As kids, we’re essentially taught to think all animals are cuddly, cute, and most importantly, sweet. Because of Disney and other film studios’ cartoons, we see animals talk, smile, fall in love, and be friends with each other (and humans).
The reality is that’s simply not true, sadly. Lions can’t be friends with warthogs and deer and rabbits don’t routinely sing. That said, it’s not so much kids that clamor to bring home a bear or a talking tiger, it’s the adults that want the exotic pets.
One cuddly (looking) animal that’s 100% illegal to own in the state of Iowa is a wolf.
Photo by Darren Welsh on Unsplash
There was a nearly deadly incident back in 2017 where someone’s pet wolf nearly killed a small girl. Now, owning a wolf in Iowa was not legal in 2017, so it’s not like this case changed the law.
The woman whose wolf harmed the girl was charged and found guilty of possessing a captive wild animal without a license. The wolf was euthanized after the incident.
Iowa law on wolfs dates back to 2002 when the Iowa House passed House File 572 banning ownership of wolves, without a proper wild animal license.
Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash
While certain wolf/dog mixes are legal in Iowa, owners may be required to obtain a permit to own such an animal. Other animals on Iowa’s no-no list include hyenas, leopards, bears, primates, crocodiles, cobras, and pythons.
If you love wolves, here in Iowa you can always root for the Iowa Wolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves minor league affiliate.
One strange animal you can own in Iowa… a skunk. But, ew…
LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state
Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.
Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.
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