It’s Legal To Own Kangaroos In Wyoming, But They’d Probably Freeze To Death

If you’ve ever wanted to have a pet kangaroo, the good news is the Wyoming Game and Fish Department can issue you a permit to own one. That bad news is, as an outside pet, your kangaroo would probably freeze to death here. 

Kangaroos can endure chilly weather relative to what they’re accustomed to on their home turf in Australia. Meaning, about 37 degrees at the coldest. 

Wyoming’s cold and freezing winds? Not so much.

When a rare cold front hit Australia in 2019, the kangaroos reportedly hated it and mostly stood around, shivering in the snow.

Yes, It Is Legal Here

A popular post making the rounds on social media claims to show a map of the “legality of owning a kangaroo in the U.S.”

The map shows the states in green (legal, no permit required), orange (legal, with a permit) and red (illegal). 

While neighboring Idaho is depicted as orange, Wyoming is shown as a red state. 

Red accurately describes Wyoming in political terms, as staunchly conservative. 

But in terms of kangaroo ownership, the map is wrong because it is legal to own a kangaroo here, with a Game and Fish Chapter 10 permit. 

Exotic Critter Permit

Chapter 10 permits allow for the ownership of numerous species, including native species such as badgers and bobcats. 

It also allows for exotic species like kangaroos and wallabies. 

Patricia Wyer is the director of the Broken Bandit Wildlife Center east of Cheyenne. 

She’s familiar with Chapter 10 permits because she’s had to get several of them, including for native animals like bobcats. And for exotic animals such as coatimundi — members of the raccoon family native to South America. 

Those critters and more live happily at the center. Some, like North American racoons, get rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Others, such as the coatimundi, are there for life.  

Wyer told Cowboy State Daily that she’s never applied for a permit to keep a kangaroo and doesn’t know anybody in Wyoming who has. 

But should an orphaned kangaroo end up in Wyoming needing a home, she’s not opposed to the idea.

“I would gladly take one on,” Wyer said.

You’ll Need A Big Yard, Tall Fence

Keeping a kangaroo is no small task, according to an online guide to kangaroo care from an exotic animal ranch in Texas.

Baby kangaroos can thrive when they’re bottle-fed formula, says the Janda Animal Exotics Ranch. 

Adults aren’t too difficult to feed, they can thrive on a diet of specialized kangaroo pellets, as well as hay and grass. 

However, potential kangaroo owners must bear in mind that grown-up kangaroos are big. Large males can weigh around 200 pounds. 

And they’re fast, so they need space — and lots of it. 

Kangaroos can reach speeds of up 50 mph. 

“They need lots of open space outside to thrive. A kangaroo running at a moderate speed can jump over 4 feet,” according to the Janda Ranch. “To prevent your kangaroo from escaping, you will need a tall and sturdy fence. Fence height should be at least 5-6 feet.”

Contact Mark Heinz at mark@cowboystatedaily.com

Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.