Michigan’s Most Popular Pet That’s Not A Cat Or Dog

Wide Open Pets recently detailed the most popular pets in each state. For Michigan, cats clawed their way to the number one spot. And unsurprisingly, dogs and cats were the top choices in all of the states. But USA Today has a report that shows the most popular pet in Michigan besides a cat or dog.  But beyond those, what are the most popular pets in each state?  Google Trends shared a map with USA Today that details the most searched pet by state, excluding cats and dogs.

You might think that fish or birds would be the most common response. However, that is not the case in the Great Lakes State. If you are thinking hamster, guinea pig, or chinchilla,  you are on the right track. Surprisingly, the bearded dragon is the most searched pet in many southern states. In fact, every state from North Carolina down to Florida, then west to Louisiana, has the bearded dragon as the most popular pet after a cat or dog. In Michigan, the answer is not as shocking.

If a cat or a dog is not an option for you right now, or you're simply looking to think outside the cage for your next pet, the guinea pig is the most popular in Michigan (besides dogs and cats).

The lifespan of this rodent pet is five to seven years. Standard stores like Petco or Pet Smart sell guinea pigs for about  $50 (in-store only). Then, you must buy the cage, food, and supplies separately. What's unique about these pets is that they typically need a companion in order to be good pets. While these little furry creatures can be a ton of fun, PetKeen points out, "they need to have other guineas around them to be happy — a guinea pig alone in a cage will not be happy."

Michigan's Threatened and Endangered list got its seventh update in nearly 50 years.  Now, the list shows a total of 407 species are threatened and endangered. Experts from universities, the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, other conservation organizations, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommended changes to the list based on recent data.

36 species were removed from the list, including trumpeter swans. However, 58 species were added to the list. "When people come together to collaborate on conservation, we can recover rare species," said DNR endangered species specialist Jennifer Kleitch. "For instance, trumpeter swans were just removed from Michigan's threatened and endangered species list. Their populations have grown as a result of significant conservation efforts by many partners over decades."

Although the trumpeter swan has been removed from Michigan's list of threatened and endangered species, it is still federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Three bat species, including the little brown bat, northern long-eared bat, and tri-colored bat, have been listed as threatened due to significant population declines in Michigan resulting from white-nose syndrome. Rusty-patched bumblebees and American bumblebees were added to the endangered species list because, like many pollinator species, their populations are seeing large declines.

"Many threatened and endangered species rely on high-quality natural areas that benefit all of us by providing clean water, clean air and places for us to enjoy nature. When species are struggling, it can indicate declines in the functioning of those natural areas, which in turn can impact our quality of life," Kleitch said.

The DNR took to Twitter to share more information about the list and one user shared their thoughts. “The addition is sad yet a great move. The only thing worse than being an endangered species is being an extinct species due to the fact of not being helped as much as a protected listing can,” said a comment under their post.

See a full list of the state’s threatened and endangered plants and animals on the Michigan Natural Features Inventory website.