CONCORD – New Hampshire law currently makes it illegal to farm or own kangaroos. However, new legislative action seeks to give Granite Staters that opportunity.

Legislative Service Request 2024-2432, made by State Rep. Thomas Mannion, would allow the private ownership of kangaroos as well as “small tailed monkeys, raccoons, foxes, otters, [and] skunks.” New Hampshire would join 13 other states in legalizing kangaroo ownership.

State Rep. Michael Granger’s bill to legalize kangaroo farming is the next step.

Kangaroo farming has many advantages that are beneficial to Granite State farms. When compared with raising cattle, kangaroo farming provides a consistent and sustainable source of income through the sale of meat and other kangaroo-related products. Because kangaroos are not a herding animal, they are more suitable for small farms who contribute to local food production. Kangaroos have significantly smaller impact on their physical environment than cattle and they only require 30 percent as much water. Kangaroo farms often create job opportunities for the local community, supporting economic development and livelihoods.

The New England Food System Planners Partnership aims to have “30 percent of the food consumed in New England — produced in New England by 2030.” This bill would help New England reach this goal of food independence. With the recent decrease of red tape around the farming of red deer, bison and elk, New Hampshire is hungry for kangaroos.

The future for kangaroo ownership and farming in New Hampshire is brimming with promise, offering a unique path to economic growth, local food production and a vibrant, sustainable future for the Granite State.

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