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Meghan Cook
Dogs and cats are undoubtedly the most popular pets across the nation, but there are plenty of Americans who own hamsters, lizards, snakes, and a surprising amount of ferrets. Trusted Housesitters conducted a study that traced animal popularity by social media presence in each state. Look below to find your state and the most popular pet tied to it.
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Alabama: Hedgehog
The most popular pet in Alabama is the hedgehog, followed closely behind by hamsters. There are a handful of states (Pennsylvania, Hawaii, California, Georgia, Arizona, and Maine) where it is illegal to own a hedgehog without a permit, due to the impact the prickly pet could have on local ecosystems if released.
Alaska: Ferrets
Though sled dogs like Huskies are the most popular canine, ferrets take the title of most popular small animal in this wintry state.
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Arizona: Rabbits
Rabbits are the most popular small animal in Arizona, with 25.1% of social media conversations tagging, discussing, and revolving around these floppy-eared friends.
Arkansas: Hamsters
Hamsters are the most popular pet in Arkansas, with a higher social media presence than ferrets, hedgehogs, and rabbits combined.
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California: Rabbits
In California rabbits are the most popular pets, making up 25.9% of small animal social media presence. And although hedgehogs are technically illegal in the state, they still make up an impressive 15.9% of all small pets in California.
Colorado: Ferrets
Although Colorado residents love their dogs, they are almost twice as likely to talk about ferrets than golden retrievers in the Centennial state.
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Connecticut: Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are the most popular pet in this New England state.
Delaware: Hamsters
Delaware loves Chihuahuas more than any other dog, and that affinity for tiny pets carries over to hamsters, the most popular small animal in the state.
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Florida: Birds
Florida is one of the most common places to own a bird in the United States, making birds the most popular pet in the Sunshine State.
Georgia: Hamsters
Snakes and birds are popular in Georgia, but not as popular as hamsters. These whiskery pets make up 22.7% of all small animals.
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Hawaii: Lizards
The most popular pet in Hawaii is by far the lizard, with 91.1% of reptile owners sharing their lizards on social media.
Idaho: Ferrets
People in Idaho adore ferrets more than any other small animal, making them more popular than hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs combined.
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Illinois: Snakes
Snakes are the most popular pet in Illinois, with boas ranking in as the top snake breed of the state.
Indiana: Ferrets
While 69% of Indianans love dogs more than cats, ferrets are the most popular small animal by far with 30.8% of social media posts celebrating this playful pet.
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Iowa: Birds
In Iowa, birds beat out reptiles and small animals as the third most popular pet behind dogs and cats.
Kansas: Ferrets
Ferrets are the most popular small animal in this midwestern state.
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Kentucky: Ferrets
Ferrets are twice as popular as rabbits and guinea pigs in Kentucky.
Louisiana: Birds
The Pelican State is aptly named, with birds as the third most popular pet in Louisiana behind dogs and cats.
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Maine: Hamsters
The Maine coon may be the most popular cat in Maine, but hamsters are the most talked about small animal in the state.
Maryland: Hamsters
Hamsters are more popular than bulldogs and Labrador retrievers in this Mid-Atlantic state.
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Massachusetts: Birds
Birds are wildly popular in Massachusetts, with parrots, parakeets, and co*ckatiels listed as the most common birds to own.
Michigan: Ferrets
Ferrets take the cake for most popular small animal in Michigan, with hamsters and rabbits close behind.
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Minnesota: Hedgehogs
21.8% of small animal owners have hedgehogs to cuddle up with when winter storms hit Minnesota.
Mississippi: Hamsters
Mississippi is also known as the Eagle State, but hamsters are more popular than birds, making up 26.8% of all small animals.
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Missouri: Ferrets
You’re more likely to find corgis in Missouri more than most other states, but the most popular small animal is the ferret.
Montana: Ferrets
Ferrets are the prized pet of Montana and are three times more popular than hamsters.
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Nebraska: Spiders
You are more likely to meet a spider owner in Nebraska than any other state, with 86.8% of social media posts showing off these eight-legged pets.
Nevada: Lizards
Nevada isn’t as dog-crazy as other states in America, with native Nevadans owning more lizards than beagles or terriers.
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New Hampshire: Hamsters
In New Hampshire, locals talk about hamsters on social media just as often as they talk about golden retrievers.
New Jersey: Mice
New Jersey residents talk about pet mice more often than any other state in North America.
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New Mexico: Rabbits
Rabbits are the most popular pet in New Mexico, with 21.6% of small animal social media posts revolving around these furry mammals.
New York: Hamsters
With the lack of space in New York City residences, New Yorkers are more likely to have small animals than their neighboring states, with hamsters named as the most popular.
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North Carolina: Hamsters
Hamsters are the most popular pet in North Carolina and are nearly twice as popular as rabbits.
North Dakota: Birds
Birds are the most popular pet in North Dakota, making up 96.2% of social media posts unrelated to dogs, cats, small animals, and reptiles.
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Ohio: Birds
In Ohio birds rank as the most popular pet, with canaries and parrots listed as the most talked about bird breeds.
Oklahoma: Parrots
The top nine most talked about pets are all dog breeds, but the parrot is listed as the tenth most popular, edging cats out of Oklahoma’s top ten.
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Oregon: Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs and ferrets are nearly tied for the favorite small pet in Oregon, with hedgehogs as the frontrunner.
Pennsylvania: Ferrets
You’re more likely to meet a ferret owner in Pennsylvania than someone who owns a bulldog or Persian.
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Rhode Island: Hamsters
Mixed dog breeds like Puggles and Maltipoos are more popular in Rhode Island than anywhere else, but 20.9% of small animal social media conversations in Rhode Island center on hamsters.
South Carolina: Rabbits
Rabbits are the most popular pet in South Carolina, making up 22.3% of all small animal social media posts.
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South Dakota: Rabbits
South Dakotans own more rabbits than huskies in this midwestern state.
Tennessee: Ferrets
Ferrets are the most popular pet in Tennessee, followed closely by hedgehogs.
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Texas: Lizards
In the large state of Texas, 59.4% of reptile conversations are about lizards, making them the most popular pet.
Utah: Hamsters
Hamsters are the popular pet in Utah, more common than any breed of cat.
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Vermont: Ferrets
Ferrets are the most popular small animal in Vermont, with 26.1% of social media posts referring to them.
Virginia: Ferrets
Virginians love their dogs, with Labrador retrievers more popular than all categories of reptile combined, but ferrets are listed as the most popular small animal in the state.
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Washington: Ferrets
25.8% of social media animal posts in Washington are about ferrets.
West Virginia: Lizards
Lizards are the most popular pet in West Virginia, with 67.7% of reptile owners owning lizards.
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Wisconsin: Ferrets
Ferrets are the most popular pet in Wisconsin, making up 28.7% of small animal conversations on sites like Instagram and Facebook.
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Wyoming: Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are by the far the most popular pet in Wyoming. 46.6% of small animal social media posts refer to these quilled cuties.
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