Collecting or possessing owl feathers—or any part of a native owl—is regulated by federal and state wildlife laws.
This comprehensive guide explains how the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) applies to owls, when feathers may be legally held, and what permits or penalties could apply. Read More
Thinking about owning a ferret or travelling with one? Ferret ownership laws vary widely across the U.S. and internationally.
This guide covers which states prohibit ferrets, permit and vaccination requirements, landlord rules, and EU travel laws—armed with everything you need to know under modern ferret law. Read More
Bison ownership spans complex legal terrain—from ranching permits to liability if they escape.
This guide covers the key issues: state permit rules, civil liability for bison running at large, interstate transport, and wildlife protection law affecting private and commercial bison operations. Read More
Interested in owning an ant farm or queen colony? Ant ownership comes with surprising legal complexity.
From import permits to tenant liability and invasive species laws, this guide covers all you need to know under modern ant law. Read More
Thinking of owning a gecko—whether a leopard gecko, gold dust day gecko, or tokay gecko? Gecko laws vary widely by region.
This comprehensive guide helps you understand when owning a gecko is legal, what permits you may need, and the international rules you must follow. Perfect for reptile lovers, legal researchers, and prospective pet owners. Read More
In the world of animal law, leash regulations are most often associated with dogs. Yet in many jurisdictions, municipalities are beginning to apply similar expectations to cats, igniting debates over animal welfare, property rights, and the limits of local authority. While dogs have long been legally tethered to their owners by both physical leashes and centuries of legal precedent, cats have historically roamed free—literally and legally.
As feline overpopulation, nuisance complaints, and wildlife concerns grow, the question of whether cats should be subject to leash laws has taken on increased legal significance. Read More
Cats and the law rarely appear in the same sentence, let alone the same legal conversation. Unlike dogs, which have long played formal roles in policing and military contexts, cats remain unofficial, elusive figures—both literally and legally. Yet as the field of animal law continues to evolve, questions about feline presence in public institutions, their treatment under cruelty statutes, and the role of law enforcement in addressing cat-related disputes are increasingly relevant.
Let’s examine the nuanced relationship between cats and law enforcement, not merely in terms of enforcement against cruelty or nuisance, but in the broader context of legal responsibility, symbolic value, and policy implications. Read More
A hedgehog curled in a small ball might seem harmless enough—cute, quiet, and compact. But legality isn’t measured by charm. The ownership of hedgehogs walks a narrow line between pet trend and wildlife regulation, shaped by public health concerns, ecological risks, and the shifting definitions of domestication. In many places, whether one can legally keep a hedgehog depends less on the species itself and more on where the question is asked. Read More
In the heart of the city, where concrete outpaces canopy and sirens drown out birdsong, the idea of building a wildlife sanctuary seems improbable—romantic, even. But increasingly, legal systems are finding space within their codes and zoning maps for precisely this kind of defiant greenery.
The law, long used to regulating where humans may live, now turns to questions of how wildlife might safely coexist within the grid of urban development. Read More
Bioluminescent bays glow with ethereal light, stirred by paddles, footsteps, and fish—living galaxies trapped in saltwater coves. Yet this fragile radiance, caused by microscopic dinoflagellates, is not immune to legal darkness. Preserving the phenomenon requires more than admiration; it demands robust legal mechanisms that recognise the bays as living systems with specific vulnerabilities. Read More