Owning exotic pets has become increasingly popular in recent years. While many seek domesticated alternatives like Savannah cats instead of servals, others ponder if they can actually own undomesticated animals like hyenas. So, can you have a hyena as a pet?
The short answer is no – hyenas are wild animals unfit for domestic life.
In this article, we’ll explore why hyenas don’t make good pets, the legality of owning them, their behavior and characteristics, and safer hyena alternatives you can own.
Why Hyenas Don’t Make Good Pets
Extremely Powerful Build and Strong Bite
With their muscular bodies, hyenas are equipped with one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom. Their bite force measured at over 1,000 pounds per square inch is enough to crush bones. This makes them dangerous pets that can easily harm humans if provoked.
Additionally, their powerful neck and jaw muscles allow them to devour food quickly and destroy things in no time.
Highly Intelligent Wild Predators
Hyenas have complex social relationships and display intelligent problem-solving abilities in the wild. Their high intellect means they often get bored in captivity and may find ways to escape. Taming their natural wild instincts is nearly impossible.
As predators, they have strong hunting drives and cannot be trusted around small pets or children.
Complex Social Structure
Hyenas live in clans with strict hierarchical structures in the wild. Females are dominant over males. Removing them from their natural social groups and forcing them to live alone or with other species can create stress.
Their complex social behaviors make them difficult pets to manage for even experienced owners.
Smelly and Destructive
Hyenas use a stinky paste to mark their territories in the wild. Even in captivity, they maintain their smelly scent glands which can make indoor living unpleasant. Their powerful jaws also lead them to chew and destroy objects in their surroundings.
Costly damage to property is inevitable with hyenas as pets in human homes.
Risk of Rabies and Other Zoonotic Diseases
According to the CDC, hyenas pose a high risk of spreading rabies – a fatal viral disease. Their predatory nature also makes them prone to other dangerous zoonotic diseases transmissible to humans. Owning a hyena as a pet is never worth endangering your health.
Legality of Owning Hyenas
Illegal in Most Places
Owning a hyena as a pet is illegal in most areas. Hyenas are classified as dangerous wild animals in many countries and states. Keeping them as pets requires permits that are difficult to obtain. There are very few places in the world that allow private individuals to own hyenas without restriction.
In the United States, hyenas are regulated by varying exotic pet laws that differ in each state. Even in the few states where it’s legal to own one with a permit, these permits are often difficult and expensive to get.
For example, in Ohio it is illegal to own any member of the hyena family. But in Pennsylvania, you can apply for a permit to own one, if you meet strict requirements like cage specifications, insurance, and residency restrictions.
Other countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK have banned private ownership of hyenas nationwide. Keeping a hyena as a pet is completely illegal, even with a permit.
Exotic Pet Laws Vary by State
In areas of the United States, whether you can own a hyena depends on each state’s exotic pet laws.
Here are some examples of hyena pet laws in different states:
- Florida – Allowed with Class 1 permit
- Texas – Illegal unless grandfathered in prior to 1973
- New York – Completely illegal
- Nevada – Allowed with permit from Department of Wildlife
- California – Illegal
As seen above, laws range from hyenas being fully illegal to keep as pets in some states, to being legal with proper permitting in others. Restrictions and regulations also vary in the few states where private ownership is allowed with a permit.
Hyena Behavior and Characteristics
Aggressive and Territorial
Hyenas are highly aggressive animals that defend their territories fiercely. They mark their turf with scent and engage in violent turf wars with other hyena clans. According to LiveScience, hyena clans can have up to 80 members that work cooperatively, but battles between different groups often result in injury or death.
Skittish around Humans
Although known to be aggressive, hyenas tend to be skittish and afraid of humans due to being heavily hunted. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, hyenas will typically flee when encountering humans rather than attacking them. Their fearful nature makes them unsuitable as pets.
Noisy Communicators
Hyenas are incredibly vocal animals that make various loud vocalizations including the well-known “laughing” heard at night. Their varied whoops, fast yells, groans, and other calls communicate information between group members up to 3 miles away about social status, marking territory, coordinating hunts, and more.
Scent Markers
Hyenas have specialized anal glands that produce a white, creamy paste substance they use to mark territory and communicate information. According to National Geographic, their powerful scent messages indicate social status and reproductive state.
Their strong, pungent odor makes them unsuitable as pets.
Opportunistic Omnivores
Hyenas have extremely strong jaws and teeth that allow them to consume all parts of their prey, including bone. They hunt a variety of prey depending on their habitat, including wildebeest, antelope, birds, lizards, snakes, and insects. They also scavenge carrion and dig up vegetables.
Their powerful jaws can splinter and digest bone, making them effective scavengers.
Safer Hyena Alternatives
Spotted Hyena Relatives: Aardwolves
For those seeking an exotic yet safer pet similar to hyenas, aardwolves may be a good option. Aardwolves are smaller, insect eating relatives of the spotted hyena. While they are still wild animals not ideally suited as pets, many experts consider captive bred aardwolves to be calmer and less demanding than hyenas if properly cared for.
Aardwolves are solitary, nocturnal creatures that travel up to 12 miles per night in search of termites and other insects. Their diet makes caring for captive aardwolves challenging, as they require a constant supply of live insects.
Their quiet, gentle nature when trained, however, makes them more suitable pets than rowdy, energetic hyenas.
Domestic Dogs Bred for Hyena Looks
For families seeking a pet with the exotic look of a hyena, there are some dog breeds bred specifically for their resemblance. The Africanis and Chinese Shar-Pei dogs have appearances similar to hyenas. These domestic dog breeds are much easier to own and be around safely than actual hyenas.
While the Africanis is a rare dog breed not often kept as pets, the Chinese Shar-Pei has been domesticated for hundreds of years. Their tan coats, dark muzzles, and small ears give them a hyena-esque look.
Shar-Peis also have very strong guarding instincts, though they can be loyal pets if properly socialized. Those wanting both the look and personality of a hyena may find these dogs to be a satisfying alternative.
Volunteering at Reputable Facilities
For those with a passion for hyenas who want regular hands-on interactions, volunteering at reputable zoos or wildlife facilities may be an option. Responsible facilities have strict protocols and skilled experts that allow volunteers to get close to hyenas safely.
While daily ownership of hyenas is extremely dangerous, facilities like SANWild Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa allow volunteers to help feed rescued hyenas or clean enclosures. This offers animal lovers a chance to engage positively with these unique creatures through an established organization focused on rehabilitation and species preservation.
Conclusion
In summary, hyenas are wild animals unsuitable as pets. Their powerful builds, intelligence, social nature, destructiveness, diseases, and legal restrictions prevent them from being proper domestic companions.
For those seeking to closely interact with hyena-like animals safely, there are some alternatives. But in general, it’s wisest to admire hyenas from afar at reputable zoos and wildlife preserves.
We hope this overview has helped explain clearly why pet hyenas are ill-advised. Let us know if you have any other exotic pet questions!
