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SUNNY Temp: 88 °F Wind: SW at 6 mph Thursday, July 24, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 10, 2003 Since You Asked Some exotic animals canbe kept as pets I heard recently that a man had a baby cougar as a pet in a Phoenix mobile home park. Is this legal? — Ben F., Medford It certainly can be legal under a set of Oregon wildlife laws that allow the possession of exotic or strange animals like cougars. Domestically bred cougars can be sold in Oregon by dealers with special propagation permits run through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Also you can bring one in from out of state with an import permit through the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Advertisement State law has intense rules for the keeping of animals like cougars and bears as pets. For instance, their pens must be double-fenced and safe not only for the cougar but also the public, says Larry Cooper, an ODFW biologist in Portland. The penning laws kick when the cat turns 6 months old. The delay, Cooper says, is so the handlers can care for and bond with the cougar. Separate rules ban tethering a domestic cougar. So, if the cougar was under 6 months old and the owner had proof it was purchased legally, than he can live with it in his trailer and even play with it on the lawn — provided he didn’t have the cat on a leash. That’s government for ya, Ben. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times