Illinois Animal Lovers: These Pets Are Forbidden In This State

There's always that one person who thinks it would be really cool to have a wild animal living in their home. Dogs and cats? Too boring and pedestrian. This person thinks it would be awesome to share their living space with a mountain lion instead.

Assuming you could order yourself a wild animal on Amazon, which ones would be legal to have here in the state of Illinois?

Some, if not most of Illinois' forbidden pets have been banned for very good reasons. Chief among them would be that the majority would love to kill and/or eat you. I don't know about you, but I really don't want something lurking around the joint with designs on taking me out (family members not included).

Getty Images

Here's What Illinois Law Says About "Exotic" And "Non-Domesticated" Animals As Pets

According to a piece at BornFreeUSA.org, our state's position is this:

No person may harbor, care for, act as a custodian, or maintain in his possession any "dangerous animals" or primate except at a properly maintained zoological park, federally licensed exhibit, circus, scientific institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital or animal refuge... Persons who had lawful possession of a primate before Jan. 1, 2011, from continuing to possess that primate if the person registers the animal by providing written notification to the local animal control administrator on or before April 1, 2011. There are no state requirements for a person possessing other exotic species not defined as "dangerous animals."

As you'll see, Illinois doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room on what you can have for pets. Weirdly enough, if you've just gotta have a few snapping turtles for companionship, you can have up to four of them. You're also allowed to catch and keep up to 16 bullfrogs.

Okay, we'll need 3 more of these...(Getty Images)

...and 15 more of these. (Getty Images)