pets in Illinois. They are cute when they are small. But they can be very aggressive as adults, particularly the males." [IL.edu]

If you've ever had the idea of taking a wild animal home because it's injured and you want to rehabilitate it, there are rehab organizations who do that professionally!  Protect yourself, don't try to keep it as a pet.