© Shutterstock

Bengal Cats - The ownership of this wildcat hybrid is unregulated in most states except for Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, Iowa, Alaska, Hawaii, Delaware, and Connecticut.

© Shutterstock

Sugar Gliders - These nocturnal gliding possums are legal to own in all states excluding Hawaii, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and California.

© Shutterstock

Kinkajou - This rainforest mammal native to South and Central America is most closely related to a raccoon.

© Shutterstock

Llamas - It is legal to own these domesticated South American pack animals across the United States as pets or livestock. 

© Shutterstock

Fennec foxes - This small nocturnal fox from northern Africa is legal to keep as a pet in most states except for Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, and Washington.

© Shutterstock

Chimpanzees - Owning a chimpanzee is illegal in most states, but it is allowed with a permit in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and North Dakota.

© Shutterstock

Axolotl - This aquatic salamander from Central Mexico is an accepted pet in most states except for Maine and California. 

© Shutterstock

Wallaby - It is legal to own these miniature kangaroos without a license in Nevada, Wisconsin, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. They are allowed with a permit in 12 other states.

© Shutterstock

Hedgehogs - This adorable spiny mammal is found in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. Hedgehogs are legal to own in most states except Pennsylvania, Hawaii, California, Georgia, Arizona, and Maine.

© Shutterstock

Chinchillas - As long as they are purchased and not stolen, these adorable little rodents from the Andes mountains in South America are legal in most states with no license required. 

© Shutterstock

Hyacinth Macaws - These parrots native to South America, like most exotic birds, are legal to own as pets in most states if you obtain the proper documentation.

© Shutterstock

Servals - This wild cat native to Africa is legal to own as a pet without a license in seven states, and with a permit in an additional 11.

© Shutterstock

Capybaras - It is completely legal to own this semi-aquatic rodent in Texas and Pennsylvania. It is allowed in various other states with a permit.

© Shutterstock

Tarantulas - These frightening furry little arachnids are legal to own with a permit in most US states.

© Shutterstock

Mini Donkeys - Miniature Mediterranean donkeys from the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily are becoming increasingly popular pets. They are legal to own across the US.

© Shutterstock

Emperor Scorpions - This species of scorpion from western Africa is becoming an increasingly popular house pet. They are legal to own in most US states.

© Shutterstock

Bearded Dragons - This Australian lizard is legal to own in the US with a proper permit. They are now fairly common household pets.

© Shutterstock

Hippopotamus - While most people don't have the capacity or the desire to try to domesticate these massive animals, ownership is largely unregulated in the USA.

© Shutterstock

Alligators - Though they are extremely dangerous carnivores, alligators are legal to own as a pet in the state of Florida.

© Shutterstock

Blue Crayfish - This freshwater crayfish originates in Florida and is legal to keep as a house pet in most states. 

© Shutterstock

Bears - Shockingly, bears are allowed to be kept as pets with a permit in eight states, and without a permit in six others.

© Shutterstock

Two-toed sloths - This mammal species originating from Central and South America is either legal with a permit or just simply unregulated in many US states.

© Shutterstock

Muntjag deer - Ownership of the miniature deer species native to China is widely unregulated. In many states, it is legal to own them with proper licensing. 

© Shutterstock

Piranhas - These feisty little fish from South America are either legal to own or unregulated in roughly half of the US.

© Shutterstock

Tigers - It is legal to keep large cats as pets without a permit in six states and with a permit in an additional eight.

© Shutterstock

Wolfdogs - In 24 US states, and depending on the percentage of wolf genes in the dog, these hybrids are considered to be domestic animals and are legal to own.

© Shutterstock

Green iguanas - This lizard species is native to Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. Hundreds of thousands of lizards were imported and domesticated in the 1990s. They remain legal pets across the USA.

© Shutterstock

Ball Pythons - This non-venomous African python species is legal in most states except Florida, New York, Hawaii, and some cities in California. 

© Shutterstock

Tamanduas - It is technically legal to purchase an anteater as a pet in most US states and they are becoming increasingly more popular.

© Shutterstock

Skunks - Taking into account various regulations in terms of importation and registration, skunks are legal to own in 15 states.

© Shutterstock