Owning a pet raccoon could soon be easier for Tennessee residents under a bill making its way through the state legislature.
The proposed legislation would reduce one of the legal barriers to keeping a wild raccoon as a pet and remove the federal permit fee currently required for people who legally acquire a pet raccoon.
Why It Matters
Although the proposal only removes the permit fee, some animal experts warn that even a small reduction in barriers could lead to more people getting access to animals that are difficult to care for safely.
Wildlife advocates stress that raccoons are not pets and can pose a danger to their owners and the public at large, especially if bitten or exposed to disease. As soon as a raccoon bites a person, the animal must usually be prepared and tested for rabies, a fact that rescue groups already often happen when the owners are not prepared for the problems of keeping animals.
What You Should Know
The legislation, sponsored by Republican Senator Joey Hensley in the Senate and Representative Kip Capley in the House, does not allow the capture of wild raccoons or end state management. Instead, it removes the permit fee associated with owning a legally released and properly labeled raccoon.
Lawmakers supporting the bill say the change is intended to make the process easier for people who want to own raccoons obtained through legal breeders, not wild-caught animals.
Under the bill, raccoons would still need to be obtained from a legal source, such as a licensed breeder. And the animals will still need to meet state requirements related to vaccinations and permits through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Wild raccoons captured in the wild would always be legal to keep as pets.
According to Hensley, the bill was prompted by a poll request and evolved during the legislative process. An earlier version of the proposal would have allowed people to rescue raccoons in the wild, but that language was removed. The final version focuses only on pets that are already allowed under Tennessee law.
The bill passed the Tennessee Senate unanimously and is moving through the House, where supporters say interest among citizens has been significant.
Animal welfare advocates and wildlife experts have raised concerns, warning that raccoons are not pets and can cause problems for owners and public health officials.
They say raccoons can be destructive, difficult to train, and can carry diseases that require killing and testing when bitten.
While the bill does not change health or vaccination laws, critics argue that reducing the cost of ownership could encourage more people to acquire raccoons without fully understanding the risks.
“They deserve their freedom and they deserve their lives in the wild, but they don’t belong in your kitchen,” wildlife rescue expert Juniper Russo told News Channel 9.
What People Are Saying
Republican Senator Joey Hensley of the Senate said in a committee hearing: “It allows someone to have a raccoon that they got from a rancher, not a wild raccoon. They still have to get a permit.”
Wildlife expert Juniper Russo told News Channel 9: People get them, and they think they will behave like a cat or a dog, or they will be like a Disney fantasy movie… They are dangerous. They bite. They do not have the habit of providing a full train.
What Happens Next
If the bill clears the remaining measures in the House and is signed into law, it would take effect later this year. Other requirements for raccoon owners would remain unchanged.
When polarized, the center is excluded as dim. To Newsweekours is different: The Center for Courage—it’s not “both sides,” it’s sharp, challenging, and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not groups. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see succeed, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support the mission of keeping the organization strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free reading, exclusive content and editorial discussions. Help keep the center strong. Enter today.
#pet #raccoon #convenient #millions #people