One of the best things about living in the Grand Valley is the incredibly diverse animals that call this area home. Most people understand that it's not safe to have a bear as a pet. But, did you know that it's actually legal to own reindeer in Colorado.

Here's the list of animals that are considered domestic from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website. Notice the one animal I have highlighted.

Common Name
Genus/Species
AlpacaLama pocos
Ass and donkeyEquus asinus
BisonBison bison
CamelCamelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius
CatsFelis catus, including hybrids with wild felids
CattleBos taurus and Bos indicus
ChickensGallus gallus
ChinchillaChinchilla lanigera
DogsCanis familiaris, including hybrids with wild canids
DucksAnatidae, distinguishable morphologically from wild birds
EmuDromiceius spp.
European ferretsMustela putorius
Fowl (Guinea)Numida meleagris
GeeseAnatidae, distinguished morphologically from wild birds
GerbilsMeriones unguiculatus
GoatsCapra hircus
HamstersMesocricetus spp.
HorsesEquus callabus and hybrids with Equus asinus
LlamaLama glama
MiceMus musculus
MinkMustela vison
OstrichStruthio camelus
PeafowlPavo cristatus
Pig (Guinea)Cavia pocellus
PigeonsColumba livia
Rabbits (European)Oryctolagus cuniculus
RatsRattus novegicus and Rattus rattus
RheaRhea americana
ReindeerRangifer tarandus
SheepOvis aries
SwineSus scofa domestica
TurkeysMeleagris gallopavo, distinguished morphologically from wild birds
YakBos grunniens

 

How would you like to party with your friend that owns the reindeer or yak? I'm not kidding. It's happened in Finland.

Do you think it's a good idea to have a reindeer as a pet? Or, do you already have a reindeer as a pet? If so, can I come over? I've always wanted to play frisbee with a reindeer.

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