Are Raccoons The New Cat In Texas?

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• Non-traditional animals as pets
• Raccoons are illegal to have as pets in Texas
• This is the backwoods stuff we don't talk about

The raccoons are having a renaissance right now. These masked bandits are even taking center stage in Hollywood.

The "Guardians Of The Galaxy" franchise might have a lot to do with that. The latest installment in the trilogy is all about Rocket, a genetically modified raccoon, that in the end comes to terms with the fact that he is a raccoon.

Could it be that because of all this recent, positive press people are more likely to get a raccoon as a pet?  I'm not naming names, but scrolling social media I'm seeing more and more pictures of people with raccoons as pets.

It's illegal to have a pet raccoon in Texas, so why are they all over my feed?

Having A Racoon In Texas As A Pet Is Illegal 

I've got a theory that with the ever-increasing cost of dog and cat ownership, people out here in the sticks are just passing around abandoned baby raccoons and keeping them as pets. I actually don't blame them.

There are many laws and liabilities for a dog owner in the State of Texas now. What if your dog bites someone, kills another pet, or needs an expensive procedure?

All of these scenarios are very real and could be costly. If you leave your dog in a hot car, you might end up in jail just as if it was your kid.

Raccoons Have Plausible Deniability In Texas

All raccoons look the same. You could act just as surprised as the authorities that there is a raccoon in your house, car, or yard up to no good. (Not recommended.)

Everyone has that one friend who at one time turned a squirrel, deer, or raccoon into a pet. They are all illegal to own as pets in Texas, but if you keep them outside where you found them, are they really pets?

You can't have a raccoon as a pet in Texas, or even keep them unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If you are dedicated to raccoons and other wildlife you could try to get your own permit from Texas Parks & Wildlife.

If you are going to get a permit, why not go all out and get an exotic animal?