Compared to most states, South Dakota is pretty lenient regarding what kind of animals you can legally keep as pets. Sure, you may have to jump through several hoops, but if you really want an African Elephant, it's possible in our state.

Two surprising animals are forbidden to own in the Mount Rushmore State. Take a look at what they are and why they're outlawed.

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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First up, we have the Raccoon Dog. You read that right, Racoon Dog. Take a peek at one stealing a bird egg in the video below.

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Raccoon Dogs (otherwise known as tanukis) are actually more closely related to dogs than raccoons. But why are they illegal to own in many states, including South Dakota?

As it turns out they are quite invasive to native animals wherever they are kept and tend to damage the local ecosystem.

Also of note, the Raccoon Dog is the only type of dog that is known to hibernate in the winter.

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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The second (and last) animal in South Dakota that's illegal to keep is the undomesticated pig.

Why on earth would wild pigs be such a threat? Much like the Raccoon Dog, they are extremely invasive in a local environment and cause everything in an ecosystem to fall apart. Take a look at the video below for a broader understanding of why wild pigs are such a pest.

For a list of animals outlawed and regulated in each state, visit the Find Law website.

Story Source: Find Law

35 Movies That Take Place in South Dakota

When it comes to South Dakota and Hollywood, we've seen our fair share of films that have used our state as the backdrop for a number of productions over the years. They may not have always filmed here, but movie folk love to set stories here.

We're all familiar with the blockbusters like 1990's Dances With Wolves, 1959's North By Northwest, and more recently, 2007's National Treasure: Book of Secrets. But our state's life on the big screen goes back nearly 100 years.

According to IMDb, it all started with Courtin' Wildcats, a 1929 film which, like so many of the 29 films on this list, is a Western set in the time before South Dakota became a state in 1889.

Gallery Credit: Jeff Harkness/B1027.com

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