Why anyone would want to keep a wild animal like a tiger, monkey or bear as a pet is beyond me. But in the U.S. it's not a federal crime to own exotic animals – it's up to the states to decide which animals are legal – with or without permits – to keep as pets.
The six U.S. states that have no restrictions on keeping large cats, primates and bears include Nevada, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. Other states allow primates but not bears and tigers, such as Virginia and Tennessee. Even more states allow all three of these exotic animals to be kept as pets once a permit is obtained.
The Humane Society lays it all out for you here:
Thanks Tech Insider!
