12 Unusual Pets People are Banned from Owning in Colorado
Colorado is a state that allows tons of animals to be kept as pets. Surprisingly, the list of approved pets is much longer than the list of banned animals.
Read More: Hunting Year-Round In Colorado: Licenses, Ethics, & Game Species
Keep reading to learn more about which animals Colorado does not allow as pets and why. We'll also check which kinds of pets the state requires a special license for.
Surprising Pets You Can Own In Colorado
Colorado's code of regulations (chapter 13) focuses on the possession of wildlife and special licenses. More than 30 types of animals are approved as pets in the Centennial State, while 12 are banned.
Some of the surprises that are approved pets in Colorado include having a pet elk, a bison, a camel, an ostrich, a pet reindeer, and red kangaroos. While certain types of hedgehogs are allowed others are not, so hedgehogs appear on both the approved list and the list of banned pets.
Why Some Pets are Banned in Colorado
Many of the pets in the gallery below are banned because they can transmit harmful diseases to humans, so you don't want them living in your home with you. Others are banned simply because they might eat you or your neighbors, creating lots of problems for municipalities to have to deal with.
Pets That Require A License in Colorado
Pets that require a special license in the state of Colorado include tropical snakes and non-native venomous snakes. You can find out more about license requirements and applications here.
12 Unusual Pets People are Banned From Owning in Colorado
Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams
LOOK: Beware of the 12 Most Dangerous Animals in Colorado
Gallery Credit: Wes Adams
NEXT: Colorado's Endangered & Threatened Species: 19 Animals Found On the List
Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams