Have you ever owned an exotic pet?
I have, I used to own ducks in my backyard. Not the Daffy domesticated ducks, but duck species you would see in the wild. Wood Ducks, Green-Winged Teal, Pintails, Mallards, Cinnamon Teal, and even Eurasian Wigeon.
Now, these were not ducks I captured or found in the wild, (that would be illegal) these were “captative reared” waterfowl that I purchased from a breeder. Yep, some actual people raise waterfowl and other gamebirds to sell to the public for pets, taxidermy, or other breeders. They even make a living doing it.
What made me want to have a duck as a pet?
I've always enjoyed watching waterfowl, and my 3-year-old son at the time shared my passion. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and his answer was “ducks?” So, I looked into it, and I found out it is indeed legal to own a duck in North Dakota.
You need a Non-Traditional Livestock license. Plenty of red tape to go through, you must have the proper enclosure, paperwork duties, and subject to be checked by the state every year.
Now, keep in mind, that just because an animal is legal to own in the state, it doesn't mean the city you live in allows it.
For example, it's legal to have chickens in Mandan, but not in Bismarck. So, before you run out and buy that monkey, it might be legal in the state, but more than likely “not”, if you live in a city. Check with your local authorities.
North Dakota has very few restrictions on owning exotic pets at the state level.
According to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, only raccoons and skunks are illegal. Funny, I talked to a listener in Beulah last year who had a pet raccoon.
The listener in Beulah found it as a baby, raised it and it became domesticated. The coon even slept with him at night. Keep in mind, that this is technically illegal. No judgment on my part.
My next-door neighbor at our lake in South Dakota has pet raccoons (where it's legal) and I found raccoons to be affectionate, and very smart too.
Do you want a tiger as a pet in North Dakota? No problem. Alligator, venomous snake, deer, coyote, and even a bear? You're all good. You will need the proper permits and enclosure, but it is legal. Again, the likelihood of it being legal in the city you are in? Not very likely.
Here are some shots of the pet ducks I used to own. A ton of work, but I do miss having them. Enjoy!
Gallery Of Captive Reared Waterfowl
