BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM

Stephen Kaspar, a Lenexa, Kansas resident, is pushing lawmakers to legalize the keeping of raccoons as pets. Kaspar co-wrote House Bill 2297 with Rep. Joe Seiwert currently under consideration by the Kansas House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. 

The bill requires people wishing to keep raccoons as pets to obtain a permit from the Kansas Animal Health Commissioner. Potential owners must take a course in on raccoon care, keep their animal vaccinated for rabies and consent to annual inspections. 

Concerns expressed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment include the concern for lack of vaccines specifically designed to protect racoons against rabies and the fact that raccoons are a significant reservoir for the rabies virus. Additionally, the bill would potentially facilitate movement of raccoons from different geographic regions into the state. Kansas is currently free from raccoon variant rabies, however, introduction of raccoons from other parts of the country could end that.

Additional concerns include the risks of other zoonotic diseases carried by racoons and the risks to veterinarians and their staff that may not be trained to handle wildlife, yet must provide annual exams for these pets. 

Kaspar states that the bill he helped introduce does not address wild raccoons, but USDA-bred raccoons and that a lot of safeguards have been suggested within the bill to minimize the risks.  In addition to the educational requirements, the bill would implement several fees for potential racoon owners including an initial application fee of $100, an annual permit renewal at $250 as well as fees for annual inspections, transfers of ownerships, etc. Additionally, if a permitted racoon owner violates any of the requirements of the program, they will be charged a $1000 fine for rehoming and care for their permitted racoon.