15 Predators You Can Own As Pets

Fennec Foxes are cute predators to keep as pets. These small, big-eared critters are the smallest fox species. People have domesticated them for the pet trade.

Fennec FoxesFennec Foxes eat anything that crosses their path. They hunt for plants, but they also eat eggs, reptiles, rodents, and insects.

Fennec Foxes are not the most fierce predators. Your pet Fennec Fox will rarely try to eat you. However, they can scare rodents that wander into your home.

They are consideredexotic petsSome areas ban Fennec Foxes. Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, and Washington do not allow keeping them. Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas permit them with a permit.

Cats and dogs are predators, but people have domesticated them. The Gray Wolf, the ancestor of all domesticated dogs, hasnotbeen domesticated. Some places allow keeping them as pets, but this demands great care and understanding of their needs.

Wolves need much love and attention because they are pack animals. Putting them in a home with dogs likely won't work and could kill the dogs.

WolvesWolves require much more room to run than a dog. A typical wolf needs a ten to fifteen square mile area for health and fitness.

Wolf puppies socialize with people after about 16 weeks, acting like dogs early on. As they grow, wolves change. They get big and need more food. Kibble will not keep them healthy like a dog; you must feed them raw meat cuts. You can train and keep them safe, but they remain wild animals. Check local laws; most places forbid keeping wolves as pets.

These big cats have different names depending on where you live, but they are the same species. You can tame acougarcougar

Only Alabama, Nevada, and Wisconsin allow cougar ownership without a permit. Other states require permits and may limit ownership; check local laws. Cougars eat a lot of raw meat, so you must afford feeding them before considering a pet.

Cougars act like giant domestic cats. They have long, sharp claws and teeth. A playful tabby cat scratches, but a playful cougar scratch can send you to the hospital.

All snake species are predators. The one most people keep in homes is the This is the Boa Constrictor.. Several snake species exist, and Pythons take up much space in terrariums globally. The Boa is the pet of champions. These snakes live long lives. If you care for them well, they become docile and friendly pets.

Feeding a Boa Constrictor differs from feeding it in the wild. Pet Boas usually get pre-killed rats and mice. Wild animals hunt and kill their own food.

If you feed and care for them, these make great pets you can take with you (in some areas). Most states let you sell them in the pet trade. They are not as exotic now.

Caring for a big snake needs a large enclosure for comfort. The size of the space depends on the snake. Glass cages make controlling heat and humidity hard. Other than that, caring for them is surprisingly easy.

Jaguars are large wild cats. Do not keep them as pets. Some places allow pet jaguars, but they demand much care. Jaguars can take down adult crocodiles; they are dangerous.

A jaguar needs much land to roam. Like tigers and lions, they eat a lot of meat. In the wild, a jaguar eats up to It requires 50 lbs. of food.If food is scarce, they eat this much. In captivity, they eat less, but they still consume about 30 lbs. of raw meat at each feeding.

This costs much money. Because of the space needed to keep them happy, most people cannot keep them right. Jaguars are not domesticated like other big cats, but they can be tamed to a point.

They might be fine with their main caregiver but show no affection to others. Few places allow jaguar ownership. They are legal if registered in Missouri and Texas.

Keeping tigers as pets is sad. More tigers live in captivity than in the wild. About 5,000 tigers live in captivity, many in the United States. The World Wildlife Fund reports fewer than 4,000 tigers live in the wild.

Many states let you own a tiger as a pet. If you have seen The Hangover., you know Mike Tyson had one.He truly did.. Caring for a tiger costs much. They can eat over 90 lbs. of raw meat in one sitting. You cannot keep a tiger in your backyard and think that is enough. They need about It covers 40 square miles.Tigers roam their territory, or they get frustrated and could attack people.Tigers could attack people.Tigers could attack people.

When you care for tigers right, they become docile around humans. Loving and feeding tigers so they don't hunt makes them large, docile cats. They become good pets, but they need much time and attention. Any change in your behavior toward them could become dangerous.

Gila Monsters are the only venomous lizards in the United States. These predators eat small birds, mammals, other lizards, frogs, insects, and carrion. They like bird and reptile eggs, but they do not eat often. Keeping one as a pet does not need as much food as many other animals on this list.

A Gila monster is on the list of 15 predators you can own as pets.Gila MonsterThe Gila Monster eats only about five to ten times a year in the wild. When it does feed, it can eat up to one-third of its body weight. These slow-moving animals do not usually need a big area, so keeping them as pets is not too hard.

Most states forbid keeping Gila Monsters without a permit, or at all. Their venom is as toxic as a Western diamondback rattlesnake, but it does not make large amounts. A bite will not kill a human. It could harm a small child. Their bites only kill adults in the wild if intoxication is involved.

The venom toxicity keeps Gila Monsters off lists in some states, but this does not mean they are bad pets. Handle them carefully. They can be an interesting, exotic pet. They have a quick, powerful bite, so be cautious.

Piranhas are some of the most notorious freshwater fish. People naturally want to put them in aquariums. Movie pictures do not match reality. They eat meat voraciously, but they are mostly active at night, and they might not be as interesting as you first think.

You can legally own a Gila Monster.The Red-Bellied Piranha is listed.Piranhas are legal in most places, but rules are often strict. A main worry is that people put them in lakes and rivers, making them a dangerous invasive species. Kept at home, they are a rather interesting fish.

You cannot keep these fish with other fish species unless they are feeders. They are predators and will eat anything that swims by.PiranhaPiranhas eat many things and need some of the same food other fish eat. Worms and raw vegetables like potato, zucchini, and spinach are favored snacks. You can also drop in a piece of raw beef or chicken as a tasty treat. Do not feed them things like goldfish. If you want to feed your piranha a live fish, make sure it is one they normally eat in the wild, or you risk serious stomach problems!

Piranhas cost a lot. Expect to pay about $500 for one fish. Since they hunt best in schools, getting many into a tank costs much money.

Tarantulas hunt various prey. Some species target small birds; others routinely eat lizards and other small animals.

Tarantulas are predators, but they pose little risk to people. A bite hurts and swells, but without allergies, it won't cause serious problems. Handled tarantulas rarely bite because they are surprisingly calm.

Most pet tarantulas hide during feedings. They use little energy unless eating. They prefer dark spots and eat all kinds of live critters you put in front of them, like crickets, mealworms, and roaches.They eat live critters.They eat live critters you put in front of them. This includes crickets, mealworms, and roaches.

If you want an animal up to 1,500 lbs, a bear might suit you. Many bear species exist, but not all make good pets.None of those bears make good pets.People still try. Bears can be trained, but they are not domesticated. An angry bear can easily take down a grown person.

Bears are predators, but meat is only a small part of their diet. Some species eat mostly berries and vegetation while they prepare to hibernate.

Most places ban bear ownership. Some exceptions exist. To own one in places like Indiana or Alabama, you need a special permit. Permits are usually for people working with bears, like animal actors, vets, or circus performers.

If you want a large reptile, an iguana is too small. Owning an alligator is legal in some areas. Crocodiles exist, but gators are more common in the west. Keeping an alligator demands specific living conditions for health and happiness.

They need a large semi-aquatic area for full submersion or sunbathing. An adult alligator reaches about 11 feet long and weighs 1,000 lbs. They are not for weak people. Your friend lives up to 50 years.Fifty.If cared for right, an alligator lives 50 years, living much longer than most pets.

Feeding an alligator requires raw meat semi-weekly. Use a long pole with a chicken to feed the gator. Gators tend to eat everything.You need five to six days.Alligators need around seven pounds of meat at each feeding, so they don't require as much food as some of the other predators on this list.

Owning a lion costs a lot because they eat a lot. You must give them ten to twenty pounds of raw meat daily. Lion care costs over $100,000 yearly; this covers food, water, and vet care (you need a specialist). Lions sleep twenty hours a day. This means you have little time for your kitty. Owning a lion is about owning a lion, not having a pet.

Lions are extremely dangerous.Lions are dangerous.Because of this, get a lion as a cub to put it in your home. Humans must raise them from birth if possible; otherwise, they might stop wanting to eat you.

Owning a lion is legal in many world locations. Still, check your local laws first.Check your local laws before buying.Lions are allowed in some states: Alabama, Delaware, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Most states need a permit, so owning a lion there is not guaranteed.

Marvel Comics' most aggressive character gets its name from this small North American critter. Wolverines are vicious and never domesticated. These solitary animals look like a mix of a small bear and a dog.

Wolverines can take down animals bigger than themselves with their ferocity. Treat them with extreme caution. Owning a wolverine as a pet is legal in a few places, but experts advise against it unless you have a lot of experience.You need a lot of experience working with wolverines.Wolverines.

Wolverines are omnivores. They eat much vegetation but prefer meat if they can find it. In the wild, they eat caribou, moose, and mountain goats. They are also happy eating squirrels, rodents, and bird eggs. Wolverines wander over 15 miles in twenty-four hours, so they need a lot of space to be happy.Wolverines are omnivorous, so they eat a lot of vegetation, but prefer meat whenever they can find it. In the wild, they eat caribou, moose, and mountain goats, but they are equally satisfied eating squirrels, rodents, and bird eggs. Wolverines tend to wander upwards of 15 miles in a 24-hour period, so they require a lot of land to remain happy.

While hyenashyenas are decent hunters. They will kill prey if needed. They work like a pack of wolves to make a kill. A lone hyena can hunt, but they are social animals.Hyenas are happy to snack on any carcass they find. They hunt well and will kill prey if necessary. They function like a wolf pack, working together to secure a kill. A single hyena can stalk and kill prey, but they are social animals.

Hyenas are hard to tame. You can keep them as pets in some spots, but you cannot fully trust them. If they are hungry and see something small and easy to kill, they will take it. Do not trust them around other pets smaller than them or children.

Owning a hyena is a bad idea for one main reason. Hyenas release a strong smell called "hyena butter" from their anal glands. They smear this on things in their territory to mark them. Expect a stinky animal. Also, hyenas need a lot of land to roam. If they get frustrated, they will attack humans.

If you want to keep a dangerous snake, you can keep a venomous snake as a pet in certain places. Many snake types are available. Each state and country has different rules for them.

Snake venom is deadly and can cause death. People need knowledge to care for venomous snakes. Beginner snake-handlers should not try to keep a King Cobra or Rattlesnake. The outcome could be disastrous.

Cobra is the most.Venomous snakes.Venomous snakes attack humans. They usually stay away from people in the wild. They will be in an unfamiliar home setting. Expect them to strike if you give them a chance. Keeping a venomous snake is hard. Getting permits takes a lot of time and is tough. Research if you want one and expect a long fight with paperwork.