Legal Question in Criminal Law in Michigan

We rescued three raccoons two years ago. It is illegal in the state of mi. to have them as pets. My ex wife decided to turn me in so the dnr came and took them. Is their any way a judge can legally give them back to us.They are to old to release into the wild they don't know how to fend for themselves.


Asked on 3/14/10, 5:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Neil O'Brien Eaton County Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney

Department of Natural Resources statutes and administrative rules will determine all of this. You may want to re-post your question in another Michigan sub-section at lawguru.com that may cover DNR issues, not the Criminal Law section.

Wild animals like deer, racoons, etc. are technically owned by the state (just like in the Merry olde England days when they were owned by The King). You cannot "take" them even if you have a good reason for it in your mind.

I fail to understand how these raccoons "cannot fend for themselves" now. Most survival acts by animals are instinctual. Regardless, Mother Nature will takes its course in the wild.

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Answered on 3/22/10, 1:45 pm


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