Can You Have A Bear As A Pet In Michigan?

It’s a simple question - can you have a bear as a pet in Michigan? This all started with a story out in California about a bear living under someone’s house…and they’re cool with it!

There’s a family in California that has a bear living under their house - seriously. The bear has been there for at least a week and the owners of the home don’t seem too worried. Here’s a quote from the owner: "It's a little weird... about to have a baby and knowing that there's a bear under the bedroom where you're going to be putting the child. But he, I mean, other than trash, it's basically just a nuisance. He's never messed with anybody,"

The bear is tagged by the wildlife folks in California, so the Tate family seems okay with it - but may have it kicked out when the baby comes (ya think?). Now back to the original question:

The short answer is NO. There are currently six states in the United States that allow you to have a bear as a pet (Wisconsin, Alabama, Delaware, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Nevada). Michigan has the “Large Carnivore Act” that prohibits it (although we're not clear on the Hamm's Beer Bear)

The Large Carnivore Act focuses on the ownership of animals classified as “large carnivores,” such as lions, tigers, cougars, bears, and wolves. Under this law, Michigan residents are prohibited from owning these animals without obtaining the necessary permits from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Of course, if you really want to see some bears here in Michigan - may I suggest a road trip to Oswald’s Bear Ranch in Newberry (that’s the U.P…but not that far over the bridge). It’s one of my favorite places to visit when going up north. And the bears are behind fences, not under your house.

And if that's not enough bear talk - there's a black bear wandering around Ludington before a pub crawl.  

Oh, America the beautiful. Across our wonderful continent of North America you'll find amazing, adorable animals. However, you'll also find creatures that are incredibly dangerous. Here are 5 animals in North America that could kill you.

Now, just because they can kill you doesn't mean they're out to do it. Yet, it means they have the possibility of doing so! So, it's best to be aware!

Well, some of these animals you're probably already well aware could kill you. However, some of these animals you might not know can kill you. Or, maybe you don't know they're actually around! Hey, like NBC used to say, "The More You Know."

Naturally, there are many more than 5 animals in North America capable of killing you. There are countless. Some may be big powerful animals. Others may be poisonous. It's important to know what's out there. These animals could be lurking in your basement. They could be outside your home. Or, they could be all the way across the country from you and pose absolutely no risk of danger or harm.

Of course, when you only select five animals to talk about, you're leaving a lot on the cutting room floor. So, you won't hear about any sharks on the list. We know they can kill you. Additionally, jaguars, mountain lions, and American Bison didn't make the list. That's right. Bison can kill you, and they have! Not only are Bison huge animals, but they also have horns! Several ways they can take you out. It's not just limited to a stampede.

Furthermore, I'm counting an "animal" as anything in the Animal Kingdom. They may be reptiles, amphibians, insects, and more. I'm counting them all as animals. I don't want to hear that "technically, arachnids aren't animals" or anything. Let's just relax and have fun.

Grizzly Bears are incredibly dangerous! They're also massive. They have sharp claws. Additionally, they have very sharp teeth and brute strength. There is no shortage in the ways a Grizzly could kill you. They're very popular up in Alaska and Western Canada.

Alligators are dangerous animals. They're ancient, smart, and deadly. According to USA Today, alligators have been responsible for 33 human deaths in the last 50 years. Not a great way to go. They're quicker than you'd think. Then, sneaky, too! Uh oh.

These small light brown scorpions are deadly! They have venom that is painful and potentially deadly. You don't want to be stung by one of these. Note that they are nocturnal and are common in southern California, southern Arizona, southern Nevada, and parts of Utah and New Mexico. Black lights can help you spot them at night.

This species of rattlesnake is endemic to the Southeastern United States. Of course, there are other common rattlesnakes found across the country that are also deadly. They like to live in upland dry pine forests, flatwoods, sandhills, and coastal maritime hammocks. Also, they are excellent swimmers! So, don't try to get away by swimming. They'll catch you! It's said to be the most dangerous venomous snake in all of North America.

The Brown Recluse Spider has necrotic venom. Their bites will often require medical attention. It is one of three spiders in North America with dangerous venom along with the Black Widow and Chilean Recluse. They're mostly found in the Central United States. They are very dangerous and harmful to the older community and younger individuals. They're typically between 6 and 20 millimeters.