New Hampshire lacks a specific statute banning bear wrestling, though animal cruelty laws under RSA 644:8 prohibit such exploitative acts, aligning with broader U.S. trends where it’s explicitly illegal in states like Louisiana and Alabama. No evidence ties it directly to New Hampshire enforcement, but general wildlife protections apply.​
Quirky Prohibitions
New Hampshire enforces odd rules like banning foot-tapping or head-nodding to music in taverns to curb rowdiness, and prohibiting machinery operation on Sundays, remnants of blue laws. Picking up seaweed from beaches after dark is illegal to protect marine ecosystems, while carrying ferrets during hunting is forbidden.​
Local Eccentricities
In Claremont cemeteries, entering alone under age 10 or getting drunk is prohibited for safety. White Mountain National Forest bans picking up trash or building benches without permits to prevent unregulated maintenance. Snowball fights may violate “missile throwing” ordinances in some towns.​
These rarely enforced laws highlight New Hampshire’s blend of historical quirks and environmental safeguards rather than exotic animal fights.
SOURCES
[1](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2530308-exploring-the-strange-history-of-pro-wrestlers-battling-bears)
[2](https://www.runsensible.com/blog/weird-laws-in-the-us/)
[3](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1102422671675932&id=100057246288234&set=a.514250470493158)
[4](https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/state-pride/new-hampshire/dumb-laws-nh)
[5](https://wheninyourstate.com/new-hampshire/14-strange-but-true-laws-youll-only-hear-about-in-new-hampshire/)
