Kansans may have issues with raccoons outside the home, but it’s illegal to keep the critters as pets in the state. A bill in the Kansas house would change that, as well as create a permitting system, for people who keep raccoons, to adhere to. Kansas Rep. Joe Seiwert, of Pretty Prairie, championed the bill due to his childhood ownership of a handful of wild animals. The bill would mandate permit-holders who seek to own a raccoon as a pet, vaccinate it for rabies, give it annual veterinary care, require permit-holders undergo an educational program and gives minimum standards for raccoon enclosures.
Some lawmakers saw issues with legalizing pet raccoons, saying that while they’re cute when they’re young, they can be dangerous after reaching adulthood. Rep. Doug Blex, Independence, who is a wildlife biologist says once it grows up and it goes through the hormonal changes, it is going to be mean and nasty when it comes breeding season.
The bill would bring Kansas in line with about 20 other states that legalized raccoon ownership. The only opponents of the bill took issue with the language that prohibited cities from prohibiting local governments from limiting raccoon ownership. The Kansas House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources held a hearing on the bill Monday, February 17th, but didn’t make any formal decision about the bill.
