A Wild Animal as a Pet
MCL 287.1103 — no lions, tigers or bears, and wolf dog crosses by permit only
A person may not own or possess a large carnivore except as the act allows, may not breed one, and may not transfer or receive one, paid or free.
Who handles this in Michigan: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Michigan directory.
- Lions, leopards including snow and clouded leopards, jaguars, tigers, cougars, panthers and cheetahs, wild or captive bred, and their hybrids.
- Bears of any species, native or not, wild or captive bred.
The only private owners allowed to keep one are those who already had that individual animal when the act took effect, applied for a permit within 90 days and got it. The permit covers only those animals and passes to someone else only by will or inheritance.
Wolf dog crosses are on the same footing. A person may not possess a wolf dog cross unless the owner already had that individual animal when its act took effect, applied for a permit within 4 months, and got one. The permit covers only those animals.
A city, village or township may be stricter than the act. Whether a particular animal is covered is a question for local animal control or a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (5)
- MCL 287.1103 — Large carnivores; prohibited conduct
- MCL 287.1102 — Large carnivores; definitions
- MCL 287.1104 — Possession of large carnivores; permits
- MCL 287.1004 — Possession of wolf dog crosses; permits
- MCL 287.1121 — Large carnivores; more restrictive local ordinances
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.