Colorado is home to some amazing animals. Driving around, you can see elk, deer, foxes, raccoons, mountain lions, bears, moose, and much more. Bald eagles are flying around, fish are jumping in lakes, squirrels are climbing trees, and these are only wild animals. There are many pastures filled with cows, horses, donkeys, mules, goats, sheep, and other farm animals. There are also many pets like dogs, cats, snakes, frogs, birds, fish, and more. Animals play a huge part in life in Colorado, but are they in a state that treats them right and respects them? When it comes to animals, which state is the best in the country, and where does Colorado rank? 

The Best and Worst States for Animals

JimVallee
JimVallee
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Animals need certain things to live. They need food, water, a place to feel safe, and, of course, for people to respect them and not harm them. Some states do a good job of making sure animals are treated well, and others treat them poorly and don't respect them. SmileHub recently released a list ranking every state from best for animals to the worst for animals. They used criteria like pet ownership, animal protection, and animal wellness to help rank the states. Using this criteria, it was determined that Oregon is the best state for animals, but Colorado comes in as the second-best state, and Nebraska is the third-best. The worst state for animals is Alabama, with Maryland being the second worst, and Hawaii rounding out the bottom three. 

Animals in Colorado

Matt Gibson
Matt Gibson
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Sadly, Colorado missed the top spot barely, but clearly is one of the best states for animals. What makes Colorado an ideal place for them? Colorado ranks second in pet ownership, ninth in animal protection, and 32nd in animal wellness. Colorado is also fifth in the highest animal protection laws, making sure to take care of wild animals and stop them from being harmed in the wild. With many owning pets, there are many residents who are animal lovers. There is a reason that many in Colorado pull over and take pictures of animals in the wild and stop, compared to other states that ignore these types of animals or try to hit them with their vehicles. 

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If you are an animal lover, you are in the right place, as Colorado values animals more than most places. To see the full study, make sure to click the link in the second paragraph above. 

10 Ridiculous + Unbelievable Laws in Colorado Involving Animals

You’ve likely heard about many weird and/or stupid laws in Colorado, but these 10 laws involving animals are among the most ridiculous.

Beware of the 12 Most Dangerous Animals in Colorado

Keep an eye out for the following 12 dangerous animals in Colorado. While these creatures usually go out of their way to avoid you, if you encounter one you will want to give it plenty of space. Scroll on to see each one and find out why they make the cut of the most dangerous animals in Colorado.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams